PhD Stipend in Risk-based Design Optimisation Framework for Subsea Offshore Renewable Infrastructures using Reinforcement Learning

The Department of Energy at Aalborg University (AAU Energy) invites applications for a PhD stipend within the project HVDC Subsea Electrode Unit starting from July 2026 or soon hereafter. The employment is fixed for 3-years and is funded by the Energy Technology Development and Demonstration Programme (EUDP). The project aims to deliver a standardised robust and scalable subsea electrode unit for HVDC systems.

The PhD project will develop a methodological framework for risk-based structural design and integrity management of the support structure of the subsea HVDC electrode units using reinforcement learning techniques enabling lightweight reliable cost-efficient and sustainable novel design concepts and structural integrity strategies. The PhD will revisit the established design and structural integrity management methodology in light of recent advances in high-fidelity load and structural response lifetime assessment under coupled failure mechanisms novel materials proactive maintenance approaches and new subsea sensing capabilities accounting for aleatory and epistemic uncertainties.

Join this exciting academiaindustry collaboration advancing next-generation HVDC subsea infrastructure and be part of a supportive international research environment working closely with academic and industrial partners as you develop into a recognised independent researcher.

Project context and key objectives
As offshore wind deployment expands farther from shore HVDC transmission is increasingly used for efficient long-distance power transfer where offshore corrective operations can be costly and logistically demanding. HVDC subsea electrode solutions can support affordable reliable and sustainable transmission by enabling installation directly on the seabed and reducing the need for additional protective barrier structures and associated costly vessel operations. However safe cost-efficient and sustainable deployment requires life-cycle management strategies that account for environmental loading soilstructure interaction material behaviour prominent degradation and failure mechanisms and associated uncertainties.

Your work tasks
The PhD student will develop their own research track within the project whilst being supported by close supervision from AAUs leading academics and access to AAU Energys facilities and capabilities for high-fidelity computational numerical modelling and analysis. The position is offered in the research group Offshore Renewable Energy Systems and the PhD student will be positioned at the Esbjerg section of AAU Energy. Expected activities include (but are not limited to):

• Gain in-depth understanding of the lifetime assessment considering loads (polymer-based)
  material behaviour and failure mechanisms (fatigue fracture and biofouling ) of subsea structures.
• Perform sensitivity and uncertainty analysis to uncover the most significant variables in the design limit states.
• Develop a computational framework using partially-observable multi-agent reinforcement learning to achieve optimal policies and decisions with respect to the structural design and integrity management.
• Establish novel generalisable target reliability levels and partial safety factors for larger subsea applications.
• Publish results in peer-reviewed journals and present at conferences; contribute to technical
  reports and collaborate with industrial partners.
  

Your competencies
We are seeking candidates who possess or are about to complete a masters degree in Ocean
Engineering Structural Engineering Risk and Reliability Engineering or Industrial Engineering or a
closely related discipline with a strong computational mathematics background.

A strong background and demonstrable interest in statistics applied mathematics quantitative risk analysis data science and machine learning as well as engineering modelling analysis and simulation is essential. Further the ideal applicant will be capable of working independently efficiently managing their own workload and collaborating productively within a multidisciplinary team environment.

As English is the working language excellent communication skills are required for technical reporting producing publications and delivering addition it would be advantageous for applicants to demonstrate proficiency in at least one scientific programming environment such as Python MATLAB or R. Familiarity with structural degradation phenomenaincluding fatigue corrosion and biofoulingwould also be beneficial.

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 and internationally oriented research department at Aalborg University dedicated to developing clean and sustainable energy systems. Our research spans electrical thermal and mechatronic energy technologies and we work closely with industry and academic partners to address real-world energy challenges.
The department is located in both Aalborg and Esbjerg and this position is based at the Esbjerg campus.
AAU Energy employs approximately 300 staff members from diverse national backgrounds including 39 technical and administrative staff and regularly hosts 20-30 guest researchers from around the world.
We offer advanced laboratory and workshop facilities and a collaborative environment that supports innovation knowledge sharing and professional development.

Learn more about AAU Energy at .

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)
• Project description (4-5 pages) that:
  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.
• 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.

For professional questions please contact Baran Yeter .

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
When pursuing a PhD at Aalborg University youll receive a stipend which includes both salary
and pension benefits. The base salary starts at a minimum of 31.24275 DKK before taxes with an
additional 1807% added for pension contributions. However the final salary can be negotiated
based on your qualifications and experience with seniority playing a key role in determining the
main salary.
Read more about pension options here.

At Aalborg Universitys Doctoral School engineering PhD students enjoy unique career
development opportunities. These include personalized DISC profile assessments with feedback
career-focused courses and networking events with trade unions employers and other relevant
parties. Learn more about these initiatives at our Career Hub.

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.