Research Assistant

Location: South Kensington, London

Job Summary

Would you like to work on innovative research in power systems that is making a real difference in the transition to clean energy systems?

We are excited to invite applications for a Research Assistant (RA) at our newly launched Global Energy Centre "EPICS" (Electric Power Innovation for a Carbon-Free Society). At the Centre, you will be undertaking research to promote the integration of clean energy sources through effective integration of demand side flexibility.

Joining a friendly, highly motivated team, you will: 

1. Study, model, and potentially design programs that incentivize flexibility from distributed energy resources (e.g., batteries) and newly electrified loads (e.g., electric vehicles or heat pumps)
2. Investigate the interplay of programs procuring demand flexibility at different timescales
3. Learn how different demand side flexibility programs support the cost-effective, reliable, and equitable operation of future power systems
4. Use insights from the above efforts to provide recommendations to policymakers, power system operators, demand flexibility aggregators, and retailers

Background: 

The Electric Power Innovation for a Carbon-free Society (EPICS) Centre is a global centre including researchers from multiple universities in the USA, UK, and Australia. Through collaboration among the participating universities and our partners (Global Power Systems Transformation Consortium, Energy Systems Integration Group, and Future Power Markets Forum), the centre will develop computing, economic, engineering, and policy methods and tools to enable a 100% emissions-free power grid. 

EPICS’s research interests are divided into four thrusts. This position is under the third thrust, which aims to develop economic analysis principles tailored for making decisions about how to design and then reliably operate 100% renewable power grids.

Duties and responsibilities

The responsibilities include:

1. Defining the research questions and plan
2. Reviewing literature and conducting independent research
3. Reporting progress and disseminating results in high-impact referred journals, conferences and other gatherings.

The successful candidate will be based at the South Kensington campus of Imperial College London. They will also have an opportunity to visit research collaborators.

Essential requirements

We are seeking a motivated professional or MSc/MEng graduate who is willing to apply and advance their research skills. The applicant should be educated to BSc/BEng degree level or equivalent, in electrical engineering, economics, or operations research and hold a relevant Master’s degree at the start date of the position.

The RA employed will undertake an individual research project leading to a PhD degree.

Further Information

For informal enquiries about this post please contact Dr Elina Spyrou via email at elina.spyrou@ic.ac.uk.

Further information about the post is available in the job description.

Apply online via the above ‘Apply’ button.

For technical issues when applying online please email support.jobs@imperial.ac.uk.

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