ForWind – Center for Wind Energy Research has a vacant PostDoc position in the research group “Wind Energy Systems” at the Institute of Physics of the University of Oldenburg starting as soon as possible for a limited period of 3 years for a

PostDoc position (f/m/d)
(Salary according to TV-L E13, 100%)
Large-eddy simulations of wind turbines’ response and challenging atmospheric conditions

The interactions between closely spaced wind turbines and between turbines and particular atmospheric flow phenomena are complex. Atmospheric large-eddy simulations (LES) are dedicated to enhancing their understanding. Driving LES with information obtained from mesoscale atmospheric simulations is regarded as a possibility to reproduce observed atmospheric situations in a simulation environment. Aeroelastic simulations coupled to the LES allow for the simulation of wind turbines' response under such conditions. The results of high-fidelity simulations support the development of cheaper tools that the industry can apply.

Job Description
Your main objective is to improve the numerical modelling of the dynamic response of a utility-scale wind turbine in the near wake of another turbine and on particular meteorological conditions. You will employ a coupling between the large-eddy simulation (LES) model PALM and the aeroelastic code OpenFAST to analyse the flow conditions and system dynamics. You will compare your results with the project partners' open-field measurements and computational fluid dynamics data.

Among others, your tasks will comprise:

• implementation of a new turbulence generator to tailor the LES inflow to measured flow conditions,
• analysing a unique set of meteorological and wind turbine data to derive LES validation cases,
• applying LES driven by mesoscale simulations to other challenging meteorological conditions (e.g. low-level jets, wind gusts),
• enhancing the aeroelastic modelling in the coupled LES simulations.

Job offer
We offer you the opportunity to develop your scientific career in a young and lively academic environment. You will be working in the WindLab – one of the university's most modern office and lab spaces – and have the opportunity to do flexible and mobile work. Your pathway as a researcher is actively supported by, e.g.,

• multidisciplinary cooperation with other researchers at ForWind and Fraunhofer IWES in Oldenburg,
• direct collaboration with industry while maintaining the links with our national and international partners I n academia,
• optional secondment at an international research institute
• development of personal, scientific, and teaching skills through an individual training programme and selected teaching tasks,
• opportunities to present scientific results at international conferences and through peer-reviewed publications to extend your specific network,
• active participation in the planning and implementation of teaching and supervision of PhD students
• contributing to the conceptualisation, application and organisation of third-party funded projects.

The payment is based on the collective agreement for the public service in the German federal states, TV-L E13, for a 100% position.

For your work, you will have access to our high-performance computing systems installed in 2023 and a regional HPC cluster that allows for performing cutting-edge simulations. You will work in a team with over two decades of experience in numerical fluid dynamics and simulations of atmospheric flows using the mesoscale model WRF and the LES model PALM. You can access measurement data from a worldwide unique research wind farm for validation purposes.

Candidate Profile
Requirements for employment include:

• PhD degree in physical or engineering sciences,
• university degree (diploma or master) in Physical Sciences, Meteorology, Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering, Renewable Energy (with a major in wind energy) or in a similar field,
• profound knowledge in computational fluid dynamics and either aerodynamics (especially aeroelasticity) or atmospheric sciences,
• experience in analysing large data sets,
• fluency in communicating and reporting in English.

Desired (but not mandatory) qualifications are:

• experience in atmospheric large-eddy simulations,
• experience in structural dynamics of mechanical systems,
• experience abroad of several months during the school, graduation period or employment after graduation,
• good German skills.

University of Oldenburg strives to increase the proportion of women in science. Therefore, women are strongly encouraged to apply. In accordance with § 21, para. 3 NHG, female applicants will be given preferential consideration in the case of equivalent qualifications. Applicants with disabilities will be given preference in case of equal qualification. Further, the university cares for a family-friendly working environment and offers a family service centre and children's daycare on campus. Full-time positions can be also turned into part-time ones.

Research environment at ForWind – University of Oldenburg
Wind energy research at the University of Oldenburg has gained international recognition by its integration into ForWind – Center for Wind Energy Research of the Universities of Oldenburg, Hannover and Bremen and the national Wind Energy Research Alliance of the German Aerospace Center (DLR), Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy Systems (IWES) and ForWind.
At ForWind, we maintain and value collaboration between our research groups and partner institutions such as the European Academy of Wind Energy members. In Oldenburg, our 50 researchers from physics, meteorology and engineering are collaborating at the »Research Laboratory for Turbulence and Wind Energy Systems« centred on wind physics. Our mission is to develop an improved understanding of atmospheric and wind power plant flow physics, which is required to serve the global demand for clean and affordable electricity. Therefore, we conduct laboratory experiments, free-field measurements and HPC-based numerical simulations. The main topics include the description and modelling of wind turbulence, the analysis of interactions of turbulent atmospheric wind flow and wind energy systems, as well as control of wind turbines and wind farms. The covered scales range from small-scale turbulence up to meteorological phenomena. Our research facilities comprise three turbulent wind tunnels, various equipment for free-field measurements at on- and offshore wind farms and a high-performance computing cluster. Almost all our projects combine analyses at more than one of these infrastructures.

Contact
For questions regarding this job opportunity, please contact Dr. Gerald Steinfeld at +49(0)441/798-5073 or preferably by email at . Further information is available at www.forwind.de/en/ and https://uol.de/en/energiemeteorology/research/wind-energy.

Please submit your application electronically as one PDF file by 20.05.2024 to and include reference #UN100.

The pdf file must include either in English or German:

• A letter motivating your application (cover letter)
• One-page research statement with your notion of the advertised topic
• Curriculum vitae
• Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc/PhD diploma
• Employment references

An optional attachment is a second PDF file containing your PhD Thesis and research papers.
We are looking forward to receiving your application.

University of Oldenburg
Institute of Physics, ForWind - Center for Wind Energy Research
Research Group Wind Energy Systems
Küpkersweg 70
26129 Oldenburg, Germany