Career

Working@eifer

Would you like to be involved in creating innovative solutions supporting the transition to low-carbon, reliable and cost-efficient energy systems? Are you fascinated by applied research, science and technology?

Then EIFER is the right place for you! We are looking for curious minds to join us, who are always eager to learn and create something new together. Connecting research and industry for innovation, the German-French research institute EIFER offers you an inspiring and interdisciplinary work environment.

At EIFER, you can be sure to find a supportive atmosphere and a healthy work-life balance in a thriving international community whether you wish to work as a member of our scientific staff or in the technical-administrative field.

Open Positions

Jobs

Vacant Position in Ecosystem Services and Nature-Based Solutions for carbon sequestration (m/f/d)
Become a member of the EIFER-team!

Would you like to work in a scientifically rich, international environment contributing to finding solutions for climate change in the energy sector? 

The European Institute for Energy Research EDF-KIT EWIV (EIFER) is looking for a
Research fellow (m/f/d)

in the field of Environmental Management who will be part of the research group Energy transition, markets, environment. The work is embedded in large, international research projects of the EDF group as well as public funded projects.

The position is based in Karlsruhe with a duration of initially 2 years starting as soon as possible. The salary is based on qualifications and experience according to TV-L (100%).

The European Institute for Energy Research was founded by EDF and the KIT in 2002 aiming at enhancing collaboration through projects applied to industrial issues and utilities’ needs. With its applied research orientation EIFER has been bridging the gap between science and industry for more than 20 years. In the context of the European energy transition, EIFER provides research-based innovative energy solutions for a sustainable future.

What you can expect 

  • Contributing to ongoing R&D projects related to the evaluation of ecosystem services, the design and implementation of nature-based solutions for carbon sequestration, biodiversity and the resilience of territories to climate change
  • Executing measurement campaigns in pilot sites on water and carbon sequestration in ecosystems
  • Analysing and evaluate the regulation concerning nature-based carbon sequestration and compensation so to accompany EIFER’s clients in the development and application of their sustainability policies
  • Being in direct contact with EIFER’s clients to understand their needs, define workplans and communicate results
  • Contributing to proposals to further develop research activities, including respond to calls for public funded projects
  • External presentation of activities, literature, and conference contributions

What we expect 

Qualifications

  • Master’s degree or PhD in agronomy, biology, environmental science, ecology
  • Professional experience of at least 3 years in the field ecosystem services and nature-based solutions

Desired profile 

  • Understanding of carbon cycle and carbon sequestration characteristics in various types of ecosystems (e.g. in peatlands, prairies, forests)
  • Knowledge of statistical methods and tools
  • Ability to work fluently in French and English, written and spoken (both are a must). German is an asset.
  • Strong ability for team work in a multicultural environment and open-mindedness, for fruitful communication and collaboration with clients and partners

 What we offer
An international environment as well as a pleasant and open working atmosphere:

  • Flat hierarchies and short decision paths
  • Academic environment and access to research infrastructure of KIT and EDF
  • Applied project work to industrial issues
  • Exciting, empowering tasks and multidisciplinary project work
  • Continuous education and training
  • Flexible working hours and part-time mobile work
  • Company pension scheme
  • Social events and sports groups
  • A contribution to the key challenge of our era

Key facts 

  • Duration: the position is initially limited to 2 years
  • Starting date: November 2024
  • Regular work location: EIFER, Emmy-Noether-Str. 11, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
  • The salary is based on qualification and experience according to the public tariff system TV-L (100%).

Contact
If you want to join our institute, please forward your electronic application (cover letter + curriculum vitae + certificates) with one single PDF of max. 5MB to jobs@eifer.org by 3 August 2024. Please refer to the offer number 24J021.

To learn more about EIFER, please visit our website at: http://www.eifer.org

For additional information concerning the work, please contact Nicole Pini (nicole.pini@eifer.org).

Would you like to work in a French-German consortium of industry, research and academia in transnational PhD research?

French-German PhD Project Proposal – Design optimization of distribution grids by an arbitrage between grid reinforcement and new flexibility uses in a German planning context

Context

A French-German consortium of industry, research and academia offers the unique opportunity of transnational PhD research: EIFER – European Institute for Energy Research, based in Karlsruhe, was founded by EDF (Electricité de France) and KIT (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology), to bridge the gap between science and energy industry. The role of EDF R&D in Saclay is to support the EDF Group’s operational branches in the development of the power system and power grid in France, in Europe and worldwide.

Together with KIT and UHA Mulhouse (Université de Haute-Alsace), EDF R&D will support the candidate to apply to a French CIFRE grant and to the related 3-year working contract with EDF R&D (https://www.anrt.asso.fr/sites/default/files/2024-start/cifre_2023_eng.pdf). The international opening will allow for staying up to 50% of the 3-years-period in Germany. This includes the possibility for a double degree (cotutelle) with KIT and UHA.

