[agents] vacancy for PhD student on Agent Systems and Smart Energy Grids

[Han La Poutre]

Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica (CWI) in Amsterdam has a vacancy in the “Intelligent and Autonomous Systems” research group for a highly talented

           PhD student

on the subject of Agent Systems and Smart Energy Grids.


Job description
Our energy system is transforming into a sustainable system. Especially important for potential innovations are the use and the holistic use of energy types electricity and heat. This is amongst others due to the increasing role of electricity, and because heat often is a large side product (waste) as well as one of the important reasons for energy demand. 

Industrial sites (with multiple actors) and harbors are important locations for the consumption and production of energy. Also here, the different roles of electricity and heat can be distinguished, however with a higher intensity per actor than in domestic environments and thus with a higher impact on the intensity of dynamics in the energy demand, supply, and locational aspects at the site. Whereas in domestic areas, energy demand and supply can potentially be peak-shaved by e.g. using incentive mechanisms like dynamic pricing and by averaging over many actors, this only holds into a limited extent for industrial sites and harbors, with big actors and strict, large demand or supply of energy for various steps in industrial processes. Electricity and heat both play an important role in industrial sites and harbors, especially for future sustainability.

The project HaPSISH aims at developing solutions for automated power and heat management at industrial sites and harbors with a combination of multiple actors, industrial processes, and external factors. This is carried out by developing innovative models, simulation systems, agent-based market and coordination mechanisms, and optimization techniques.

The PhD student will especially focus on the development of the smart "multi-grid" with coordination mechanisms together with related planning and trading strategies. The coordination mechanisms are in the area of agent-based energy markets, where agents need to plan for the various types of energy consumption or production in industrial processes, and at the same time trade in the markets, with specific strategies.

The project is carried out in cooperation with TU Delft, the Port of Rotterdam and SmartPort. At TU Delft, a companion PhD student will work in this project at the Department of Electrical Sustainable Energy (ESE), on innovative models and simulation systems. The project consists of fundamental research with an eye on applications and is carried out together with the partners. The project HaPSISH is funded by NWO (Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research).

Requirements
PhD candidates are required to have a master degree in computer science, artificial intelligence, mathematics, or in comparable areas. Candidates that are expected to finish their M.Sc. thesis in the
near future can also apply. Candidates should have a clear interest in fundamental research, should be creative and solid in their research, should have (potential) interest in multi-agent systems and in the
application area of electricity networks, and should be able to cooperate with experts from different disciplines. It is essential that you have good academic writing and presentation skills. Candidates are expected to have an excellent command of English.

Terms and conditions PhD Student
The terms of employment are in accordance with the Dutch Collective Labour Agreement for Research Centres ("CAO-onderzoeksinstellingen"). The initial labour agreement will be for a period of 18 months. After a positive evaluation, the agreement will extended by 30 months. The gross monthly salary, for a PhD student on a full time basis, is €2,246 during the first year and increases to €2,879 over the four
year period. Employees are also entitled to a holiday allowance of 8% of the gross annual salary and a year-end bonus of 8.33%. CWI offers attractive working conditions, including flexible scheduling and help with housing for expat employees.

Application
Applications can be sent before 18 April 2017 to apply at cwi.nl. All applications should include a motivation letter, a detailed CV, and a list of grades and courses.

For more information about the vacancies, please contact
Prof.dr. Han La Poutré 
Tel.: +31 (0)20 592 4082
Email: han.la.poutre at cwi.nl

For more information about CWI, please visit https://www.cwi.nl or watch our video “A Fundamental Difference” about working at CWI (https://www.cwi.nl/general/a-fundamental-difference).

About Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica
Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica (CWI) is the Dutch national research institute for mathematics and computer science and linked to the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO). The mission
of CWI is to conduct pioneering research in mathematics and computer science, generating new knowledge in these fields and conveying it to trade, industry, and society at large. CWI is located at Science Park Amsterdam. It is an internationally oriented institute, with 150 scientists from approximately 25 countries. The facilities are first-rate and include excellent IT support, career planning, training, and courses. 

Research group
For more information about the “Intelligent and Autonomous Systems” research group, please visit:
https://www.cwi.nl/research/groups/intelligent-autonomous-systems/ .



Vacancy information:
https://www.cwi.nl/jobs/vacancies .