Postdoctoral Researcher - Grid Modernization Initiative (GMI)

Job Description

Position Summary:

The Grid Modernization Initiative at Colorado State University’s Energy Institute seeks a postdoctoral researcher to advance AI-enabled microgrids and resilient energy systems for critical infrastructure. The researcher will develop and evaluate optimization, control, data-driven methods, and digital twins for microgrids, distributed energy resources, and energy storage. Applications include data center energy systems and small modular reactor (SMR) integration. The researcher will collaborate with CSU faculty, students, federal agencies, national laboratories, and industry partners to validate methods and prepare publications and project deliverables.

Full Consideration Date: please apply by Monday, November 16, 2026, 11:59 pm (MT).

Essential Job Duties:

• •Develop optimization and control methods for microgrids, distributed energy resources, and energy storage.
• •Evaluate reliability, resilience, contingency response, and resource integration for assigned applications, including data center energy systems and SMRs.
• •Develop and validate power system models and digital twins using offline or real-time simulation, measurement data, and reproducible computational workflows.
• •Prepare technical reports and sponsor deliverables, contribute to research proposals, and coordinate assigned activities with project partners.

Conditions of Employment:

• •Successful completion of the required pre-employment criminal background check and verification of the qualifying doctoral degree by the start date.
• •Ability to perform the essential duties in Fort Collins, Colorado, with reasonable accommodation as applicable.
• •Travel to the project site in Cordova, Alaska, for one project visit.
• •The successful candidate must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. by employment start date. The department will not sponsor visa status.

Supervision:

• •No direct employee reports.
• •Mentor graduate and undergraduate students.

Minimum Qualifications:

• •Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a closely related field, with all degree requirements completed by the employment start date.
• •Experience programming in at least one scientific computing language, such as Python, MATLAB, Julia, or an equivalent language.

Preferred Qualifications:

• •Research experience in power and energy systems, including optimization and/or control of microgrids, distribution systems, or distributed energy resources.
• •Experience applying AI or machine learning to power and energy systems.
• •Experience with power system modeling, real-time simulation, or digital twins.
• •Research experience in energy resilience, energy storage, data center energy systems, or SMR integration.
• •Record of peer-reviewed publications and effective written and oral technical communication.
• •Experience collaborating on externally funded research, or mentoring students.

Salary Range

$70,000 to $78,000 per year

Required Application Documents

To apply, please upload the following applicant documents. Ensure your materials fully address the required and preferred job qualifications of the position. Please note, applicants may redact information from their application materials that identifies their age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.

Resume/CV

Employee Benefits

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Background Check Policy Statement

Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks for the finalist before a final offer. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.

EEO

Colorado State University (CSU) provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.