Posting Title
Postdoctoral Researcher- EMT Simulation and Stability Analysis of Inverter-Based Power Systems

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Location
CO - Boulder

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Position Type
Postdoc (Fixed Term)

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Hours Per Week
40

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Working at NREL
NREL’s 305-acre Flatirons Campus is the nation’s premier wind energy, water power, and grid integration research facility. Nestled south of Boulder, Colorado, and north of NREL’s main South Table Mountain campus, Flatirons sits adjacent to the Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge and countless acres of open space and parks with stunning views of the Flatirons rock formations.

From day one at NREL, you’ll connect with coworkers driven by the same mission to save the planet. By joining an organization that values a supportive, inclusive, and flexible work environment, you’ll have the opportunity to engage through our eight employee resource groups, numerous employee-driven clubs, and learning and professional development classes.

NREL supports inclusive, diverse, and unbiased hiring practices that promote creativity and innovation. By collaborating with organizations that focus on diverse talent pools, reaching out to underrepresented demographics, and providing an inclusive application and interview process, our Talent Acquisition team aims to hear all voices equally. We strive to attract a highly diverse workforce and create a culture where every employee feels welcomed and respected and they can be their authentic selves.

Our planet needs us! Learn about NREL’s critical objectives, and see how NREL is focused on saving the planet.

Note: Research suggests that potential job seekers may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage anyone who is interested in this opportunity to apply. We seek dedicated people who believe they have the skills and ambition to succeed at NREL to apply for this role.

Job Description

NREL conducts world-class energy research in the public interest. Nestled in the foothills of Golden, Colorado, surrounded by grassland, and convenient to Denver, Boulder, and several suburbs, the NREL campus is a living experiment filled with curious researchers and advanced energy technologies (e.g., improving the nation's electrical grid infrastructure, making it more flexible, reliable, resilient, secure, and sustainable).

The successful candidate will work in Golden with an interdisciplinary team of experienced NREL researchers to design, develop, and evaluate power electronic converters as well as the associated controls for widespread integration of renewable energy sources to the power systems.

At a minimum, the successful candidate will join a team of nationally and internationally recognized experts working in the broad field of renewable grid integration. Organizationally, this position resides in the Integrated Devices and Systems Group (IDS) of the Power Systems and Engineering Center (PSEC). IDS, PSEC, and NREL are committed to fostering a creative, curiosity-driven, inclusive workplace, and to supporting and mentoring research staff as they progress in their career.

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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

Education and experience
•    Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering with experience in electromagnetic transient (EMT) modeling, simulation, control design and analysis of inverter-based resources (completed within the last 3 years)
•    Experience with software tools such as PSCAD, MATLAB/Simulink, Saber, PLECS, DIgSILENT, or other EMT simulation tools.
•    Experience in dynamic and transient performance of wind, solar, and battery energy storage plants.
•    In-depth understanding of bulk power system dynamic and transient performance.
•    Excellent writing and communications skills.
•    Ability to present technical results to a wide audience.
The role requires modeling and simulation of power systems with high levels of wind and solar generation interfaced by inverter-based resources. The modeling approach will consist of both physics-based and data-driven methods for stability analysis of wind and solar energy systems. The developed models and stability analysis outcomes will be evaluated and validated using both offline and real-time software and power hardware.
Research interests
•    Strong interest in future energy systems, including renewable energy, electrification, power system operations and planning.
•    Enthusiastic about learning new skills and applying them in a collaborative environment to help address critical energy system research questions.

Preferred Qualifications
Education and experience
•    Experience with control design and modeling of HVDC systems
•    Experience with impedance/frequency scan methods for stability analysis of power systems
•    Experience with MATLAB and Python programming languages.
•    Knowledge of dynamic and transient performance standards of IBRs
•    Strong technical writing skills evident from the publication record 
•    Previous experience writing research proposals.

Preferred Qualifications

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Annual Salary Range (based on full-time 40 hours per week)
Job Profile: Postdoctoral Researcher / Annual Salary Range: $71,300 - $117,600

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

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.

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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EEO Policy

NREL is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard basis of age (40 and over), color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic partner status, military or veteran status, national origin/ancestry, race, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding), sexual orientation, and any other applicable status protected by federal, state, or local laws.

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