Job Information
National Renewable Energy Laboratory Post-Doctoral Researcher - Inverter-Based Resources (IBRs) Driven Stability Study and Analysis in Golden, Colorado
Posting Title
Post-Doctoral Researcher - Inverter-Based Resources (IBRs) Driven Stability Study and Analysis
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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 research and development of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.
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Job Description
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, Colorado is the nation's primary laboratory for research and development of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.
The Power Systems Engineering Center (PSEC) is looking for a Post-Doctoral Researcher to contribute to Inverter Based Resources (IBR) Driven Stability Studies and Analysis. PSEC at NREL is supports the science and technology goals of the U.S. Department of Energy and NREL toward a sustainable energy future. The center works with the electricity industry to optimize strategies for effectively interconnecting renewable resources and emerging energy efficiency technologies in the existing electric power system. The center focuses on resolving grid integration barriers and providing improved control and management strategies for increased grid flexibility, consumer empowerment, and transportation electrification.
The global energy transition is rapidly advancing towards renewable energy sources, with Inverter-Based Resources (IBRs) like solar and wind power becoming central due to their declining costs and technological improvements. This shift is supported by policy incentives, grid modernization, and the increasing importance of energy storage solutions to manage variability and enhance grid stability. In particular, as the penetration of IBRs increases, power system dynamics undergo changes, leading to unprecedented dynamic events that threaten power system stability and reliability. This position will be dedicated to multiple high impact projects to work on inverter-based-resources (IBR) dominant grids. The successful candidate will be the key contributors to those projects to develop IBR models, perform power system stability study and analysis, and propose solutions to improve system stability with high IBRs.
The successful candidate is expected to keep learning and knowing the state-of-the-art critical approaches and methodologies for IBR driven stability. Further, this position requires excellent writing and communication skills to disseminate completed works through publications in high-quality journals and conferences. The successful candidate will also follow all Environment, Safety, and Health policies and procedures to ensure and maintain a safe working environment.
This position includes HIL laboratory testing, and is hiring for a hybrid (at least 50% on-site, some Work From Home) arrangement. This position is not open to fully remote positions from outside Colorado.
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Basic Qualifications
Must be a recent PhD graduate within the last three years.
* Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.
Additional Required Qualifications
Required Education, Experience, and Skills:
Recent Ph.D. graduate in electrical engineering (or similar) within the last 3 years.
Solid power electronics control background with knowledge in linear system control theory
Solid knowledge foundation in converter and power system modeling (small signal and large signal modeling, stability analysis, stabilization)
Solid knowledge in power system dynamics and stability analysis
Preferred Qualifications
Extensive experience with software simulation tools for modeling power electronics including PSCAD, and MATLAB/Simulink SimPowerSystems
Computer programming (e.g., Python) and simulation automation scripting
Experience with machine learning algorithms, especially deep reinforcement learning
Hardware-in-the-Loop experience (e.g., RTDS, OPAL-RT)
Existing track record of high-quality publications
Excellent writing and communications skills
Ability to present technical results to a wide audience
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Job Application Submission Window
The anticipated closing window for application submission is up to 30 days and may be extended as needed.
Annual Salary Range (based on full-time 40 hours per week)
Job Profile: Postdoctoral Researcher / Annual Salary Range: $73,200 - $120,800
NREL takes into consideration a candidate’s education, training, and experience, expected quality and quantity of work, required travel (if any), external market and internal value, including seniority and merit systems, and internal pay alignment when determining the salary level for potential new employees. In compliance with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, a potential new employee’s salary history will not be used in compensation decisions.
Benefits Summary
Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; short-term disability insurance; pension benefits; 403(b) Employee Savings Plan with employer match*; life and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance; personal time off (PTO) and sick leave; and paid holidays. NREL employees may be eligible for, but are not guaranteed, performance-, merit-, and achievement- based awards that include a monetary component. Some positions may be eligible for relocation expense reimbursement.
* Based on eligibility rules
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Submission Guidelines
Please note that in order to be considered an applicant for any position at NREL you must submit an application form for each position for which you believe you are qualified. Applications are not kept on file for future positions. Please include a cover letter and resume with each position application.
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The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is a leader in the U.S. Department of Energy’s effort to secure an environmentally and economically sustainable energy future. With locations in Golden and Boulder, Colorado, and a satellite office in Washington, D.C., NREL is the primary laboratory for research, development, and deployment of renewable energy technologies in the United States.
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Drug Free Workplace
NREL is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace in accordance with the federal Drug-Free Workplace Act and complies with federal laws prohibiting the possession and use of illegal drugs. Under federal law, marijuana remains an illegal drug.
If you are offered employment at NREL, you must pass a pre-employment drug test prior to commencing employment. Unless prohibited by state or local law, the pre-employment drug test will include marijuana. If you test positive on the pre-employment drug test, your offer of employment may be withdrawn.
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