Research Fellow - Smart SIP

at  Birmingham City University

ABOUT US

At the heart of our Strategy for 2030 and Beyond, it is our mission to enable our students to transform their lives and to achieve their potential. Through our education and research, and the roles our graduates go on to play in the world, we not only support individuals to transform their lives, but we also play a part in transforming society.
Located in the centre of the UK’s second city, we are a university with a long heritage of innovation and of making, dating back to our origins in 1843 when we were founded as the Birmingham Government School of Design.
Our heritage of making through innovation and its application through knowledge exchange, and of creative research and practice, today finds it expression in our STEAM agenda, in our research and enterprise, and in our commitment to challenge-based learning. Working across disciplines, and delivering impactful research and enterprise, interdisciplinarity is at the heart of the continuing transformation of our academic portfolio.

FULL TIME, FIXED TERM CONTRACT ROLE UNTIL 31 DECEMBER 2027

Birmingham City University invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow position (up to 36 months) to support a pioneering project focused on the development and implementation of solar-powered irrigation and cold storage systems in Bangladesh. The primary aim of this project is to design and optimise a cold storage system utilising excess energy from solar photovoltaic (PV) arrays, and to create innovative business models that address food security, energy access, and economic development for Bangladeshi farmers.
The candidate will work in the College of Engineering and be integrated in the Global Environmental Challenges Research Group.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Techno-Economic Modelling:
• Develop and validate a sophisticated techno-economic model encompassing solar PV systems, battery storage, cold storage units, crop management practices, and farmer energy consumption patterns.
• Employ advanced energy system design software, such as HOMER, to optimize system configurations and economic viability.
• Smart Grid Control and Management:
• Implement the techno-economic model for real-time control and management of the energy system, effectively establishing a smart mini-grid.
• Ensure optimal power dispatch, demand-side management, and renewable energy integration for enhanced system reliability and efficiency.
• Digital Twin Development:
• Create a dynamic digital twin of the energy system using Internet of Things (IoT) devices and artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms.
• Leverage the digital twin to predict system behaviour, detect anomalies, and prescribe maintenance strategies.
• Optional: Field Testing and Validation:
• Design and support the establishment and instrumentation of two test sites in Bangladesh to demonstrate and validate the integrated solar irrigation and cold storage system.
• Collect, analyse and interpret field data to refine the techno-economic model and digital twin.
• Optional: Team Leadership and Stakeholder Engagement:
• Involvement in a multidisciplinary research team and foster open communication with international collaborators, local farmers, and other stakeholders.
• Author and publish high-impact research articles, present findings at international conferences, and contribute to grant proposals for sustained project funding.
  You will have a PhD degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Renewable Energy, Agricultural Engineering, or a closely related field. You will also have demonstrated expertise in energy system design and optimisation, preferably with extensive experience using HOMER or similar software, and a strong background in techno-economic modelling, smart grid control, and AI-driven predictive maintenance strategies. Experience in solar PV systems, cold storage technologies, and agricultural practices in rural settings, along with familiarity with the socio-economic and agricultural context of South East Asia is desirable. Knowledge of data analytics, machine learning, and IoT technologies for energy system applications.

Interested candidates are encouraged to submit the following documents:

• A cover letter highlighting relevant experience, skills, and motivation for the position.
• A comprehensive curriculum vitae, including a list of publications and contact information for three professional references.
• A research statement outlining your vision for the project and potential innovative approaches (maximum 2 pages).

At Birmingham City University we are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. All staff are expected to understand and enact the University’s commitment to ensuring equality, diversity and inclusion in our employment practice and in all that we do. This commitment is enshrined in our Core Values and is detailed in our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Employment Policy. The University values and celebrates the diversity of our staff and students; we welcome people from the many different backgrounds and life experiences that reflect the students and the citizens we serve. We are committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and actively encourage unique contributions, in particular from under-represented groups in respect of age, disability, sex, gender or gender identity, ethnicity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation or transgender status.
For further information about the project or the position, please contact Florimond Gueniat (florimond.gueniat@bcu.ac.uk).