Research Assistant / Research Associate in Design of Active Electrical Power Distribution Systems (Newcastle, GB) presso Newcastle University

Salary: 

Research Assistant: £33,002 to £34,610 per annum

Research Associate: £35,608 to £46,049 per annum

Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits. We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

Closing Date: 07 November 2025

The Role

To enable the societal shift to a net zero economy, electrical power systems are rapidly decarbonizing supply whilst electrifying carbon-intensive demand. There is therefore an acceleration in the connection of low carbon technologies (LCTs, such as solar PV, electric vehicles, heat pumps or energy storage) to distribution networks. New active technologies that provide flexibility, such as network operator-owned power electronic devices (PEDs), promise to provide the necessary additional capacity to enable those LCTs whilst reducing bills for customers whilst improving resilience.

In this role, you will contribute to Newcastle University’s efforts to address this challenge by supporting development of an active network Design Tool for low voltage distribution networks. This tool is a key component of the flagship D-Suite project led by UK utility SP Energy Networks, and is used to automate the selection, siting and sizing of network operator-owned active PEDs. An initial design for the Tool has been developed through 2025, and will be evaluated by end users in Spring 2026.

Working as a member of Newcastle’s Power Systems research group and supported by the University’s Research Software Engineering team, you will continue to advance the development of the Tool’s algorithms and functionality. As a key innovative component of D-Suite, this open-source tool will achieve wide industry visibility, and will be formally evaluated by other UK network operators as part of the D-Suite project.

Your core responsibilities will also involve contributing the broader research activities on power electronics-based power systems within the Electrical Power group. In particular, you will contribute to the Supergen Energy Networks hub, in which you will have opportunity to work across a network of nearly fifty renowned organizations internationally, including GB’s National Energy System Operator (NESO), Siemens, Northern Powergrid, and the Energy Systems Catapult. Other collaboration and research opportunities will be available, such as through the Centre for Energy.

Given the role’s focus, we are particularly interested in working with researchers who are looking to undertake research in collaboration with industry. We aim to use new and innovative methods to solve real-world problems whilst delivering significant academic contributions.

The post is full time, fixed term for 24 months. You will be based in the newly renovated Stephenson building. We aim to hold interviews in mid October. Candidates invited to interview will be asked prior to the interview to complete a half-day task within a window of at least ten days (an example task for a different role within the research group is here). A start date of January 2026 is preferred.

To apply, please upload a CV (academic style, no page limit) and a cover letter (1 or 2 pages A4). These should detail how your experience meets the requirements outlined in the job description and your interest in the role.

For more information or informal enquiries, please contact Dr Matthew Deakin, [email protected].

The successful applicant may be eligible for a Global Talent Visa under the Endorsed Funder Route, the University will support you with this application. The University provides a Visa Reimbursement Policy which allows Global Talent Visa applicants to reclaim the cost of their visa application fee, along with any accompanying dependants. The University also provides an Interest Free Loan scheme to support colleagues with visa-related costs not covered under the reimbursement policy – further information is available here.

Key Accountabilities

Research Assistant / Research Associate

• Support development and documentation of Python-based Design Tool workflow for D-Suite Project
• Formulate and solve optimization problems, developing algorithms which have appropriate accuracy, precision, and speed
• Write up and present results from own research activity and provide input into the project’s dissemination (technical reports, conference and journal papers in appropriate outlets)
• Contribute ideas, including enhancements to the technical or methodological aspects of the project.
• Co-ordinate own work with that of others, deal with problems which may affect the achievement of research objectives and contribute to the planning of the projects.
• Collect, analyse and interpret research data and draw conclusions on the outcomes

The Person

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Knowledge of the structure of power distribution networks and the impact of LCTs on network capacity
• Experience of formulating optimization problems and solving using appropriate methods
• Understanding of the potential use-cases of network operator-owned active power electronics solutions, such as soft open points, STATCOMs, and hybrid transformers
• Ability to present complex information effectively to a range of audiences with clarity
• Experience of working collaboratively with colleagues
• The ability to use personal initiative and creativity to solve research problems
• Experience of presenting research at conferences and/or in high quality publications
• Evidence of potential to publish journals articles with research of international significance

Desirable

• Experience implementing mixed-integer, conic or nonlinear programming and modelling frameworks (JuMP, Pyomo, Yalmip, GAMS, etc)
• Experience with unbalanced distribution system analysis tools (e.g., OpenDSS, Cyme, Gridlab-D, PowerModelsDistribution.jl)
• Experience working with Distribution Network Operators or Utilities on research, innovation or consulting projects
• Experience working with Python, Git, and/or Object-Oriented Programming

Attributes and Behaviour

• Commitment to working positively as a member of a research team
• Ability to communicate work to a range of audiences, including researchers, engineers, and the general public.
• Ability to prioritise competing responsibilities and to work to deadlines
• Commitment to continued professional development
• Understanding of and commitment to good practice in equality, inclusion and diversity (EDI) in line with Newcastle University’s EDI principles

Qualifications

Research Assistant

• First degree in engineering or numerate subject (e.g., mathematics, physical sciences, computer science)
• PhD close to completion in field of Power Systems, Smart Grids, Power Electronics and Control, or related discipline (upon PhD completion, will transition to Research Associate).

In addition for Research Associate

• PhD awarded in field of Power Systems, Smart Grids, Power Electronics and Control, or related discipline

Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.  As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.

We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society.  We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent.  We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams, we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.

At Newcastle University we hold a silver Athena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality.  We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC.  We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme.

In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe. 

Requisition ID: 28649