Postdoctoral Researcher: Inverter-based Resources (IBR) Driven Power Stability and Protection Study

National Laboratory of the Rockies • Golden, CO

8d • $76,600 - $126,400 • Onsite

About The Position

This position is within the Energy Systems Control and Optimization (ESCO) group within the Power Systems Engineering Center (PSEC) at The National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR). It will be dedicated to multiple high impact projects to advance the state-of-the-art transient stability studies in inverter-based-resources (IBR) dominant grids. The successful candidate will be the key contributors to those projects to develop.

Requirements

• Must be a recent PhD graduate within the last three years.
• Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.
• Strong background in power electronics, control theory, and power system stability and good experience with IBR modeling, control, and stability analysis (e.g., small-signal stability analysis, transient stability analysis)
• Significant experience with power system simulation software tools, such as PSCAD, PSSE, PSLF, Matlab/Simulink, RSCAD, and highly proficiency with python programing.
• Knowledge of protection relays (e.g., differential element, distance element, directional element, traveling wave based protection) and experience with protection relay configuration and controller-hardware-in-the-loop testing and results analysis
• Excellent writing and communication skills
• Ability to work independently and troubleshoot issues

Responsibilities

• Perform deep fundamental studies to investigate the IBR-driven stability from device level to system level and propose stability improvement control strategies for IBR dominant power systems with low inertia and short-circuit ratio (SCR).
• Build IBR-dominant power systems EMT model in PSCAD and develop automatic script to run large set of simulation scenarios, and extract key features for studies (stability study etc.)
• Develop protective relay models based on vendor’s relay datasheet and manual
• Perform comprehensive fault studies to evaluate the adequacy of existing protection schemes and propose improved protection schemes and validate through simulated relay models and commercial protective relays for an industry collaborated project
• Lead and contribute to journal articles, conference papers, and technical reports.

Benefits

• 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
• paid holidays

What This Job Offers

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