JOB DESCRIPTION

Context and Motivation
The industrial sector, including manufacturing, is the third-largest energy consumer in the European Union, accounting for approximately 25% of final energy consumption. As electricity prices rise and new EU-wide sustainability regulations are introduced, such as those addressing energy reporting, emissions transparency, and climate compliance, manufacturers face growing pressure to upgrade infrastructure and improve energy consumption.
To remain competitive and compliant, manufacturers need to understand when, where, and how energy is used, and how it can be optimized for cost savings, sustainability, and operational resilience. However, the path forward is uncertain: What green energy sources are viable? How should infrastructure and operations be reconfigured to meet new sustainability goals? What kind of data and decision support is required?
Research Aim
This PhD project aims to apply systems engineering methodologies to develop an integrated decision-support system for energy-aware and regulation-compliant manufacturing, based on one or more representative industrial use cases.

The successful candidate will be expected to:

• Select and define one or more industrial use cases, including Identification of relevant sustainability requirements and regulations, definition of reconfiguration strategies and KPIs at strategic, tactical, and operational levels.
• Model and analyze key system variables, including change drivers (e.g., regulation, cost, technology) and sources of uncertainty, system architecture and functional interactions using systems engineering tools.
• Design a data infrastructure and monitoring layer that integrates Internal factory-level data, external regulatory and environmental data sources.
• Develop a decision-support framework for real-time and scenario-based energy management, and for strategic and operational planning for energy usage and infrastructure adaptation.

Teaching activities are part of your PhD trajectory and may include, for example: supervising workgroups or lab sessions, assisting in courses, or mentoring BSc and MSc students. While teaching will not be your main responsibility, it offers valuable experience that supports your development and prepares you for future academic or professional roles. Teaching activities will not exceed 20% of your total appointment, averaged over the course of your PhD.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

We welcome applications from candidates with a Master’s degree in one or more of the following fields:

• Mechanical Engineering.
• Energy Engineering.
• Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering.
• Systems Engineering or related disciplines.

Desired qualifications and characteristics:

• Solid analytical and systems thinking skills.
• Familiarity with modeling and simulation tools.
• Interest in sustainable manufacturing and energy systems.
• Proactive, curious, and collaborative mindset.
• Willingness to engage with industrial partners and international research networks.

Please refer the Job description for details