PhD stipend in Cooling Flexibility Modeling, Estimation, Aggregation, and Optimization

The Department of Computer Science at The Technical Faculty of IT and Design invites applications for a PhD stipend on the topic of Cooling Flexibility Modeling, Estimation, Aggregation, and Optimization, within the context of sustainable water-based cooling in megacities. The stipend is open for appointment from February 1, 2026. or soon hereafter. The duration of the position is three years.

The stipend is within the Data Engineering, Science, and Systems (DESS) research group and supervised by Professor Torben Bach Pedersen. Within Digital Energy, DESS has developed the award-winning FlexOffer technology, one of the few open, general, and scalable models for energy flexibility, and published about it, mainly in ACM SIGNERGY's flagship conference, ACM e-Energy.

Your work tasks

The tasks for stipend answer the research question: "How can the flexibilities in cooling systems be utilized for joint optimization with electricity and cold production, storage and demand to minimize CO2 and cost?" Answering this research question enables utilizing the immense flexibility potential in cooling systems, e.g., storing cold in both the cooling network and dedicated storage units. Specifically, this task will extend the award-winning FlexOffer technology developed at AAU to model the flexibilities in cooling assets and systems, based on the existing work on electricity and heating. It will use the extended model to estimate flexibility potentials from cooling. It will develop FlexOffer-based techniques for aggregating flexibility from cold production, storage, and demand. It will develop FlexOffer-based optimization techniques to co-optimize with electricity production and storage, as well as grids, and markets, for minimizing both CO2 emissions and overall cost. This will enable optimization across both energy vectors for minimizing CO2 emissions and costs and provide preliminary schedules with the flexibility potentials for trading with the surrounding energy system.

Your competencies

We are looking for a team member who immediately can contribute to the topic. Applicants should have a background (MSc and BSc degrees) in Computer Science or Software Engineering and a demonstrated ability to work independently as well as in a team. Significant software development experience in several key languages, e.g., Rust, C++, or Python (not MATLAB), algorithms, and machine learning is necessary as well as excellent communication skills in English. Applicants with experience in digital energy, energy flexibility, and if possible, FlexOffers, will be preferred.

Qualification requirements

PhD stipends are allocated to individuals who hold a Master's degree. PhD stipends are normally for a period of 3 years. It is a prerequisite for allocation of the stipend that the candidate will be enrolled as a PhD student at the Technical Doctoral School of IT and Design in accordance with the regulations of Ministerial Order No. 1124 of September 19, 2025 on the PhD Programme at the Universities and Certain Higher Artistic Educational Institutions. According to the Ministerial Order, the progress of the PhD student shall be assessed at regular points in time.

Who we are    

According to the most recent US News and World Ranking, Aalborg University ranks 3rd in Europe and 27th in the world within Best Universities for Engineering. According to a 2018 MIT report, Aalborg University is considered to have the 4th best engineering program in the world. According to the recent Times Higher Education Impact ranking, Aalborg University ranks 9th in the World for UN SDG Impact.

Department of Computer Science at Aalborg University is highly regarded among researchers, students, and external partners because of our leading research, education, and collaboration. The department currently has more than 170 scientific staff, 20 administrative staff, and 1,100 students, who are based on AAU's problem-based learning model. You can read more on , and you can read more about the TECH faculty here.

The research in the Data Engineering, Science and Systems (DESS) research group focuses on data-intensive systems, spatio-temporal data management, data analytics, and applications of machine learning, with applications in digital energy and intelligent transport. International evaluations place DESS in the global top tier. For example, lists DESS as No. 1 in Europe and No. 9 in the world within Databases for the period More information about DESS can be found at:

How to apply
Your application must include the following:

• o Application, stating reasons for applying and qualifications in relation to the position,
• o Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• o Diplomas (bachelor and master's degree diploma)
• o Project description: Applicants are required to submit, along with their application documents, a one-page statement, indicating their vision for research to be conducted in relation to the project topics outlined above. 

• Other relevant documents

The application must be submitted via Aalborg University's recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aalborg University's website. 

Aalborg University wants to reflect the surrounding society and has diversity as a core value. Therefore, everyone, regardless of personal background and orientation, is encouraged to apply for the position.

Do you have any questions?     
If you have any questions about the position, you are more than welcome to contact us. You will find contact persons at the bottom of the jobpost.

Interviews are expected to be held 2-4 weeks after the application deadline.  

Further information  
We recommend that you save a copy of the job posting, as it will be removed once the application deadline has passed.  

The assessment of candidates for the position will be carried out by qualified experts.
Shortlisting will be applied. This means that after the application deadline, the head of the department, with the assistance of the hiring committee, will select the applicants to be assessed. All applicants will be informed whether they have been shortlisted for assessment or not.

The hiring process at Aalborg University may include a risk assessment as a tool to identify potential risks associated with new hires, ensuring the safety, compliance, and integrity of the workplace.

Read more about The Technical Doctoral School of IT and Design

Salary and terms of employment
The employment is in accordance with the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities (the Appointment Order) and the Ministerial Order on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities (in Danish) and protocol on certain terms of employment of academic staff at universities (in Danish). 

Salary and terms of employment are in accordance with the collective agreement between the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations and the state (AC collective agreement) (in Danish) and protocol on certain terms of employment of academic staff at universities (in Danish). 

Aalborg University - Knowledge for the world
Aalborg University is an international workplace with more than 3,700 employees. We offer real-world-oriented education and create world-class research results through collaboration between researchers, students, and public and private companies. This is how we achieve insights, new solutions to societal problems, and knowledge that changes the world. Our main campus is in Aalborg, but we also have campuses in Esbjerg and Copenhagen.

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