Background

The power distribution grid, managed by Distribution System Operators (DSO), will be particularly affected by the energy transition. All the scenarios for achieving carbon neutrality involve massive growth in decentralized generation. In Germany, the ambition regarding the energy transition (Energiewende) has dramatically increased, the share of renewables to be reached in the power mix by 2030 being set at 80% (against 47% in 2022). This development (mainly of wind and PV power) will be accompanied by new uses and technologies: electric vehicles, storage, demand response, production modulation, hydrogen, etc.

This new context is drastically changing power flows and voltage profiles. It thus creates, already, many grid congestions that require costly remedial actions such as renewable curtailment, for over 4 billion euros per year (Germany 2022). This calls for a rethinking of the local grid design, selecting the right levers to achieve decarbonization target efficiently. New grid planning methods need to be developed that allow arbitrating between grid reinforcement and local flexibility use, from a techno-economic perspective.

Objectives and Approach

The future of distribution grids is influenced by numerous factors that will have a lasting impact on grid operation. These include grid digitalisation, new flexibility options but also grid reinforcement. Starting from these upcoming changes, the key research question consists of identifying cost-efficient pathways to a new and resilient grid design. Main influencing parameters shall be identified in a varying local and regulatory context.

This PhD has the objective to identify and develop innovative methods for an optimal distribution grid design that considers existing and innovative levers to maintain grid safety (levers from the users or levers from the grid). These methods shall be generic enough to comply with different local energy configurations. It shall start from the current academic and industrial practices in Germany, then include comparison with France.
The general approach of the PhD includes:

  • Analyze the state of the art of industrial and academic grid planning exercises, and grid design methods.
  • Develop a simulation environment representing a distribution grid based on (open source) power flow tools (e.g. panda power) in a “prosumer” environment that includes intermittent renewable power production as well as “smart” devices.
  • Implement new design approaches and tools (criteria, method, levers, and indicators), adaptable to different grid types and scenarios.
  • Validate the proposed methods, and compare different approaches, including technical options and economic incentives for flexibility management, to quantify the added value of innovations.
  • Scenario analysis by application of the developed method in realistic case studies: based on realistic local situations and grids, identifying reinforcement and flexibility solutions in different scenarios, to interpret results (technical and economical) and their sensitivities to parameters and local configurations.

Your Qualifications and Skills

A successful candidate has an advanced university degree (master) in electrical engineering, industrial engineering, or comparable program. Important skills and competencies include knowledge in electrical engineering and power grids, knowledge in optimization, experience in scientific programming, particularly in Python and/or Matlab-Simulink and good written and oral skills in German and English. French would be an advantage.

Knowledge in costs-benefits analysis and experience with code management tools (e.g. Git) will be appreciated together with soft skills such as rigor in programming (programs must be clean, commented and documented) and in writing and presentation (conferences, reviews, manuscript, defense…). We welcome team spirit, curiosity, interest in research, proactiveness and autonomy with ability to step back and interpret.

Contacts

ute.karl@eifer.org
cyril.gisbert@edf.fr
djafar.ould-abdeslam@uha.fr
rafael.finck@kit.edu

Student Jobs / Trainees / Internships

Are you interested in working in a research laboratory?

The European Institute for Energy Research EDF-KIT EWIV (EIFER) is looking for a

Student assistant (f/m/d)

in the research group “Low carbon hydrogen Systems”.

The European Institute for Energy Research was founded by EDF and the KIT in 2002 aiming at enhancing collaboration through joint projects applied to industrial issues and utilities’ needs. With its applied research orientation EIFER is bridging the gap between science and industry for more than 20 years. In the context of the European energy transition, EIFER provides research-based innovative energy solutions for the sustainable development of cities and communities, economic activities, and territories.

Since years, EDF via EIFER deeply extended its experimental activities in research and development on non-carbon energy technologies and improved its facilities towards digitalisation.

The assigned main tasks involve

  • The implementation of a LabVIEW interface for a new testing facility
  • The improvement of test benches (software and hardware)

The list of complementary activities is not exhaustive. The activities to be performed by the student assistant will be regularly updated by the head of the laboratory and team according to the running projects and current priorities, and may involve:

  • Electrochemical measurements and data treatment/analysis
  • Update of the archiving (database) and reporting process
  • Support for maintenance, safety and organization of the laboratory

Required qualifications / skills / interests

The position is aiming to Bachelor- or Master-students in IT, with

  • Background on interfacing computer / lab devices, LabVIEW
  • Ability to work in autonomy and to organize own work with minimal supervision
  • Ability to write/communicate in English and either French/German highly desirable
  • Discipline and regard for confidentiality, security and safety at all times
  • Knowledge on chemical engineering, solid state chemistry, material science appreciated

What you can expect

  • A stimulating, multicultural and multidisciplinary environment
  • An institute at the intersection between academic research and one of the largest energy utilities in Europe

Conditions

  • Duration: about one year
  • Starting date: as soon as possible
  • Location: KIT-ITCP, Engesserstrasse 20, 76131 Karlsruhe
  • Working hours: about 40 hours per month
  • Monthly compensation: 550 € basis, hourly rate depending on the student´s education level

Contact

If you want to join a highly motivated research group, please click APPLY NOW.

