The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is seeking an enthusiastic and driven grid-edge and demand flexibility researcher within the Strategic Energy Analysis and Decision Sciences (SEADS) directorate. The SEADS directorate plays a vital role in a dynamic range of energy analyses and grid futures studies, utilizing advanced modeling and simulation tools to effectively plan, design, and analyze both distribution and bulk power systems. Our work informs technology developers, policymakers, and utilities by developing and analyzing future grid scenarios that answer critical questions about how the electric grid is transforming. This position seeks an enthusiastic and driven graduate student who can advance and grow distribution systems research at NREL.
You would join us in researching, supporting and advancing electric distribution systems research, using bottom-up and top-down demand modeling, grid modeling, optimization, machine-learning, forecasting techniques, statistical analysis, and data analysis among other research techniques.
Activities include modeling, simulation, and analysis of grid-edge resources, including residential and commercial buildings, electric vehicles, industrial loads, distributed generation, and battery storage. Forward-looking research focuses on load forecasting, demand flexibility, non-wires alternatives, bridge-to-wires solutions, and electrification.
It’s essential to grasp how shifting load patterns affect grid reliability, resilience, customer costs and comfort, and carbon emissions. You’ll engage with various topics, such as grid planning and operations, virtual power plant/DER program design, rate structures, and wholesale market design.
Examples of ongoing research and analysis include:
- Bottom-up modeling for demand flexibility
- DER and demand-side technology adoption modeling
- Load forecasting and impact analysis from electrification
- Virtual power plant and aggregator grid services for bulk and distribution systems
- Demand-side non-wire alternatives
Basic Qualifications
Researcher II - relevant Master's Degree or relevant Bachelor's Degree and 2 or more years of experience. General knowledge and application of engineering technical standards, principles, theories, concepts and techniques. Training in team, task or project leadership responsibilities. Intermediate abilities and knowledge of practices and techniques. Beginning experience in project management. Good writing, interpersonal and communication skills.
Researcher III - Relevant PhD or relevant Master's Degree and 3 or more years of experience or relevant Bachelor's Degree and 5 or more years of experience. Demonstrates broad understanding and wide application of engineering technical procedures, principles, theories and concepts in the field. General knowledge of other related disciplines. Demonstrates leadership in one or more areas of team, task or project lead responsibilities. Demonstrated experience in management of projects. Very good writing, interpersonal and communication skills.
* Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.
Additional Required Qualifications
Experience in at least one area of the energy transition is required, including:
- Renewable integration
- Energy storage
- Building and vehicle electrification
- Flexible loads
- Time-varying rates
- Wholesale markets
- Utility demand-side programs
- Virtual power plants
- Distribution systems
Degree in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, computer science, data science, or related discipline.
Exceptional written and oral communication and interpersonal skills.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with high performance computing, large data analysis, co-simulation, open-source software development, control and optimization methods, and/or other programming languages.
- Experience with NREL's grid, building, and/or transportation tools and datasets.
- Experience with scientific programming languages (e.g., Python, Julia, R, etc.).
- Experience developing innovative research topics that expand the research space.
- Experience contributing to projects and teams that contribute to the advancement of science and lead to innovations in power grid operations and planning.
- Experience collaborating with research experts from a wide group of skillsets.
- Communicates an inspiring vision of the future across the organization.
- Empathizes and actively listens in client-relationships.
- Experience writing and publishing results of analyses in peer-reviewed journals and/or technical reports.
- Experience communicating energy modeling results to a wide range of audiences including policymakers and other decision makers.
Job Application Submission Window
The anticipated closing window for application submission is up to 30 days and may be extended as needed.
