PhD Fellowship in Systems Optimization for Sustainable Resources Utilization

Overview

The Research Chair Prof. Abebe Geletu at AIMS Rwanda in collaboration with the Process Optimization
Group Chair Prof. Pu Li at TU Ilmenau is offering Postdoctoral fellowships at AIMS Rwanda research
center in Kigali. These fellowships are made available and funded by the DAAD to promote international
academics exchange as well as educational co-operation with developing countries through a variety
of funding and scholarship programs.

Scientific interests

Optimization, predictive control, and computational intelligence methods for efficient use of
regenerative energy resources and sustainable and equitable distribution and management of water
resources:
▪ Mathematical analysis and computational approaches to chance constrained optimization,
centralized and distributed model predictive control, and development as well as
implementation of data-driven and machine learning algorithms to be applied in water
distribution systems for water quality management and control
▪ Development of efficient approaches to online estimation of model parameters of battery
systems in microgrids aiming at optimal and reliable energy supply with intermittent renewable
generation.

PhD Topic 1: Real-time model predictive control of microgrid based sustainable energy generation and
distribution with optimal energy storage management, stable operation, and reliable demand coverage
(tasks: chance constrained nonlinear model predictive control, numerical and stochastic optimization,
case-studies on microgrid-based energy generation and storage management)

PhD Topic 2: Chance constrained distributed model predictive control for stable, reliable, and coordinated
operational management of multiple microgrids (tasks: chance constrained distributed nonlinear model
predictive control, high-performance GPU computation and parallel implementation of algorithms,
case-studies for coordinated distributed predictive control of multiple microgrids with energy storage
units)

PhD Topic 3: Intelligent predictive control and smart monitoring for water distribution network systems
(tasks: intelligent nonlinear model predictive control, numerical methods for real-time predictive
control, case-studies on water distribution networks involving sensor management)

Eligibility

▪ Ph.D. degree with an outstanding performance in applied mathematics, power engineering,
water systems engineering (not more than 6 years from the starting date of the appointment)
▪ Specialization in mathematical optimization and/or optimal control theory and numerical
methods
▪ Experience in implementing and deploying large-scale optimization algorithms
▪ Strong programming skills in C/C++ or other optimization tools
▪ Ability to actively work in an interdisciplinary research environment
▪ Academic excellence and track records in conducting research and projects with at least 2 years
of teaching and research experience
▪ Excellent written and verbal English communication skills
▪ Preferably a national of an African country
Female candidate and candidates from less privileged regions or groups are especially encouraged to
apply

Fellowship Holders

Successful fellows are expected to conduct research and publish results in the thematic areas of
Systems Optimization for Sustainable Resources Utilization in peer-reviewed journals and international
conferences. They are expected to be actively engaged in the research activities of the German Research
Chair, contribute to the implementation of the cooperation between the German Research Chair and
the Process Optimization Group at TU Ilmenau. Fellows are also expected to have some involvement in
the AIMS Rwanda academic programs.