Doctoral student in Grid Impact Assessment of Optimized Energy Communities

Role: Doctoral student in Grid Impact Assessment of Optimized Energy Communities
Organization: KTH Royal Institute of Technology
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Contract Type: Temporary, Full-time
Application Deadline: 1 Jul 2026

Job Overview
The Swedish Energy Agency-funded Pilot and Demonstration project “Energiomställning genom effektiv optimering av lokala energiresurser” (Energy Transition through Efficient Optimization of Local Energy Resources) is a major system demonstration and scaling initiative. The project demonstrates how energy communities can optimize local energy resources (solar PV, batteries, heat pumps and electric vehicles) through energy management and also assess its impact on the electric grid network. The aim is to deliver real system-level benefits: efficient energy sharing, flexibility services, reduced grid reinforcement needs, and broad replication of scalable, equitable energy community solutions.

The doctoral student at KTH will play a central role in the technical and system-level work, focusing on development and calibration of digital twins, advanced modelling and optimization of local energy systems, focusing on energy communities, techno-economic analysis, grid-impact studies, and scenario modelling for large-scale replication.

Supervision: Dr. Jagruti Thakur, Prof. Björn Laumert and Dr. Patrik Ollas (RISE) are proposed as the supervisors.

Responsibilities
* Development and calibration of digital twins.
* Advanced modelling and optimization of local energy systems, with a focus on energy communities.
* Techno-economic analysis.
* Grid-impact studies.
* Scenario modelling for large-scale replication.
* Independently pursue research work.
* Collaborate with others and maintain a professional approach.
* Analyze and work with complex issues.
* Perform certain tasks within the role, such as training and administration, to a limited extent (maximum 20%).

Requirements and Qualifications
Admission Requirements:
To be admitted to postgraduate education, the applicant must have basic eligibility in accordance with either of the following:
* Passed a second cycle degree (for example a master's degree).
* Completed course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits, of which at least 60 second-cycle higher education credits.
* Acquired, in some other way within or outside the country, substantially equivalent knowledge.

Academic Requirements:
* Completed courses or course modules in energy systems, optimization methods, and power grid analysis are required in accordance with the admission criteria for the specified doctoral program.
* Specific knowledge in data analysis, thermal network analysis and power grid automation is an advantage.
* Mandatory requirement for English equivalent to English B/6.

Personal Skills:
* Goal oriented and persevering in work.
* Ability to independently pursue work.
* Ability to collaborate with others.
* Professional approach.
* Ability to analyze and work with complex issues.

What They Offer
* Employment as a doctoral student for a maximum of four years (initial contract for one year, renewable for a maximum of two years at a time).
* Monthly salary according to KTH’s Doctoral student salary agreement.
* Workplace with many employee benefits.
* Opportunity to grow and develop in a creative and dynamic environment at a leading international technical university.
* Good working conditions and attractive benefits.
* An environment where equality, diversity, and equal opportunities are essential to quality and form an integral part of core values.

Application Instructions
Apply for the position and admission through KTH's recruitment system. Applications must include:
* Copies of diplomas and grades from previous university studies and certificates of fulfilled language requirements (translations into English or Swedish if the original document is not issued in one of these languages; copies of originals must be certified).
* CV including relevant professional experience and knowledge.
* Application letter with a brief description of why you want to pursue research studies, about what your academic interests are and how they relate to your previous studies and future goals (Maximum 2 pages long).
* Representative publications or technical reports. For longer documents, please provide a summary (abstract) and a web link to the full text.

Contact
Jagruti Ramsing Thakur, jagruti.thakur@energy.kth.se