2 Doctoral Researcher positions in PV Inverter Operation and Control for Power Grid Interaction

Aalto University is where science and art meet technology and business. We shape a sustainable future by making research breakthroughs in and across our disciplines, sparking the game changers of tomorrow and creating novel solutions to major global challenges. Our community is made up of 120 nationalities, 14 000 students, 400 professors and close to 5000 faculty and staff working on our dynamic campus in Espoo, Greater Helsinki, Finland. Diversity is part of who we are, and we actively work to ensure our community’s diversity and inclusiveness. This is why we warmly encourage qualified candidates from all backgrounds to join our community.

We are currently seeking two highly motivated Doctoral Researchers to join the Department of Electrical Engineering at Aalto University, Finland, within a Horizon Europe research project focused on next-generation smart photovoltaic (PV) inverters for future power systems.

The successful candidates will contribute to research on advanced inverter control, Digital Twin–based system integration, and large-scale virtual and real-time validation of grid-connected power electronic systems. The work is strongly connected to real industrial use cases and European demonstration pilots.

Research focus

The PhD candidates will work on topics including (but not limited to):

• Advanced control of grid-connected PV inverters, including grid-support functions such as synthetic inertia, fast frequency and voltage support, and service-oriented control architectures.

• Integration of inverter control and energy management systems into Digital Twin (DT) platforms for real-time monitoring, simulation, and predictive analysis.

• System-level validation using real-time simulation and Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) techniques, including Controller-HIL and Power-HIL.

• Virtual upscaling studies of PV-dominated power systems to assess stability, interoperability, and scalability under high renewable penetration.

Desired background

We are looking for candidates with a strong background in one or more of the following areas:

• Control of grid-connected converters and inverter-based resources.

• Modelling and simulation of power electronics–based conversion systems.

Experience or strong interest in the following areas is highly desirable:

• MATLAB/Simulink for modelling and control design

• Real-time control and simulation platforms (e.g., dSPACE, OPAL-RT, Typhoon HIL)

• Digital Twins, co-simulation, or cyber-physical energy systems

• Programming skills (e.g., C/C++, Python) and embedded control implementation

If you are chosen for this position, you will apply for the study right in doctoral studies at Aalto University School of Electrical Engineering. Thus, please see the student information and admission criteria at https://www.aalto.fi/en/study-options/aalto-doctoral-programme-in-electrical-engineering.

What we offer

• Fully funded PhD position at Aalto University, consistently ranked among the top universities in Europe.

• The positions will be filled for a period of 4 years (2 + 2), starting  in May 2026 or as mutually agreed.

• The salary will be based on both the job requirements and the employee’s personal performance in accordance with the salary system of Finnish universities. The starting salary for a PhD student is 3075 EUR/month.

• Opportunity to work in a high-impact European research project with leading academic and industrial partners.

• Access to state-of-the-art laboratories for real-time simulation and power electronics.

• A stimulating international research environment and excellent supervision.

Ready to apply?

If you want to join our community, please submit your application through our recruitmentsite ("Apply now!” at the bottom of the page) by 28.2.2026.

To apply, please share the following application materials in English and in pdf-format with us:

• A CV including and information of at least two referees.

• Copy of your academic transcripts and diplomas for Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees.

Please note: Aalto University’s employees should apply for the position via our internal HR system Workday (Internal Jobs) by using their existing Workday user account (not via the external webpage for open positions). If you are a student or visitor at Aalto University, please apply with your personal email address (not aalto.fi) via Aalto University open positions

If you wish to hear more about the position, you can reach out to Professor Edris Pouresmaeil (edris.pouresmaeil@aalto.fi).For questions related to the application process, please contact HR Advisor Johanna Haapalainen (hr-elec@aalto.fi).

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