Posting Title

Post-Doctoral Researcher – Power System Stability Analysis

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Location

CO - Golden

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Position Type

Postdoc (Fixed Term)

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Hours Per Week

40

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Working at NREL

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, Colorado is the nation's primary laboratory for research and development of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.

Join a team of world-class scientists, engineers, and visionaries dedicated to shaping the world’s energy future through cutting-edge research and innovation. From our vision to our NREL community, we are unique in the research community. We are focused on impact. From our work in basic sciences to systems engineering, analysis, demonstration, and deployment, we are focused on solving market-relevant problems that result in advanced, secure, reliable, and affordable energy systems. We are trusted clean energy leaders, developing cost-saving solutions that make U.S. industries more competitive, and support job creation and economic growth across rural and urban communities.

At NREL, we offer a unique, mission-driven work environment with cutting-edge facilities and multidisciplinary research teams. NREL's environment offers strong partnerships with industry, academia, and other national laboratories, as well as professional development opportunities and a competitive benefits package for employees.

Learn about NREL’s critical objectives: NREL's Mission and Vision.

Job Description

We are seeking a talented and motivated Power System Stability Analysis Engineer to join our team in a cutting-edge project focused on the stability analysis of power systems with a high penetration of Inverter-Based Resources (IBRs). As renewable energy sources like wind and solar become increasingly prevalent, their integration into power grids presents unique challenges in grid stability, oscillation detection, and control. This project involves analyzing and interpreting real-time data from over 100 Phasor Measurement Units (PMUs) installed across the system to identify grid disturbances, detect oscillations, and assess system strength.

In particular, the role will focus on:

• Detecting grid disturbance events by analyzing the PMU data.
• Identifying oscillations and determining the oscillation modes present in the system.

This position offers the opportunity to contribute to the development of techniques that will improve the resilience and reliability of future power grids, particularly in systems dominated by IBRs.

Responsibilities:

• Data Analysis: Utilize PMU data (from more than 100 PMUs) to monitor power system stability and detect grid disturbances.
• Oscillation Detection: Develop and implement algorithms for identifying oscillations in the grid and extracting important oscillation modes (frequency, damping, etc.).
• System Strength Analysis: Use system metrics like Equivalent Short-Circuit-Ratio (ESCR) and system inertia estimation to assess and visualize grid strength and stability.
• Reporting and Documentation: Produce detailed reports on oscillation detection, system strength assessment, and grid stability findings. Provide recommendations for mitigating potential stability risks.
• Collaboration: Work closely with power system engineers, control experts, and software developers to refine system models, improve analysis techniques, and support operational decision-making.

This position requires regular work at the NREL South Table Mountain Campus in Golden, CO and is not eligible for 100% remote work arrangement.

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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

• Educational Background: Must be a recent PhD graduate, within the last three years.
• Experience:
  • At least 1 years of hands-on experience in power system stability analysis, particularly in IBR-dominant grids.
  • Proven experience in PMU data analysis, including oscillation detection, system stability analysis, and event identification.
  • Strong background in frequency-domain analysis and time-domain analysis for power systems.
  • Familiarity with power system stability metrics such as Equivalent Short-Circuit Ratio (ESCR), system inertia estimation, and oscillation mode identification.
• Software Skills:
  • Proficiency in power system analysis software (e.g., PSSE or equivalent).
  • Experience with data analysis tools and techniques (e.g., Python, or similar programming languages).
• Analytical Skills: Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with the capacity to work with large datasets and derive actionable insights.
• Experience with IBRs: In-depth knowledge of Inverter-Based Resources (IBRs) and their impact on power system stability.
• Control Systems: Experience with the control and operation of IBRs, including issues related to grid synchronization, stability, and interaction with conventional generators.
• Grid Modernization: Familiarity with emerging technologies related to grid modernization, renewable energy integration, and smart grid systems.
• Experience with Real-Time Monitoring: Practical experience with real-time power system monitoring tools, PMU infrastructure, and automated disturbance detection systems.
• Publications/Research: A strong record of academic publications, technical papers, or industry reports in the field of power system stability and IBRs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with IBRs: In-depth knowledge of Inverter-Based Resources (IBRs) and their impact on power system stability.
• Control Systems: Experience with the control and operation of IBRs, including issues related to grid synchronization, stability, and interaction with conventional generators.
• Grid Modernization: Familiarity with emerging technologies related to grid modernization, renewable energy integration, and smart grid systems.
• Experience with Real-Time Monitoring: Practical experience with real-time power system monitoring tools, PMU infrastructure, and automated disturbance detection systems.
• Publications/Research: A strong record of academic publications, technical papers, or industry reports in the field of power system stability and IBRs.

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Job Application Submission Window

The anticipated closing window for application submission is up to 30 days and may be extended as needed.

Annual Salary Range (based on full-time 40 hours per week)

Job Profile: Postdoctoral Researcher / Annual Salary Range: $74,900 - $123,600

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

Badging Requirement

NREL is subject to Department of Energy (DOE) access restrictions. All employees must also be able to obtain and maintain a federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card as required by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12), which includes a favorable background investigation.

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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Equal Opportunity 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.

Reasonable Accommodations

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