A position is offered for a Pre-doctoral Researcher at Institute for Research and Technology, in person at Rey Francisco 4.
The blackout of April 28, 2025, in the Iberian power system abruptly highlighted the existing challenges involved in managing complex dynamic phenomena in a highly interconnected system with a high penetration of renewable energy sources. The incident demonstrated that current monitoring, control, and protection tools are insufficient to anticipate and mitigate systemic disturbances in a coordinated manner.
Wide-area measurement, protection, and control systems (WAMPAC) represent the state of the art in the monitoring, control, and advanced protection of large-scale power systems. The objective of the SIMCOPAX project is to promote a comprehensive, wide-area measurement, control, and protection system capable of anticipating and mitigating complex dynamic phenomena, thereby strengthening the reliability and resilience of the power system.
The successful candidate will carry out research on the design and development of a comprehensive WAMPAC system. Responsibilities include defining the functional and technical architecture of the integrated platform, developing advanced monitoring applications based on synchronized measurements for the detection and analysis of dynamic phenomena, designing wide-area control and protection algorithms, and implementing and validating an integrated WAMPAC prototype for real-time system monitoring, control, and protection.
This call for application closes on August 14, 2026.
We are looking for candidates with a M.Sc. in electrical engineering or similar. Candidates should have (or be close to obtain) the academic requirements to join the PhD program of Universidad Pontificia Comillas de Madrid.
Good Spanish and English level (understanding, writing and speaking).
Knowledge on power system stability, control and protection, and programming skills (Python, Matlab) will be valued positively.
• We offer a full-time contract with exclusive dedication to the PhD thesis. One-year contract renewable for up to six years, depending on performance. The gross salary for the first year is €32,448.20 (2026).
• At Comillas, we strive to create and maintain an environment that provides space and support equally to everyone. Therefore, if you have a disability certificate of 33% or higher, we encourage you to include it in your application.
Benefits:
• 90% of the cost of training activities.
• Flexible Compensation Plan and social benefits.
• Comillas Plus: exclusive Comillas portal with more than 200 commercial discounts.
• Training plan.
• Professional development.
• Access to internal services: discounts and special conditions (gym, bookstore, library, etc.).
• Curriculum Vitae
• Academic transcript
• Brief cover letter
• Two letters of recommendation
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