PostDoc Position / Research Assistant (f/m/d) Adaptive and Robust Control of Wind Farms

Paygrade: E13

Working Hours: 100% (suitable for part-time work)

Institution: ForWind - Center for Wind Energy, research group Wind Energy Systems, team Controls

Location: Oldenburg (Oldb)

Application Deadline: 11.08.2026

Start Date: As soon as possible

Position Duration: Until 31 March 2029

Responsibilities

• Design control algorithms for wind turbines and wind farms addressing objectives such as grid integration, power maximisation, load or noise reduction.
• Validate control algorithms under uncertain and varying conditions using the HPC cluster for simulation-the-loop studies.
• Collaborate with group members to design and execute testing campaigns employing wind tunnel or open-field experiments.
• Coordinate research group activities in a project with industrial and academic partners.
• Support the group in organisational and teaching activities.

Project-specific Tasks

• Project A: Develop loads-aware wind farm control, adapt algorithms to changing farm characteristics, operational goals, and load limits, and integrate control with lifetime optimisation of wind farm value.
• Project B: Advance wind turbine and wind farm control in complex terrains, perform uncertainty quantification of measurement signals, design robust control, improve integration of turbine control with farm controller, and enhance grid integration including short-term and mid-term power boosting.

Qualifications

• University master’s degree in Control, Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering, Physical Sciences, Wind Energy, Renewable Energy or equivalent.
• PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Physics or equivalent, preferably related to control of wind turbines or wind farms.
• Profound knowledge of control engineering.
• Extensive programming experience with Matlab or Python.
• High motivation and ability to work collaboratively on applied research topics.
• Very good English language skills.

Desired (but Not Mandatory) Qualifications

• Experience with wind energy topics such as wind turbine dynamics, wind turbine control, wake interaction, and wind farm control.
• International experience of several months during study or employment.
• Good German language skills.

Benefits

• Secure remuneration according to the collective agreement (TV-L E13).
• 30 days vacation.
• Company pension scheme.
• Further training opportunities.
• Flexible and mobile working.
• Health management.
• Compatibility of career and family.
• Support with childcare.
• University sports centre.

Employment is initially limited to the end of the research project on 31 March 2029.

Employment law: The University of Oldenburg is dedicated to increase the percentage of female employees in the field of science. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. 21 Section 3 NHG, female candidates with equal qualifications will be preferentially considered. Applicants with disabilities will be given preference in case of equal qualification.