PhD Researcher in Lightning Risk Assessment (Renewable Energy, Remote)

Job summary

This PhD position focuses on evaluating lightning risks for wind turbines through experimental and modeling approaches. The research aims to enhance the safety and reliability of wind turbines, which are vulnerable to lightning strikes in both onshore and offshore environments.

Qualifications

• Relevant MSc degree in meteorology, atmospheric sciences, or equivalent
• Strong programming skills in Python or willingness to learn
• Experience with high-performance computing and analysis of large geospatial datasets
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Interest in wind and energy systems

Responsibilities

• Characterize lightning strike rates affecting wind turbines in selected regions
• Analyze differences in lightning impacts on tall structures across various environments
• Conduct measurements of lightning and electric fields at a designated test center
• Define meteorological conditions leading to lightning strikes and integrate findings into lightning protection standards
• Develop optimized climatology models for lightning risk assessment
• Validate risk scenarios using damage reports from relevant databases

Skills

• Experience with lightning research is advantageous
• Familiarity with statistics and machine learning techniques
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English
• Collaborative mindset for engaging with academic and industrial partners

Education

• A two-year master's degree (120 ECTS points) or equivalent academic level is required.

Tools

• Programming languages (especially Python)
• High-performance computing resources
• Measurement tools such as interferometers and electric field mills