Postdoctoral Research Associate

Washington State University • Pullman, WA

4d • Onsite

About The Position

This is a Postdoctoral Research Associate position within the Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture (VCEA), School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS)/Energy Systems Innovation Center (ESIC) at Washington State University (WSU). The candidate will lead and support funded research projects under the supervision of Dr. Wei Du, Assistant Professor. The research will focus on developing high-fidelity grid-forming inverter models and high-voltage direct current (HVDC) models, and investigating their impact on power system stability. The role also involves developing robust control strategies for inverter-based resources and conducting hardware experiments and hardware-in-the-loop testing to validate control algorithms. Additionally, the candidate will assist in supervising Ph.D. students, including creating research plans, monitoring progress, and aiding in the dissemination of results. This includes helping prepare training and skill development plans for students and holding weekly paper reading sessions.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, specializing in Power Engineering or related discipline
• Experience conducting research on modelling and analysis of the power grid
• Experience conducting research on high-fidelity inverter models and high-voltage direct current (HBCD) models on power system stability
• Not eligible for work visa sponsorship

Responsibilities

• Conduct research on modelling and analysis of electric power grid
• Study impacts of high-fidelity grid-forming inverter models and high-voltage direct current (HVCD) models on power system stability
• Contribute to the advances of power systems optimization and stability
• Lead collaborations with PNNL researchers and develop proposals to support new efforts in the aforementioned problem space
• Help supervise Ph.D. students: Create a research plan aligned with ongoing projects, timely follow-up on research progress, and assist in dissemination of the results
• Help prepare training and skill development plans for early Ph.D. students related to conceptual understanding, research methodology, and implementation details
• Hold weekly paper reading session with Ph.D. students and provide feedback

Benefits

• Paid sick and vacation leave
• Paid holidays
• Medical, dental, life and disability insurance package for employees and dependents
• Retirement
• Deferred compensation
• Optional supplemental retirement accounts

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree