Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in Condition Monitoring and Performance Analytics

About the position

A 100 % position is available at the University of Agder, Faculty of Engineering and Science as a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in Mechatronics, affiliated to Top Research Centre Mechatronics at the Department of Engineering Sciences, systems for a period of two years, with possible contract extension. The position is located, at the present, at Campus Grimstad. The starting date is negotiable with the Faculty.

Responsibilities

This postdoc position will be part of the R&D project PHMHydro - Performance and Health Monitoring for Hydroelectric Powerplants. PHMHydro is a collaboration among the University of Agder, Norwegian research centre AS (NORCE), Agder Energi AS, and Volue Industrial IoT AS in Norway. The main objective of PHMHydro is to improve the longevity and profitability of Hydro Electric Powerplants (HEPs) by accelerating the penetration of data analytics in operations and maintenance (O&M). This position focuses on enhanced condition monitoring (CM) solutions for hydrogenerators, combining CM data, and inspection data to detect early faults in generators. Further, modular performance analytics based on SCADA and CM data will be developed to continuously evaluate the efficiency of each HEP system and forecast the performance capabilities. Developed methods and algorithms will be validated on scaled test setups, and Agder Energi’s pilot HEPs, with Volue Industrial IoT AS.

A close cooperation with other researchers working in the PHMHydro consortium and Top Research Centre Mechatronics is highly expected.

Required qualifications

The candidate must have a PhD in Mechatronics, Electrical Engineering, Renewable Energy, Mechanical Engineering, or similar. Having a PhD thesis in a related topic is a plus.  It is desirable that the applicant has defended his/her doctoral thesis within the last five years. Doctoral students are also welcome to apply if their defense is scheduled for the next few months.

Provisions relating to the positions as a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow can be found in the Regulations Concerning Terms and Conditions of Employment for the post of Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Research Fellow, Research Assistant and Resident.

The applicant should have:

• A solid academic background in electrical machines, mechatronics, energy systems, or a similar/related field.
• A good track record of scientific publishing. Scientific papers in reputed journals and participation in first-class international conferences related to these topics will be taken into account positively.
• A strong experience and/or background in data analytics, and numerical modelling.
• Motivation and strong interest in cutting-edge research
• English language proficiency, both written and oral.

Emphasis will be placed upon the applicant’s previous research and project description and the relevance it has with regard to the subject in question and the research environment at the Faculty.

Desired qualifications

• Good experience/knowledge in hydroelectric generator, fault diagnosis, finite element analysis, and applied machine learning.
• Programming experience in coding e.g. Python, or MATLAB
• Laboratory test and development.
• Good knowledge in Norwegian or another Scandinavian language is an advantage.

Personal qualities

• Excellent communication and teamwork skills.
• The ability to work independently, with a proactive approach.
• Creativity.
• Compassion.
• The ability to work in a goal-oriented, organized, and focused manner.

Personal qualities and suitability for the position will be emphasised.

We offer

• Professional development in a large, exciting and socially influential organisation
• Opportunities to expand expertise through interdisciplinary research.
• Opportunities to mentor undergraduate and masters students if desired.
• A positive, inclusive, and diverse working environment.
• Professional development in a large, exciting, and socially influential organisation.
• Access to resources and expertise of Top Research Centre Mechatronics
• Modern facilities and a comprehensive set of welfare offers.
• Flexible working hours
• Membership of the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund

More about working at UiA.

The position is remunerated according to the State Salary Scale, salary plan 17.510, code 1352 Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, NOK 563 900 – 626 100 gross salary per year. Higher salary grades may be considered for particularly well-qualified applicants. A compulsory pension contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund is deducted from the pay according to current statutory provisions.

General information

A good working environment is characterised by its diversity. We therefore encourage all qualified candidates to apply for the position, irrespective of gender, age, disability or cultural background. The University of Agder is an IW (Inclusive Workplace).

Women are strongly encouraged to apply for the position. 

The successful applicant will have rights and obligations in accordance with the current regulations for the position, and organisational changes and changes in the duties and responsibilities of the position must be expected. Appointment is made by the University of Agder’s Appointments Committee for Teaching and Research Positions. Read more about the employment process here.

In accordance with the Freedom of Information Act § 25 (2), applicants may request that they are not identified in the open list of applicants. The University, however, reserves the right to publish the names of applicants. Applicants will be advised of the University’s intention to exercise this right. 

Application

The application and any necessary information about education and experience (including diplomas and certificates) are to be sent electronically. Use the link "Apply for this job".

The following documentation must be uploaded electronically:

• Diplomas and transcripts with grades.
• CV including a complete list of scientific publications.
• One-page summary of PhD dissertation or link to open source.
• Up to three academic articles or R&D projects that the candidate wishes to particularly emphasise for the assessment process.
• Names and contact information for two references.

The applicant is fully responsible for submitting complete digital documentation before the closing date. All documentation must be available in English (when possible), or a Scandinavian language. Please do not submit large documents, like thesis or publications. If any additional information is required, the applicant will be informed later.

Application deadline: 31.07.23

Contact

For questions about the position:

• Professor Khang Huynh, tel. +47 37 23 34 21, mobile: +47 905 99 263 e-mail huynh.khang@uia.no
• Professor Kjell G. Robbersmyr, tel. +47 37 23 32 79, mobile +47 994 61 613, e-mail kjell.g.robbersmyr@uia.no

For questions about the application process:

• HR-adviser Linda H. Kristiansen, tel: +47 48 14 06 09,  e-mail linda.h.kristiansen@uia.no

University of Agder

The University of Agder has more than 1500 employees and almost 14 000 students. This makes us one of the largest workplaces in Southern Norway. Our staff research, teach and disseminate knowledge from a variety of academic fields. Co-creation of knowledge is our common vision. We offer a broad range of study programmes in many fields. We are situated at two modern campuses in Kristiansand and Grimstad respectively.

We are an open and inclusive university marked by a culture of cooperation. The aim of the university is to further develop education and research at a high international level.