Academic Researcher in Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, or Mathematics​/Academic Researcher; f​/m​/d

Official title:
Academic Researcher (f/m/d) in Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, or Mathematics

Location:

Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany; also Karlsruhe | Employment information:
Full-time, fixed term for three years

This is a research appointment concerned with the coordination of flexible facilities in electricity systems. The technical aim is to conceive, implement, evaluate and test new solutions for smart grids and virtual power plants. A successful candidate will work with both the uncertainty inherent in these systems and the potential of reinforcement learning to support coordination decisions.

The role is not limited to desk-based analysis. It requires programming, simulation and experimental activity using the Energy Lab's actual hardware and the Campus North grid. The work culminates in analysis, academic publication and conference communication, while also including support for teaching.

• Research smart grids, virtual power plants and the current state of the art, identifying meaningful research gaps.
• Examine coordination challenges created by variable renewable electricity generation, storage systems and flexible consumers.
• Conceive new solutions for coordinating flexible or controllable facilities, with reinforcement learning and stochastic influences in view.
• Design models and algorithms appropriate to the research questions.
• Program the developed approaches and implement them in computer simulations.
• Use the Energy Lab's actual hardware and the Campus North grid after the simulation stage.
• Conduct experiments, analyse the outcomes and derive further insights from the results.
• Publish findings in academic journals and at conferences, and assist with teaching.

• Completed master's degree in computer science, mechanical engineering, mathematics, industrial engineering and management, or a comparable field of study.
• Excellent knowledge of machine learning and statistics.
• Solid expertise in energy informatics and electrical engineering.
• Strong understanding of stochastic processes and probability theory.
• Programming experience.
• Excellent written and spoken English.
• Strong teamwork and communication skills.
• A willingness to learn and a solution-oriented approach to work.

• Machine-learning knowledge applied with sound statistical understanding.
• Ability to reason about stochastic processes and probability theory.
• Programming capability for models, algorithms and simulations.
• Energy-informatics expertise combined with electrical-engineering knowledge.
• Excellent written and spoken English for research collaboration and publication activity.
• Teamwork, communication, learning agility and solution-oriented working practices.

• Full-time, fixed-term employment for three years at the Institute for Automation and Applied Informatics (IAI).
• EG 13 TV-L classification; the stated gross annual remuneration range is EUR 59,300 to 66,800, subject to personal and professional prerequisites.
• Structured onboarding, varied continuing-education options and individual development support.
• Flexible working-time arrangements, mobile work and 30 days of vacation.
• KIT-Family+ support, including child care, holiday programmes, a parent-child office and assistance with care for relatives.
• Health-related sports courses and mental-health offerings through the employer's wellbeing programme.
• Occupational pension provision, a monthly Jobticket BW subsidy, and cultural and leisure offerings.