PhD scholarship in E-mobility and Photovoltaics integration - DTU Wind

Do you want to be involved in the green energy transition? Do you wish to contribute to the development of Renewable energies and E-mobility integration and are you looking for a career in R&D or academia? Then we have a great opportunity!

We are looking for a highly motivated and skilled candidate with a master’s degree in STEM disciplines to join us as a PhD scholar. We offer a multidisciplinary, international, and friendly atmosphere, encouraging creativity, diversity, empathy, and teamwork. You will have a great opportunity to build strong networks with internationally known researchers at DTU and other universities as well as industrial partners.

You will be affiliated with the Section on E-mobility and Prosumer Integration in the Division of Power and Energy Systems. Collaboration with neighboring sections is encouraged. The Section on E-mobility and Prosumer Integration undertakes internationally leading research and teaching in the field of EV technologies, charging infrastructure and flexibility. The research in this section is multidisciplinary, and the team is formed by an international team of researchers.

• Responsibilities and qualifications
• The PhD project is part of the European research initiative SOLAR-MOVE: SOLAR Photovoltaic to MOVE for Systems Integration.

SOLAR-MOVE aims to accelerate the large-scale adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) by developing solutions that couple EVs and their charging infrastructure with photovoltaic (PV) systems.

The project explores two main approaches:

1. Vehicle Integrated Photovoltaics (VIPV) – integrating PV panels directly into vehicle surfaces (e.g., roof or hood) to extend driving range.
2. Electric Vehicle Compliant Parking Lot Integrated PV (ePIPV) – coupling PV systems with EV charging infrastructure to reduce grid dependency, and support smart grid services.

To investigate these approaches, a consortium of 34 partners across 16 countries will develop solutions for various vehicle types (heavy-duty trucks with PV trailers, garbage trucks, buses, last-mile delivery vans, mini-vehicles, and motorhomes) and environments (highways, eBus opportunity charging, municipal ePIPVs, public ePIPVs in commercial areas, and private ePIPVs). These will be demonstrated in six pilot projects across Denmark, Greece, Turkey, Portugal, Albania, and Slovenia.

This PhD will primarily focus on the ePIPV solution—integrating charging infrastructure directly with PV generation. The research will contribute to developing management and real-time operation tools to coordinate and optimize charging with PV production, while also enabling grid services. The study is further linked to two demonstrations in collaboration with the Danish postal service, PostNord, using both its fleet and a large postal center to test ePIPV and VIPV solutions.

The ePIPV solution will be developed and tested at DTU’s Risø Campus, using the university’s System Integration Lab (SYSLAB). The PhD candidate will work closely with partners from both academia and industry.

Your Primary Tasks Will Be:

• Plan and manage your PhD project in collaboration with supervisors
• Design and develop management and real-time operation tools for ePIPV
• Test controlling functionality in a state-of-the art real-time experimental facility
• Assess the impact of EV charging on the energy system when delivering grid services
• Participate in demonstration activities with PostNord for both ePIPV and VIPS solutions

A detailed project plan will be developed with the supervisors within the first two months after enrolment.

You must have a two-year master's degree (120 ECTS points in STEMS, with a preference in engineering, statistics, physics, mathematics, data science, informatics or similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a master's degree.

The Candidate Should Preferably Have:

• Dedication and the desire to learn
• A background in renewable energy, e-mobility, or engineering
• Good programming skills (e.g., Python, MATLAB or R)  
• Familiarity with control concepts
• Ability to work effectively with data and applied statistics
• Ability to present and report technical results 
• Ability to work in a project team and take responsibility for own research goals
• Fluent in communicating and reporting in English

If you are excited about the role, we encourage you to apply even if your experience does not perfectly align with every listed qualification above. We value potential, passion, and willingness to learn.

Approval and Enrolment 
The scholarship for the PhD degree is subject to academic approval, and the candidate will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes at DTU. For information about our enrolment requirements and the general planning of the PhD study programme, please see DTU's rules for the PhD education. 

We offer
DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.

Salary and appointment terms 
The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union. The period of employment is 3 years.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here.

Further information 
Further information about the academic content may be obtained from Head of Section for E-Mobility and Prosumer Integration, Senior Researcher Peter Bach Andersen (petb@dtu.dk), Assistant Professor Jan Engelhardt (janen@dtu.dk), and Postdoc Francesco Pastorelli (frapa@dtu.dk).

You can read more about DTU Wind and Energy Systems at www.wind.dtu.dk

If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark. Furthermore, you have the option of joining our monthly free seminar “PhD relocation to Denmark and startup “Zoom” seminar” for all questions regarding the practical matters of moving to Denmark and working as a PhD at DTU. 

• Application procedure 
• Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 15 December 2025 (23:59 Danish time). 

Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply now", fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file. The file must include:

• A letter motivating the application (cover letter)
• Curriculum vitae 
• Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma (in English) including official description of grading scale

You may apply prior to ob­tai­ning your master's degree but cannot begin before having received it.

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply. As DTU works with research in critical technology, which is subject to special rules for security and export control, open-source background checks may be conducted on qualified candidates for the position.

The Department of Wind and Energy Systems is one of the world’s largest centers of wind energy and energy systems research and knowledge, with a staff of more than 400 people from 37 countries working in research, innovation, research-based consulting and education. DTU Wind and Energy Systems has approximately 90 PhD students. The department’s cross-disciplinary research is organized through strategic research programmes that collaborate with Danish and international universities, research institutions and organizations, as well as the wind industry.

Technology for people
DTU develops technology for people. With our international elite research and study programmes, we are helping to create a better world and to solve the global challenges formulated in the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU in 1829 with a clear mission to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That mission lives on today. DTU has 13,500 students and 6,000 employees. We work in an international atmosphere and have an inclusive, evolving, and informal working environment. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland, and we collaborate with the best universities around the world.