PhD in behavioural and locational factors of electrical vehicle charging for improved grid integration

PhD in behavioural and locational factors of electrical vehicle charging for improved grid integration

The Department of People and Technology (IMT), Roskilde University, invites applications for a position as PhD student of behavioural and locational factors of electrical vehicle charging for improved grid integration from 1. April 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter. The position is limited to a period of three years.

Description of the PhD project
The working title of the PhD project is “Improving electric-vehicle integration in the distribution grid through analysis of behavioural and locational factors of EV charging”.

The PhD project will contribute to the research project AHEAD (AI-informed Holistic EVs integration Approaches for Distribution Grid) funded by the European Commission under Horizon Europe. AHEAD has 21 partners across Europe, representing research and academia, technology providers, public entities, system operators, etc. In Denmark, these include Roskilde University, DTU Wind and Energy Systems, and Spirii – a private provider of EV charging ecosystems.

AHEAD will create a simulation environment capable of predicting the most convenient locations to place EV charging stations while optimising both the usage of the power grid resources and that of the charging stations in urban and rural areas. By placing chargers where the grid can support them, it will design and test innovative smart charging algorithms to minimise the impact of EV charging pools on the electricity network while ensuring benefits for EV users. Taking a user-centred approach, placing the chargers where people need them, AHEAD will study how to minimise the impact of smart charging on user experience that will test and enhance cybersecurity.

The PhD project will especially contribute to the latter objective of user experience, by combining experimental, data-driven, and social-practice approaches to the study of EV-charging behaviours in a spatial context. It will examine the influence on user behaviour and acceptance of factors such as location (e.g. urban vs rural), accessibility, dynamic charging price, and users’ everyday practices and pressures that affect their EV-mobility needs and preferences.

The Doctoral School
You will be enrolled as a PhD student at the Doctoral School of People and Technology, specifically the PhD programme in Society, Space and Technology hosted by the Section for Sustainability, Cities and Planning, IMT. The programme is based on a multidisciplinary approach to research and spans the social, natural and technical sciences as well as the arts. The PhD project will be associated with the Section’s two research groups:

TRANSITIONS – Sustainability Transitions and Environmental Planning. The research group aims at generating transdisciplinary knowledge about sustainability transitions with a focus on the interactions between technological, social and institutional development and on the actors driving or resisting such transitions. The ambition is to increase the understanding of how environmental governance, planning and innovation can facilitate sustainability transitions in key societal sectors and domains. Focus is on three interrelated themes: sustainable energy systems, agrifood and biosystems, and circular economy. Read more here.

The MOSPUS research group carries out research in the fields of space, place, mobility and urban studies. The group brings together researchers from a variety of disciplines including geography, sociology, anthropology, planning and architecture. Our work is guided by a strong commitment to social justice and to fostering a more sustainable and democratic future. Read more here

Responsibilities and tasks
The PhD position is an educational position, and the main tasks are in accordance with Chapter 3, Ministerial Order on the PhD Programme at the Universities and Certain Higher Artistic Educational Institutions (PhD Order – access it here). In short, these tasks include performing research, writing a PhD thesis, taking PhD courses, contributing to the teaching and student supervision of the department, and undertaking a research stay at another university or other institution.

The PhD project will be carried out in collaboration with other AHEAD project-team members, including the PhD supervisors. It will address the aspects described under the above heading “Description of the PhD project” including specific activities such as:

• Literature review on locational and behavioural factors of EV charging with a focus on public charging infrastructure,
• Develop and implement a study to measure user behaviour and satisfaction at selected EV charging stations,
• Analyse and evaluate charging behaviours over time and quantify perceived value to users,
• Contribute to developing a smart-charging concept that can optimize the utilization of the AHEAD EV-charging stations considering investment costs, grid capacity constraints, user needs and preferences, etc.

Qualifications
You must hold a master’s degree or equivalent in a relevant field within the social, technical or natural sciences, for example, but not limited to, environmental planning, environmental management, urban planning, transport studies, geography, sociology, sustainable energy, management engineering, or similar.

Experience with quantitative data analysis, such as spatial (GIS) and/or statistical methods, is a further requirement.

You are also required to be enterprising and to possess good communication skills and to be a visible, involved participant in the department’s daily activities, in addition to being willing to engage in disciplinary and interdisciplinary collaboration across the Section.

Proficiency in Danish or another Scandinavian language is an asset as it will facilitate data collection and communication with users locally.

Assessment
In the assessment regarding employment, consideration will be given to:

• Relevant master’s degree or equivalent (according to Danish Qualifications Framework for Higher Education).
• Grades at master’s programme or equivalent. The applicant has earned a grade of 10 (or equivalent) or higher in the master thesis.
• Any additional requirements or preferences stated in the job advertisement.

In the assessment regarding enrolment in the PhD School of People and Technology, consideration will also be given to the following criteria:

• Educational skills and any further professional qualifications.
• Grades at master’s programme or equivalent.
• Quality and relevance of the project description.
  • Your outline of a project description shall be no more than 3 pages.
• Quality and relevance of the methodical and theoretical choices.
• Consistency and coherence between the problem and the choice of method and theory.
• If the PhD project seems realistic and feasible.
• Ability to complete the PhD project.
• Relevance of the project to the profile of the Doctoral School.

Questions
For further information about the position, please contact Thomas Skou Grindsted ([email protected]), Simon Bolwig ([email protected]), or PhD coordinator Anne Ebdrup ([email protected]).

Terms of employment
The employment is full time, 37 hours per week, and you will refer to Head of Section, Thomas Budde Christensen.

The position will be filled according to the Agreement between the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC) and Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities.

Application procedure
After the deadline for applications the Dean will shortlist applicants for assessment with assistance from the recruitment committee including the chairperson of the assessment committee.

Shortly after the application deadline all applicants will be notified whether or not their application has been selected for assessment.

The shortlisted applicants will be informed about the composition of the assessment committee, and each applicant will be given the opportunity to comment on the composition of the committee and - later on - their assessment.

Once the recruitment process is completed, all applicants will be informed of the outcome of their application.

Application
To apply for the position go to www.ruc.dk/en/job/

Only applications in English are accepted.

Applications must include:

1. Cover letter

2. CV

3. Documentation of education including grades from Master’s programme or equivalent

4. Your description of the PhD project (Max 3 pages)

5. If applicable: Documentation for any research experience, work experience or publications.

Please submit your application no later than February 23, 2025.

Material received after this date will not be taken into consideration.

Roskilde University wishes to reflect the diversity of society and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.

Department:

Location: Roskilde Universitet