Postdoctoral Researcher: Inverter-based Resources (IBR) Driven Power System Protection Study & Stability Analysis

About the role

This position is within the Energy Systems Control and Optimization (ESCO) group within the Power Systems Engineering Center (PSEC) at The National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR). It will be dedicated to multiple high impact projects to advance the state-of-the-art transient stability studies in inverter-based-resources (IBR) dominant grids. The successful candidate will be the key contributors to those projects to develop.

Job Duties And Responsibilities

• Develop protective relay models based on vendor’s relay datasheet and manual
• Perform comprehensive fault studies to evaluate the adequacy of existing protection schemes and propose improved protection schemes, and validate through simulated relay models and/ commercial protective relays in hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) for an industry collaborated project
• Perform deep fundamental studies to investigate the IBR-driven stability from device level to system level and propose stability improvement control strategies for IBR dominant power systems with low inertia and short-circuit ratio (SCR)
• Build IBR-dominated power systems EMT model in PSCAD and develop automatic script to run large set of simulation scenarios, and extract key features for studies (stability study etc.)
• Lead and/or contribute to journal articles, conference papers, and technical reports

Qualifications

• Must be a recent PhD graduate within the last three years.
• Mandatory knowledge, skills and abilities include:
• Strong background of power system protection and good knowledge of protection relays (e.g., differential element, distance element, directional element, traveling wave based protection), and good hands-on experience with protection relay configuration and relay-hardware-in-the-loop testing and results analysis using Synchrowave etc.
• Good knowledge in power electronics, control theory, and power system stability and familiar with IBR modeling, control, and stability analysis (e.g., small-signal stability analysis, transient stability analysis)
• Good experience with short-circuit programs, such as CAPE, ASPEN and CAPE, and familiar with power system simulation software tools, such as PSCAD, PSSE, PSLF, Matlab/Simulink, RSCAD, and highly proficiency with python programing.
• Excellent writing and communication skills
• Ability to work independently and troubleshoot issues

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 that include a monetary component
• Some positions may be eligible for relocation expense reimbursement

Equal Opportunity Employer

NLR is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace in accordance with the federal Drug-Free Workplace Act and complies with federal laws prohibiting the possession and use of illegal drugs. Under federal law, marijuana remains an illegal drug. If you are offered employment at NLR, you must pass a pre-employment drug test prior to commencing employment. Unless prohibited by state or local law, the pre-employment drug test will include marijuana. If you test positive on the pre-employment drug test, your offer of employment may be withdrawn.