PhD Position – Disruptive events in the integrated energy system and their impact on security of supply

Your Job:

Current political events highlight the great importance of a robust and affordable energy supply. This dissertation strengthens the model-based system analysis capability of the IEK-3. The thesis addresses questions regarding the security of supply of the existing and future sector-coupled German energy system in the European and global context, which is robust against disruptive events as well as strongly changing political, societal and technological conditions. To this end, you will identify and systematize possible disruptive events from the perspective of energy demand and derive short- and medium-term scenarios to be able to examine them with existing IEK-3 energy system models. In this thesis, you will explore various questions, such as: What black swan events, natural disasters, political decisions, or crises, and what technological innovations would be imaginable and how can possible scenarios be modeled? How would these events affect an energy system and which system design is necessary to ensure a robust energy supply? To answer these questions, you will enhance an existing energy system model in Python and you will take on the following tasks:

• Identify and systematize disruptive events for the integrated energy system from the energy demand perspective
• Modeling of short- and medium-term scenarios with IEK-3‘s ETHOS model suite
• Establishing a database of the modeled scenarios for centralized access by IEK-3 models
• Analyzing the impact of disruptive events and scenarios for the German energy system
• Active participation in the scientific and public discourse (including publication of results in high-impact scientific journals)

Your Profile:

• A completed master`s degree in the field of natural or (industrial) engineering, informatics, or a related field of study
• Very good knowledge of energy technology, energy economics and energy politics
• Good programming skills (e. g. Python)
• Sound knowledge in the following fields is an advantage: Scenario technique, surveys of experts, impact analysis, databases
• High degree of independence and willingness to show great commitment
• Very reliable and conscientious work style
• Fluent English and German language skills, both written and spoken

Our Offer:

We work on the very latest issues that impact our society and are offering you the chance to actively help in shaping the change! We offer ideal conditions for you to complete your doctoral degree:

• Strong collaboration in a project team in the RESUR project ( https://www.fz-juelich.de/en/iek/iek-3/projects/resur )
• A highly motivated working group as well as an international and interdisciplinary working environment in one of the largest research institutions in Europe
• Collaboration in an exciting joint research project with top-class partners
• 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)
• A large research campus in the countryside, which offers the best opportunities for networking with colleagues as well as for a sporty balance besides work
• 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
• The opportunity to complete a doctoral thesis within 3 years through professional supervision and internal support services; time taken to submit the final thesis for the last 16 doctoral students at IEK-3: 2.7 – 3.4 years
• Targeted services for international employees, e.g. through our International Advisory Service

The position is 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“). 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.