PhD Stipend in Modelling of Grid-Forming Wind Turbine Generators with Balanced Performance

At the Faculty of Engineering and Science AAU Energy a position as PhD stipend is available within the general study program. The PhD stipend is open for appointment from 1st June 2026 or soon after. The position is for 3 years and it is funded by Marie-Skłodowska-Curie Action (MSCA) grant on WindConnect project.

The project
The WindConnect (wind farm control and integration in sector-coupled power systems
consortium unites leading experts from academia and industry across Europe leveraging expertise in wind energy power systems power electronics control engineering artificial intelligence and energy economics. This multidisciplinary collaboration addresses the pressing challenges of integrating wind energy into sector-coupled power systems including green hydrogen production while ensuring grid stability flexibility and sustainability.

• The project offers you competitive salaries (plus allowances) and funding for technical and personal skills training and participation in international research events.
• You will develop both theoretical and applied work as you will be in close contact to real applications.
• You will participate in international secondments to other organisations in the network and in outreach activities with audiences beyond the research community.

Prerequisite for applicants
On the date you start work (likely to be 1st July 2026) you as researcher must not have lived in Denmark for more than 12 of the previous 36 months must have less than four years full-time equivalent research experience and must not have a doctoral degree.

Your work tasks
The energy transition poses fundamental challenges for our power grids: large conventional power plants with synchronous generators are successively being replaced by renewable energy sources (such as wind turbine generators) which are interfaced via power electronics converters. This transformation drastically reduces the physical inertia within electrical power grids while simultaneously increasing the volatility of generation and the future these developments could aggravate grid instabilities and in worst case cause large-scale blackouts.

This poses the following key research questions for the power grid community:

• What is the main functional difference between the typical grid-following wind turbine generator and the grid-forming wind turbine generator
• How does the grid-forming wind turbine generator help to improve the stability of a low-inertia power system and what is the cost
• If the grid-forming capability is mandatory how can the grid-forming capability MPPT and other functions of a wind turbine be balanced in the best technical way

The aim of this PhD project is to develop wind turbine models with different control technologies such as developing a typical grid-following type-4 wind turbine generator (WTG) simulation model and a grid-forming type-4 WTG model without or with an energy storage system. The main research target is to evaluate the grid-forming capability of a wind turbine generator in different operating scenarios. The outcomes may help to apply the grid-forming control technology into practical wind turbines.

Your competencies
Applicants are required to have an excellent academic background with a masters degree or equivalent in Energy Engineering Electrical Engineering Mathematics Control theory or any other related discipline potentially with skills in Power Electronics Converters and Control. Applicants who are in the final phase of their masters degree are also encouraged to apply but have to complete the master before starting the fellowship.

• Motivation and potential for research activities. Ability to work independently and in a team. Be innovative and creative. Keep an open mind.
• Expertise within the following topics will be an advantage: Wind Turbine Control Control of grid-connected converter Motor drive Control engineering and Stability-related research.
• Expertise with the following engineering tools and programming languages can be an advantage but not limited to: MATLAB PLECS PSCAD others.
• Excellent English language skills (both oral and written). Publications in international
  journals/conferences will be valued.

Qualification requirements
PhD stipends are allocated to individuals who hold a Masters degree. PhD stipends are normally for a period of 3 years. It is a prerequisite for allocation of the stipend that the candidate will be enrolled as a PhD student at the Doctoral School of Engineering and Science in accordance with the regulations of Ministerial Order No. 1124 of September 19 2025 on the PhD Programme at the Universities and Certain Higher Artistic Educational Institutions. According to the Ministerial Order the progress of the PhD student shall be assessed at regular points in time. As part of the PhD study you are among other things required to complete PhD courses corresponding to 30 ECTS gain experience with teaching or other forms of knowledge dissemination and complete an external research stay outside of Aalborg University preferably 3-6 months at a foreign research institution.

Who we are

AAU Energy is a dynamic engineering research department in continuous growth and inspiring surroundings.

AAU Energy has a very international environment and covers all areas of clean and sustainable energy systems of the future within electrical thermal and mechatronic energy technology. AAU Energy has campuses in both Aalborg and Esbjerg this position is located in Aalborg.
The mission is to be world leading in both research and research-based education of the energy engineers of the future. AAU Energy has approx. 300 employees of many nationalities of which 25 are administrative addition AAU Energy constantly has approx. 50-70 guest researchers from around the world.

Research and teaching are in the absolute world elite in the field of energy and we have extensive and leading workshop and laboratory facilities where research and innovation are carried out in direct collaboration with industry to a great extent.

The position is offered in relation to the research program Power Electronic Control Reliability and System Optimization and the PhD Student will be positioned to the section for Applied Power Electronic Systems.

How to apply
Your application must include the following:

• Application stating reasons for applying and qualifications in relation to the position
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Diplomas (bachelors and masters degree diploma including grades)
• Publications (if applicable)
• Project description (3-5 pages) which describes the applicants initial thoughts and ideas related to the specific project applied for. This includes a brief state-of-the-art (including short list of references) a time schedule and how the applicant intends to shed light on the project objectives.
  All documentation should be in English and merged in a single PDF document. Please note that applications which do not follow the announcements guidelines will not be considered.
• Other relevant documents

The application must be submitted via Aalborg Universitys recruitment system which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aalborg Universitys website.

Aalborg University wants to reflect the surrounding society and has diversity as a core value. Therefore everyone regardless of personal background and orientation is encouraged to apply for the position.

Do you have any questions
If you have any questions about the position you are more than welcome to contact us. You will find contact persons at the bottom of the jobpost.

Further information
Read more about our recruitment process here.

The assessment of candidates for the position will be carried out by qualified experts.
Shortlisting will be applied. This means that after the application deadline the head of the department with the assistance of the hiring committee will select the applicants to be assessed. All applicants will be informed whether they have been shortlisted for assessment or not.

The hiring process at Aalborg University may include a risk assessment as a tool to identify potential risks associated with new hires ensuring the safety compliance and integrity of the workplace.

Read more about The Doctoral School of Engineering and Science

Salary and terms of employment
The employment is in accordance with the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities (the Appointment Order) and the Ministerial Order on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities (in Danish).

Salary and terms of employment are in accordance with the collective agreement between the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations and the state (AC collective agreement) (in Danish)

There is a mutual probationary period of 3 months for the position.

Aalborg University - Knowledge for the world
Aalborg University is an international workplace with more than 3700 employees. We offer real-world-oriented education and create world-class research results through collaboration between researchers students and public and private companies. This is how we achieve insights new solutions to societal problems and knowledge that changes the world. Our main campus is in Aalborg but we also have campuses in Esbjerg and Copenhagen.