Postdoctoral Researcher: Bulk Grid Monitoring and Dynamic Security Assessment

About the role

The Grid Automation and Control (GAC) Group of the Power Systems and Engineering Center (PSEC) at the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) is seeking a postdoctoral researcher to contribute to research in the operation, modeling, and simulation of the power grid, focusing on modern grids with increased inverter-based resources.

Responsibilities

• Develop measurement-based modeling techniques for power systems, including the use of PMU and other high-resolution measurements to identify dynamic parameters for black-box models.
• Conduct measurement-based dynamic stability assessments, such as fault detection, real-time inertia estimation, oscillation detection and analysis, and system strength evaluation.
• Develop software tools and algorithms for measurement-based stability monitoring and analysis tools, as well as dynamic model calibration tools that can be deployed in future control room environments.
• Contribute to the development of measurement-informed digital twins for power system analysis and operational decision support.
• Maintain and enhance existing NLR platforms and tools used for testing innovative research ideas.
• Prepare and present results in the form of technical reports and presentations.
• Write and publish research findings in peer-reviewed journals, transactions, conference proceedings, and technical reports.

Requirements

• Must be a recent PhD graduate within the last three years.
• Relevant Ph.D. or Ph.D. candidate in Electrical Engineering or Computer Science or related fields.
• Experience working with PMU data or other grid measurement data.
• Advanced modeling expertise in various power systems modeling.
• Experience with computer programming or software development, and Python is preferred.
• Strong analytical and communication skills.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering or Computer Science or related fields.
• Experience with system identification, signal processing, or dynamic parameter estimation techniques.
• Experience with wide-area measurement systems (WAMS), PMU data, or other high-resolution grid measurement data.
• Experience in oscillation detection and analysis, inertia estimation, dynamic model validation, or real-time monitoring.
• Experience handling large-scale operational datasets such as SCADA, WAMS, or PMU measurements.
• Familiarity with machine learning, data analytics, or data-driven modeling approaches applied to power systems.
• Software development experience in Python, GAMS, C++, or other languages.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Benefits

• 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.
• Paid holidays.
• Performance-, merit-, and achievement-based awards.
• Relocation expense reimbursement (if eligible).