Research Associate in Extremum Control of Wind Energy Systems

Research Associate in Extremum Seeking Control of Wind Energy Systems

Job Description: The Center for Wind Energy at UT Dallas (UTDWind) seeks to fill a research associate position aimed at increasing annual energy production (AEP) on wind farms. The position is to support a two-year Small Business Technology Transfer project (STTR) funded by the National Science Foundation. The successful candidate is expected to support the development, simulation and testing of model-free algorithms for real-time optimization of turbine operating conditions (e.g., yaw set points).

Other projects may be assigned by the supervisor depending on skills and technical needs.

The successful candidate will be part of a team of faculty members, graduate students, and industry partners developing methodology and new technologies for wind energy systems. The successful candidate is expected to assist in the supervision of graduate students and publish scientific papers. Participation in the development of sponsored research is encouraged. UTDWind is home to a site of WindSTAR, an NSF Industry/University Cooperative Research Center for use-inspired R&D to advance wind energy science & technology.

UTDWind is also a member of the Ocean Safety Energy Institute (OESI), a consortium of industry, national labs, non-governmental organizations based at Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station, and the European Academy of Wind Energy (EAWE). UT Dallas is co-hosting the 2025 NAWEA/Wind Tech Conference in the metroplex.

Minimum Education and Experience

Ph.D in a related field.

Preferred Education and Experience

A PhD in engineering with emphasis in extremum seeking control of dynamic systems with unknown but measurable utility functions or related real-time optimization algorithms. Experience in system identification and online time-varying parameter estimation algorithms. Other relevant experience includes wind turbine control and/or wind farm control. Programming skills in MATLAB/Simulink, C/C++ are required. Some experience with real-time control hardware.

Other Qualifications

To the extent this position requires the holder to research, work on, or have access to critical infrastructure as defined in Section 117.001(2) of the Texas Business and Commerce Code, the ability to maintain the security or integrity of the critical infrastructure is a minimum qualification to be hired and to continue to be employed in the position.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The Center for Wind Energy at UT Dallas (UTDWind) seeks to fill a research associate position aimed at increasing annual energy production (AEP) on wind farms. The position is to support a two-year Small Business Technology Transfer project (STTR) funded by the National Science Foundation. The successful candidate is expected to support the development, simulation and testing of model free algorithms for real-time optimization of turbine operating conditions (e.g., yaw set points).

Other projects may be assigned by supervisor depending on skills and technical needs.