Research Assistant - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

The Department of Computer and Systems Sciences. With over 200 employees and 4,500 students, the Department of Computer and Systems Sciences (DSV) is a strong and dynamic research and educational environment. The discipline of computer and systems sciences bridges the gap between technology and the humanities, social sciences and behavioral sciences, with great relevance to our lives today and in the future. Our research addresses how IT should be designed to benefit individuals, organisations and society as a whole. 

For more information about us, please visit the Department of Computer and Systems Sciences.

Project description

The project “Sector Coupling and Operations Research for Environmental Sustainability (SCORES): Emission, Price, and Welfare Impacts of the Nordic Energy Transition” will tackle Sweden’s sustainable-energy transition, which foresees power-sector decarbonization as well as electrification of industrial and heating demands, i.e., sector coupling. New power capacity will rely on variable renewable energy (VRE), e.g., wind and solar. Since VRE output is intermittent and location specific, it necessitates flexible production, e.g., hydropower. Yet, flexible plants may enjoy greater leverage under high VRE penetration to set electricity prices, which requires proactive regulation and transmission design to mitigate welfare losses from producers’ market power. Via game-theoretic models, we will identify how flexible plants’ market power is affected by sector coupling, e.g., by trading in both power and heat markets, and devise countervailing mechanisms to attenuate economic and environmental distortions. Our insights will support policymakers in crafting a welfare-enhancing transition to a sustainable power system.

Main responsibilities

An interdisciplinary approach encompassing economic, engineering, and social-science perspectives will comprise the framework for analysis. The successful candidate will investigate incentives for market power in energy storage. Examples of research tasks are:

• Update and consolidate a database of the Nordic heat and power sectors’ attributes.
• Use Nash-Cournot models to examine strategic behaviour in energy storage.
• Devise both open- and closed-loop models aimed at analytical solutions with complementary numerical examples.

We welcome applicants from a variety of methodological backgrounds.  

Qualification requirements

Research assistants are appointed primarily for purposes of research and must hold a Swedish M.Sc. degree or an equivalent degree from another country. We seek a candidate with the following qualifications:

• Track record demonstrating excellent modelling work related to energy systems or environmental policy evidenced by an M.Sc. thesis or equivalent.
• Methodological toolkit related to applied mathematics, environmental economics, game theory, or operational research.
• Skills in analytical solution methods to game-theoretic problems and computational implementation of optimisation models in GAMS or similar platforms.
• Domain knowledge of the power sector and energy policy.
• Willingness to work collegially as part of an interdisciplinary team and evidence of previous collaboration with researchers from different disciplines.
• Excellent written and spoken English skills (Swedish is not a requirement).

We are looking for a candidate who can work as part of an interdisciplinary team and agenda-setting research project. You are responsible, responsive, and a good team player. You are proactive, take responsibility for your tasks, and have a structured way of working. You are used to prioritising and can keep an overview of broader objectives while delivering on concrete tasks.

About the employment

This is a full-time position for a period of four months. Stockholm University applies individual salary setting. Start date as agreement.

We offer

With us, you will experience the dynamic interaction between higher education and research that makes Stockholm University an exciting and creative environment. You will work in an international environment and get favourable conditions.

Stockholm University strives to be a workplace free from discrimination and with equal opportunities for all.

Contact

Further information about the position can be obtained from Professor Afzal S. Siddiqui, telephone: +46 8 16 13 85, asiddiq@dsv.su.se.

Application

Apply for the position at Stockholm University's recruitment system. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application is complete and that it is submitted before the deadline.

The instructions for applicants are available at: How to apply for a position.