For additional information concerning the work please contact: julian.dailly@eifer.org

24J014 – Student assistant – Technology watch on hydrogen related start-ups

Are you interested in working on hydrogen field and innovative start-ups?

The European Institute for Energy Research EDF-KIT EWIV (EIFER) is looking for a
Student assistant (f/m/d)
in the research group “Low carbon hydrogen Systems”.

The European Institute for Energy Research was founded by EDF and the KIT in 2002 aiming at enhancing collaboration through joint projects applied to industrial issues and utilities’ needs. With its applied research orientation EIFER is bridging the gap between science and industry for more than 20 years. In the context of the European energy transition, EIFER provides research-based innovative energy solutions for the sustainable development of cities and communities, economic activities, and territories.

The assigned tasks involve

  • Scouting of start-ups with business models related to hydrogen and rating of their potential according to an already existing tool
  • Implementing the existing tool with graphic representation and further features
  • Implement a user-friendly interface and interactive map, from where the main information of start-ups can be accessed
  • Get in touch and assess the most promising hydrogen related start-ups

Required qualifications / skills / interests

The position is aiming to Master-students in technical/economics sciences:

  • Interested in the field of energy and environment
  • Knowledge in energy and economic field
  • Fluent in English. Knowledge of German and French are additional values.
  • Able to work autonomously

What you can expect

  • A stimulating, multicultural and multidisciplinary environment
  • An institute at the intersection between academic research and one of the largest energy utilities in Europe
  • If the opportunity arises: participation to conferences, involvement in scientific publications

Conditions

  • Duration: 6 months
  • Starting date: 15/05
  • Location: EIfER, Emmy-Noether-Str. 11, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
  • Monthly compensation: 550 € basis, working hours and hourly rate depending on the student´s education level

If you want to join a highly motivated research group, please forward your electronic application with one single pdf of max. 5MB including all relevant information (curriculum vitae and cover letter) to jobs@eifer.org. Please refer to the offer number 24J014.

For additional information concerning the work please contact: Renato Luise (renato.luise@eifer.org).

Are you interested in working on data management of power market data?

The European Institute for Energy Research EDF-KIT EWIV (EIFER) is looking for a
Student assistant (f/m/d)
in the research group “Energy Transition, Markets, Environment”.

The team “Policy Analysis and Energy Market Studies” heavily relies on clean data to perform data analysis for its research and consulting activities. These data must be extracted from different sources, cleaned and stored in order for it to be useful for the team. To this end, a Python package is being developed. Furthermore, to further valorise this effort, we aim at providing institute-wide access through a data catalog and visualization of data on energy markets.

The European Institute for Energy Research was founded by EDF and the KIT in 2002 aiming at enhancing collaboration through joint projects applied to industrial issues and utilities’ needs. With its applied research orientation EIFER is bridging the gap between science and industry for more than 20 years. In the context of the European energy transition, EIFER provides research-based innovative energy solutions for the sustainable development of cities and communities, economic activities, and territories.

The assigned tasks involve
  • Further development of a Python package managing data extraction, cleaning and storage tasks
  • Working on the integration of a data catalog into internal knowledge management system
  • Working on new functionalities such as the connection to visualisation tools (e.g. Dash, PowerBI)
Required qualifications / skills / interests

The position is aimed at Master-students in engineering and computer science

  • Very good English language skills. German language is a plus
  • Interest in the power system and power markets
  • Familiar with Python and SQL concepts
  • Basic knowledge on front-end development: Javascript, HTML, CSS
  • Knowledge on Django and Vue frameworks is a plus
What you can expect
  • A stimulating, multicultural and multidisciplinary environment
  • An institute at the intersection between academic research and one of the largest energy utilities in Europe
  • If the opportunity arises: participation to conferences, involvement in scientific publications
Conditions
  • Duration: 6 months (possibility for extension)
  • Starting date: As soon as possible
  • Location: EIFER, Emmy-Noether-Str. 11, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
  • Working hours: 40 hours per month
  • Monthly compensation: 530 € basis, hourly rate depending on the student´s education level
Contact

If you want to join a highly motivated research group, please forward your electronic application with one single pdf of max. 5MB including all relevant information (curriculum vitae and cover letter) to jobs@eifer.org. Please refer to the offer number 23J009.

For additional information concerning the work, please contact:
Agustín Motte Cortés, agustin.motte-cortes@eifer.org