PhD Position - Disruptions and energy security: Challenges for the development of resilient energy infrastructures

Your Job:

Current political developments clearly show how crucial a robust and affordable energy supply is for society and the economy. The transition to a greenhouse gas-neutral, renewable energy system can reduce dependence on fossil fuels – but at the same time brings new challenges and uncertainties. Disruptive events and changing political, social, and technological conditions can have a significant impact on security of supply in the existing and future sector-coupled European energy system. As part of your work, you will identify and systematize potential disruptive events from the perspective of energy infrastructure. Using the existing energy system models of ICE-2, you will develop scenarios to analyze the effects on the German energy system and its robust design in a European context. You will examine, for example, how security of supply can be realistically mapped in a sector-coupled energy system, which political decisions, crises, or technological developments need to be taken into account as disruptive events, and which strategies can be derived from this for a resilient system design. Your contribution to scientific analysis:

• Further develop existing energy system models in Python and analyze cross-sector infrastructures with regard to supply security and resilience
  
• Identify and categorize potential disruptive events and crisis scenarios that could affect the future of the European energy system — ranging from technological innovations to political turning points
  
• Expand and couple models at the national and European level to map interactions between electricity, gas, hydrogen, and heat within a robust energy system
  
• Develop methodological approaches and assumptions for a realistic representation of uncertainties and disruptions in energy system models
  
• Evaluate scenarios and derive concrete strategies for the robust design of future energy infrastructure in the context of disruptive events
  
• Position your research in the professional community through publications in renowned journals, conference contributions, and active scientific exchange at the national and international level
  

Your Profile:

• You have successfully completed a master’s degree in natural or (industrial) engineering, computer science, or a related field
  
• You have very good knowledge of energy technology, energy economics, and energy policy
  
• You have already gained initial experience in energy system modeling
  
• You are confident in object-oriented programming, preferably in Python
  
• You work independently, strategically, and solution-oriented, and demonstrate a high degree of independence and willingness to show great commitment
  
• High degree of independence and willingness to show great commitment
  
• Fluent written and spoken English; German skills are an advantage
  

Our Offer:

We work on highly topical, socially-relevant issues and offer you the opportunity to actively shape change! We offer you optimal conditions for the successful completion of your doctorate:

• The opportunity to complete a doctoral thesis within 3 years through professional supervision and internal support services
  
• A highly motivated working group as well as an international and interdisciplinary working environment in one of the largest research institutions in Europe
  
• Active further development of a comprehensive energy system model in order to support energy policy decision-makers in a scientifically sound manner
  
• Excellent scientific and technical infrastructure
  
• Opportunity to participate in (international) conferences and project meetings
  
• Continuous professional support by your scientific supervisor(s)
  
• Best conditions for successful work in a home office (moving to the Aachen-Düsseldorf-Cologne region is not absolutely necessary)
  
• 30 days of annual leave and provision for days off between public holidays and weekends (e.g. between Christmas and New Year)
  
• Further development of your personal strengths, e.g. through an extensive range of training courses; a structured program of continuing education and networking opportunities specifically for doctoral researchers via JuDocS, the Jülich Center for Doctoral Researchers and Supervisors: https://www.fz-juelich.de/en/judocs
  
• Targeted services for international employees, e.g. through our International Advisory Service
  

In addition to exciting tasks and a collaborative working atmosphere at Jülich, we have a lot more to offer: https://go.fzj.de/benefits

The position is initially for a fixed term of 3 years. Pay in line with 75% of pay group 13 of the Collective Agreement for the Public Service (TVöD-Bund) and additionally 60 % of a monthly salary as special payment („Christmas bonus“). The monthly salaries in euros can be found on page 66 of the PDF download: https://go.fzj.de/bmi.tvoed Further information on doctoral degrees at Forschungszentrum Jülich including our other locations is available at: https://www.fz-juelich.de/gp/Careers_Docs

We welcome applications from people with diverse backgrounds, e.g. in terms of age, gender, disability, sexual orientation / identity, and social, ethnic and religious origin. A diverse and inclusive working environment with equal opportunities in which everyone can realize their potential is important to us.

Further information on diversity and equal opportunities: https://go.fzj.de/equality