At the Faculty of Engineering and Science, Department of Energy Technology a position as postdoc in Control of Modular Multilevel Converter for Large Wind Turbines is open for appointment from 1 June 2015 or soon thereafter. The position is available for a period of 3 years. The Department of Energy Technology is an expanding department covering most fields of Energy Technology ranging from electrical energy (Power Systems, Power Electronics, Electrical Machines to thermal energy including Energy Systems and Fluid Mechanics and Combustion but also mechatronic systems. The department has about 230 employees – out of them are more than 100 Ph.D. students. The laboratory-facilities are world-class and the research carried out are most often in collaboration with industry.

Job description

Research areas will be Digital control design and FPGA implementation.

As wind turbines especially off-shore are become larger, the problem of optimizing the power converter associated in terms of size, weight, efficiency, reliability and price becomes more critical. There is a trend in the industry to move to medium-voltage converters for large power > 5 MW. In the same time in HVDC and STATCOM industries, the new modular multi-level converter (MMC) technology is getting a higher share due to advantages like: modularity, higher efficiency and fault-tolerant operation in comparison with 2-level converters. But the control complexity is increasing too and distributed control solutions based on communication and FPGA implementation are required. The aim of this project is to demonstrate the practicality of MMC technology for wind turbine industry and advance towards commercialization.
The tasks will include design, build, implementation of control and communication and test of small-scale prototype MMC as well as support for the full-size MW prototype.

To submit your application, please click on the "Apply through website" button. 

The application must contain the following:

• A motivated text wherein the reasons for applying, qualifications in relation to the position, and intentions and visions for the position are stated.
• A current curriculum vitae. 
• Copies of relevant diplomas (Master of Science and PhD).
• Scientific qualifications. A complete list of publications must be attached with an indication of the works the applicant wishes to be considered. You may attach up to 5 publications.
• Dissemination qualifications, including participation on committees or boards, participation in organisations and the like. 
• Additional qualifications in relation to the position. 
• References/recommendations.
• Personal data.

Deadline: 30/04/2015

An assessment committee will assess all candidates.

Employment is in accordance with the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities (the Appointment Order) and the Ministry of Finance's current Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities. Employment and salary are in accordance with the collective agreement for state-employed academics or the collective agreement for academics under the Danish Society of Engineers' (IDA) and the Danish Association of Chartered Surveyors' (DDL) negotiation areas.   

Information regarding guidelines, ministerial circular in force and procedures can be seen here.

You may obtain further professional information from Prof. Remus Teodorescu, Tel: +45 9940 9249, email: ret@et.aau.dk. Please note, applications made to this email will not be considered. 

Qualification requirements:
Requirements include: PhD degree in control or electrical engineering (specialization electronics or power electronics) and good knowledge of digital control design and implementation, FPGA/VHDL, C-programming, Matlab/Simulink, evt. PLECS/Simplorer. Previous experience with distributed control or MMC will be considered an advantage.

Appointment as Postdoc presupposes scientific qualifications at PhD–level or similar scientific qualifications. The research potential of each applicant will be emphasized in the overall assessment. Appointment as a Postdoc cannot exceed a period of four years in total at Aalborg University.