Tenure Track Assistant Professor in Digital Twin in Electrical Systems for Power-To-X Processes

Job Description

Would you like to be a part of a dynamic team, working with future energy systems? At the Faculty of Energy Technology, a position as Tenure Track Assistant Professor in Digital Twin in Electrical Systems for Power-to-X Processes is available within the pioneer center "CAPeX. The position is open from 1st of November 2026 or soon hereafter.

Aalborg University has been ranked as the best university in Europe within energy research and is among the very top universities worldwide in this field.

Aalborg University contributes to the knowledge building of the global society as well as the development of prosperity, welfare, and culture of Danish society. This is accomplished through research, research-based education, public sector services and knowledge collaboration. Aalborg University educates students for the future and activities are based on a dynamic and transformative collaboration with the surrounding community.

AAU Energy has campuses in both Aalborg and Esbjerg. The tenure ship is in Aalborg. AAU Energy spans the entire research chain from fundamental research within energy materials to large-scale Power-to-X systems. Research and teaching are in the absolute world elite in the field of energy, and we have extensive and leading workshop and laboratory facilities, where research and innovation are carried out in direct collaboration with industry to a great extent. You can read more about AAU Energy and the research groups at AAU Energy: https://www.energy.aau.dk/

The mission is to be world leading in both research and research-based education of the energy engineers of the future. AAU Energy has around 300 employees of many nationalities, with 28 being administrative and 17 technical staff. In addition, AAU Energy constantly has some 50-70 guest researchers from around the world.

AAU Energy offers highly qualified candidates an attractive career path via tenure-track. Tenure-track assistant professors are appointed for a period of six years with the prospect of performance-based promotion to a tenured position as Associate Professor. Tenure-track assistant professors are expected to have international academic standing, demonstrating acclaimed competitive research, and/or have a recognized high potential for future impact.

The successful candidate will be based at Energy, AAU - Aalborg Campus and will play a leading role in establishing a new research group with a strong focus on multi-scale digital twins for electrical systems, including their interaction with advanced loads such as Power-to-X (P2X) processes.

The research will address key challenges related to performance, reliability, stability, control, and degradation mechanisms in integrated electrical energy and conversion systems. The position is designed to strengthen our research platform through complementary experimental and theoretical competences, and the candidate is expected to contribute to both modelling and validation activities (e.g., hardware-in-the-loop, real-time simulation, and experimental setups).

AAU has already made significant investments in research hardware and facilities supporting this area, and additional investments are expected in the coming years. Funding opportunities include both external grants and participation in strategic initiatives such as the CAPeX Pioneer Center.

Key Research Areas

The candidate will contribute to developing and applying digital twins (data-driven and physics-based) with emphasis on modelling, control, optimization, and real-time implementation, for example within specific Power-to-X applications. Relevant domains include (but are not limited to):

• Electrical power conversion and power electronics
• Transmission and distribution systems, grid dynamics, and stability
• Electrochemistry, thermochemistry, and catalysis linked to P2X processes
• Renewable energy production and storage systems Real-time simulation and hardware-/software-in-the-loop approaches
• Grid and market integration of P2X systems supported by digital twins

Teaching

Teaching will primarily be within Electrical Engineering, with potential contributions to other study programmes at the university depending on expertise and departmental needs.

What can we offer?

• A dynamic and inspiring working environment
• An onboarding program
• Focus on career development
• An International Staff Unit that supports international applicants to positions at AAU, such as residence and work permit for you and your family, local network, tax, public healthcare, child benefits and allowance, etc. Read more about International Staff Unit at www.isu.aau.dk
• Support for job search and identification of career opportunities for accompanying spouse/partner
• Location in Aalborg, a beautiful and safe city which has a lot to offer such as easy access to nature, culture

The candidate should have a sound background in a relevant area of energy engineering or similar e.g., electrical, control or chemical engineering, AI and preferably relevant work experience from industry or academia. The candidate should preferably also document an understanding of electric power systems, power electronics, control and grid-connected services. Irrespective of the academic background, the candidate must document how his previous research has been applied to energy processes, technologies, or systems. Modelling experience and competences will be highly prioritized, as well as documented skills in laboratory work related to the real-time simulation and implementation of process control in control/hardware-in-the-loop applications.

