Aalborg University (AAU), one of Denmark’s top-ranked research universities, is offering one or more fully funded PhD stipends in Coordinated Control Interactions and Local Stability of Asynchronous Grids. The position is hosted by AAU Energy, within the Section for Applied Power Electronic Systems, and is funded through a prestigious European Research Council (ERC) Synergy Grant — the Store-and-Forward Energy Grid project, also known as SAFEr Grid. This international research effort is carried out in collaboration with RWTH Aachen University in Germany.
The stipend covers a three-year period starting from September 1, 2026, or shortly after. It includes a competitive salary, pension contributions, and access to one of Europe’s most dynamic research environments in energy systems engineering. The application deadline is May 22, 2026.
What Is the SAFEr Grid Project?
The SAFEr Grid project proposes a fundamentally new architecture for electrical power grids. Instead of relying on frequency as a universal stability metric — the traditional approach in synchronous power systems — this project explores the concept of asynchronous grids (a-grids), where power systems are divided into compartments connected by energy routers. This approach shifts the focus toward energy routing between decoupled grid segments, using cyber-physical modeling and internet-based communication layers to coordinate control signals across the system.
This paradigm creates entirely new research challenges: without a shared frequency signal, how do you ensure stability locally while maintaining coherence globally? How do latency, data packet loss, and communication link failures in the digital layer affect the physical grid? These are the questions the selected PhD candidate will work on — questions that could reshape how future power grids operate across Europe and beyond.
Responsibilities and Research Scope
The PhD candidate will be expected to develop new local stability metrics for asynchronous grids, replacing the frequency-based metrics used in conventional power systems. The research involves designing novel control structures that coordinate power electronics through an internet-based cyber layer, and analyzing how communication delays, link failures, and data inconsistencies affect grid stability at both local and cross-grid scales.
Specifically, the work includes modeling control interactions within individual asynchronous grids, studying the propagation of cyber-induced disturbances across interconnected grid compartments, and improving energy routing schemes and energy buffer forecasting under dynamic and contingent conditions. The candidate will also contribute to teaching or knowledge dissemination activities, complete PhD-level coursework equivalent to 30 ECTS, and undertake a research stay of three to six months at a foreign institution.
Financial Benefits
This is a salaried research position, not a traditional scholarship. PhD stipend holders at Aalborg University receive a base monthly salary starting at a minimum of 31,242.75 DKK (approximately €4,190) before taxes, plus an additional 18.07% employer pension contribution. The final salary is negotiable based on the candidate’s qualifications and prior experience. For international candidates comparing this with other fully funded PhD opportunities across Europe, Danish stipends are among the most financially competitive on the continent.
Beyond the salary, PhD students at AAU benefit from personalized career development services, including DISC profile assessments, career-focused courses, and structured networking events with professional organizations and employers.
Eligibility Criteria
To be considered for this position, applicants must hold — or be in the final stages of completing — a master’s degree in Energy Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, Control Theory, Cyber-Physical Systems, or a closely related discipline. Knowledge of power electronics is a plus but not mandatory.
The ideal candidate will have a solid academic foundation in power systems, control theory, or power electronics, with an interest in working across disciplinary boundaries that include communication networks and cyber-physical systems. Familiarity with simulation tools such as MATLAB, PLECS, or PSCAD strengthens an application, as does experience with distributed control, communication in engineering systems, or smart energy technologies.
Strong written and oral communication skills in English are required. Candidates must be able to present their work to diverse audiences, including researchers from other fields and external collaborators. Upon appointment, the selected candidate will be enrolled at the Doctoral School of Engineering and Science at Aalborg University, in accordance with Danish ministerial regulations governing PhD programs.
Application Process
Applications must be submitted online through Aalborg University’s recruitment system (Varbi platform) before May 22, 2026. The application package must include the following documents:
- A motivation letter explaining the candidate’s interest in the position and relevant qualifications
- A full curriculum vitae (CV)
- Copies of bachelor’s and master’s degree diplomas, including transcripts with grades
- A project description of 4 to 5 pages, outlining the candidate’s initial research ideas related to the project. This should include a brief literature review with references, a proposed timeline, and a description of how the candidate plans to address the project objectives
- Any other supporting documents the candidate considers relevant
Shortlisting will be applied: after the deadline, the department head and hiring committee will select which applicants proceed to expert evaluation. All applicants will be notified about whether they have been shortlisted. Interviews are expected to take place during June 2026.
For technical questions about the research project, candidates may contact Associate Professor Subham Sahoo (sssa@energy.aau.dk) or Professor Frede Blaabjerg (fbl@energy.aau.dk). For administrative inquiries, contact HR at AAU Energy (hr@energy.aau.dk).
Why Aalborg University?
AAU Energy is a research department with around 250 staff members from a wide range of national backgrounds, creating a genuinely international working environment where English is the primary language for research and teaching. The department covers electrical, thermal, and mechatronic energy technologies and maintains strong partnerships with both industry and academic institutions worldwide.
The position is based at the Aalborg campus, which offers advanced laboratory and workshop facilities. Aalborg University has built a global reputation in power electronics and energy systems — Professor Frede Blaabjerg, one of the supervisors for this project, is among the most cited researchers in the world in this field. For candidates exploring PhD opportunities across multiple disciplines in Europe, AAU consistently ranks as a top destination for energy and engineering research.
Denmark itself provides a highly supportive environment for international PhD researchers. The country invests heavily in clean energy research, and doctoral candidates are treated as employees with full labor rights, pension benefits, and access to social services — a significant advantage compared to many other PhD systems worldwide.
Key Dates and Reference
- Application deadline: May 22, 2026
- Expected start date: September 1, 2026 (or soon after)
- Duration: 3 years (full-time)
- Location: Aalborg, Denmark
- Reference number: 2026/648
- Interviews: June 2026
This position is an excellent fit for engineers and applied scientists who want to contribute to a fundamental rethinking of power grid architecture — one that moves beyond the century-old frequency paradigm toward something more modular, digitally coordinated, and resilient. The ERC Synergy Grant backing ensures both the prestige and the long-term funding stability that serious doctoral research demands.
To apply, visit the official listing on Aalborg University’s recruitment portal. For more funded doctoral and research opportunities, explore our scholarships section.
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