Posting Title

Postdoctoral Researcher: Bulk Power Systems Multi-timescale Operation, Modeling and Simulation

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Location

CO - Golden

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Position Type

Postdoc (Fixed Term)

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Hours Per Week

40

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Working at NREL

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, Colorado is the nation's primary laboratory for energy systems research and development.

Join the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), where world-class scientists, engineers, and experts are accelerating energy innovation through breakthrough research and systems integration. From our mission to our collaborative culture, NREL stands out in the research community for its commitment to an affordable and secure energy future. Spanning foundational science to applied systems engineering and analysis, we focus on solving complex challenges to deliver advanced, secure, reliable, and cost-effective energy solutions. Our work helps strengthen U.S. industries, support job creation, and promote national economic growth.

At NREL, you’ll find a mission-driven environment supported by state-of-the-art facilities, multidisciplinary research teams, and strong collaborations with industry, academia, and other national laboratories. We offer robust professional development opportunities, and a competitive benefits package designed to support your career and well-being.

Job Description

Grid Automation and Control (GAC) Group of the Power Systems and Engineering Center (PSEC) at NREL is looking for an exceptional Ph.D. graduate to support research in the operation, modeling, and simulation of the power grid, while the power grid is transitioning to a modern grid with increasing growth of load and inverter-based resources (IBRs). The successful candidate will join a highly interdisciplinary and collaborative team of engineers, analysts, and software developers. GAC works to develop and apply state-of-the-art energy system modeling techniques, software, and simulations for breakthrough engineering and techno-economic analysis of the emerging future electric grid and broader interconnected energy system: transportation, buildings, gas, communication/controls, and beyond.

PSEC supports the science and technology goals of the U.S. Department of Energy, NREL, and industry partners toward a sustainable energy future. We work with the electricity industry and broader research community to conduct high-impact research and development that provides practical solutions to grid design and integration challenges that enable sustainable energy systems. PSEC uniquely combines the most advanced research techniques with real-world experience for achieving sustainable electricity grids.

The successful candidate will be working on developing the cutting-edge modeling and simulation technologies of the future modern power grid. The successful candidate is expected to bring in solid power system modeling expertise including power system networks, loads, and dynamic electrical components, like synchronous generators and inverter-based resources; develop innovative optimization platforms to address the challenges and resolutions of operating a future grid; and have a passion to explore the future modern power grids in terms of economics, stability, reliability and resilience.

Job duties and responsibilities include:

• Conduct studies of the power system to address stability challenges for utility partners from an operational planning perspective. 

• Modeling of power systems from day-ahead unit commitment down to real-time economic dispatch.

• Develop the advanced ancillary service/controls for new type of electrical components (such as IBRs and data center) to improve the stability, reliability, and resilience of the power grid.

• Maintain/enhance existing NREL simulation testbeds/platforms/tools for testing innovative research ideas.

• Prepare the results in form of reports and presentations.

• Write and publish results of analyses in peer-reviewed journals, transactions, conference proceedings, and/or technical reports.

This will be a hybrid position (mix of in-person work at South Table Mountain Campus in Golden, CO and work-from-home days, in any given work week) unless otherwise agreed upon by the Hiring Manager.

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Basic Qualifications