As it is expected, the successful candidate will take a leading role in establishing a strong research group within electrochemistry and electrode performance and degradation studies. Strong collaborative skills combined with personal ambition and drive are key ingredients in making it successful.

Qualification requirements

Applicants for a tenure track assistant professorship must have academic qualifications at PhD level.

When appointing tenure track assistant professors, Aalborg University also place particular emphasis on:

• The candidate can demonstrate a high degree of autonomy in their previous education and employment path
• The candidate shows considerable potential and is among the best in their field
• The candidate has academic experience from several universities and/or research institutions and preferably international experience
• The candidate is a skilled communicator
• The candidate writes and speaks English at the academic level
• The candidate is expected to meet the criteria for permanent employment as an associate professor at Aalborg University at the end of the tenure track process

Assessment in connection with transfer to associate professorship

The assessment in connection with transition to tenure as an associate professor normally takes place in the final six months of the tenure track assistant professors' employment. However, the employee may request that an assessment take place at an earlier time in the first four years. If this assessment finds that the employee is not academically qualified, they may request another assessment within the final six months of their period of employment. A maximum of two assessments may take place.

The assessment, on transition to the associate professorship, will as a minimum, emphasize the following qualifications in relation to the scientific subject area of the tenure track assistant professorship:

• Research qualifications equivalent to the level that can be achieved on the basis of satisfactorily completed employment as tenure track assistant professor.
• Documented scientific production at international level. Assessment will be based on up to ten selected publications selected by the employee.
• Documentation of pedagogical supervision and upgrading of qualifications, including a positive written assessment of teaching qualifications. The assessment will also be based on the employee's teaching portfolio.
• The level of contribution to an active academic environment as well as the ability to collaborate and build relationships.
• The level of experience with grant proposals and experience of communicating research to relevant stakeholders.

If the tenure track assistant professor fails to request that their qualifications be assessed in the last year of their period of employment or if they are assessed as not academically qualified, the university must immediately initiate dismissal proceedings in accordance with the collective agreement rules.

How to apply

Your application must include the following:

• Application, stating reasons for applying, qualifications in relation to the position, and intentions and visions for the position
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Diplomas (master's degree diploma and PhD diploma)
• List of publications, with an indication of the attached publications that you wish to be taken into account in the assessment. You may attach a maximum of five publications.
• Documentation of teaching qualifications. Please see guidelines for teaching portfolio at The Faculty of Engineering. If this is not enclosed, the applicant must enclose the reasons for this .
• Dissemination qualifications, including participation on committees or boards, participation in organisations etc.
• Additional qualifications in relation to the position
• References/recommendations

You can read more about the requirements for your application here.

The application must be submitted via Aalborg University's recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aalborg University's website.

Aalborg University wants to reflect the surrounding society and has diversity as a core value. Therefore, everyone, regardless of personal background and orientation, is encouraged to apply for the position.

Do you have any questions?

If you have any questions about the position, you are more than welcome to contact us. You will find contact persons at the bottom of the jobpost.

You may obtain further professional information from AAU Energy, Professor Frede Blaabjerg [email protected], Professor Pooya Davari [email protected] or Head of Department, Lars Storm Pedersen [email protected].

Further information

Read more about our recruitment process here

The appointment process at Aalborg University involves a shortlisting process. You can read more about the shortlisting and appointment process here.

The hiring process at Aalborg University may include a risk assessment as a tool to identify potential risks associated with new hires, ensuring the safety, compliance, and integrity of the workplace.

Salary and terms of employment

The employment is in accordance with the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities (the Appointment Order) and the Ministerial Order on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities (in Danish) and protocol on certain terms of employment of academic staff at universities (in Danish).

Salary and terms of employment are in accordance with the collective agreement between the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations and the state (AC collective agreement) (only in Danish) and protocol on certain terms of employment of academic staff at universities (only in Danish).

There is a mutual probationary period of 3 months for the position.