[agents] PhD position in AI and Autonomous Agents for Managing Congestion in Power Networks (CWI, Amsterdam)

[Valentin Robu]

Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica (CWI) in Amsterdam has a vacancy in the 
“Intelligent and Autonomous Systems” research groups for a talented PhD 
student,on the subject of

Artificial Intelligence and Autonomous Agents for Managing Congestion in 
Power Networks.

https://www.cwi.nl/en/jobs/vacancies/1014483/

Job description
---------------
Due to the energy transition, enormous changes in the energy system and 
with its users will take place, concerning e.g. drastically increasing 
numbers of sustainable energy resources (e.g. solar, wind) and intensive 
energy demand (e.g. electric vehicles, heat pumps). This makes 
congestion (i.e., overloading) in power transmission networks (i.e., 
high voltage) one of the main current and future system risks. A recent 
example is the congestion in south-east as well as in north Netherlands 
that heavily restricts the number of new solar parks projects and new 
companies that can be connected to the electricity network. The 
operators of power transmission systems (TSOs) have to deal with this 
and have to manage network congestion, like by real-time network 
reconfiguration or by using flexibility in electricity generation and 
demand.
Current congestion management is mostly done by human operators using 
manual or brute-force calculations. However, such an approach is not 
able to deal with the challenges imposed on TSOs by the energy 
transition. Fortunately, the rapid developments in AI open up a whole 
range of novel and improved possibilities of network congestion 
management, ranging from decision support to automated methods.

The goal of the proposed PhD project is to research how novel dedicated 
approaches with (distributed) AI, multi-agent systems and/or machine 
learning techniques can be developed to support decision making about 
congestion management in power transmission networks. Potential AI 
techniques include: single- and multi-agent learning, market-based 
coordination between agents, automated negotiation, and trust and 
reputation systems. Here, several specific congestion management 
constraints and goals will be considered, like e.g. single and 
multi-criteria optimization, dynamic constraints, uncertainty and risks, 
costs of actions, and economic/technical trade-offs. The PhD student 
will start with a survey identifying promising alternatives and then 
delve deeper into specific solutions and approaches, also using TenneT 
real-world case studies, testbeds, and data.

The proposed project is part of a joint research project between CWI 
(the Dutch National Research Center for Mathematics and Computer 
Science) and TenneT (the operator of the transmission power networks in 
the Netherlands), jointly funded by the Holland High Tech programme and 
by TenneT.
The PhD student will be based in the Intelligent and Autonomous Systems 
(IAS) group at CWI in Amsterdam and defend the dissertation at TU Delft. 
The PhD student will also be expected to present and discuss their 
research results in regular meetings with TenneT.

Requirements
-----------------
PhD candidates are required to have a master degree in computer science, 
artificial intelligence, mathematics, electrical engineering, or 
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 AI (multi-agent systems, 
machine learning, etc.) and in the problem 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 €2,720 during 
the first year and increases to €3,484 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
------------------
All applications should include a motivation letter, a detailed CV, and 
a list of grades and courses. The application deadline is Monday, 4th 
September 2023 on the CWI website:

https://www.cwi.nl/en/jobs/vacancies/1014483/


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
or
Dr. Valentin Robu
Tel. +31 (0)20 592 4123
Email: valentin.robu at cwi.nl


CWI encourages a diverse workforce: we endeavour to develop talent and 
creativity by bringing people from different backgrounds and cultures 
together. We recruit and select based on capabilities and talent. We 
strongly encourage everyone with the appropriate qualifications to apply 
for the vacancy, regardless of age, gender, origin, sexual orientation 
or physical abilities.


About Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica
------------------------------------
Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica (CWI) is the Dutch national research 
institute for mathematics and computer science and is part of the 
Institutes Organisation of the Dutch Research Council (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 an internationally oriented institute, with 160 scientists from 
approximately 27 countries. The facilities are first-rate and include 
excellent IT support, career planning, training, and courses.
CWI is located at Science Park Amsterdam, the home of AMS-IX, that is 
presently developing into a major location of research in the physical 
sciences in The Netherlands, housing the sciences of the University of 
Amsterdam as well as several other national research institutes next to CWI.

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