PhD Candidate (MSCA) in optimal high temperature heat pump control

Doctorat / PhD Profil chercheur : First Stage Researcher (R1) Type de contrat : Temporary Date limite de candidature : 22 Nov 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Oslo) Date de début : 23 Oct 2026 Programme UE : Horizon Europe - MSCA Département : Energy Domaine : Engineering » Control engineering

SINTEF Energy is announcing two PhD candidate positions within the field of thermal engineering and industrial heat supply utilizing High Temperature Heat Pumps (HTHPs). Both positions are within the frame of a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Network (MSCA-DN). The candidate will be employed by the Energy Use Department to carry out the doctoral project described below, enrolled by the doctoral program at Brunel University (UK), and have supervisors at both SINTEF and Brunel. About the project The activity is coordinated within the HeatMinds MSCA-DN by Brunel University in London, UK. The HeatMinds project is officially launched in October 2026 and holds a consortium of 18 partners across Europe. This integrated project aims to conduct collaborative research while training fifteen doctoral candidates to make a step change in accelerating the development and deployment of industrial HTHPs to support the decarbonization of heat supply in the process industry. Supported by leading universities, research centres, and industrial actors, advanced models and design tools will be developed that contribute to the advancement of these efforts. HeatMinds will tackle highly connected research questions, namely what are the optimum and sustainable cycle arrangements, component designs, and supporting energy policy frameworks? HeatMinds will establish a roadmap for deploying IHTHP technology to support the decarbonisation of several key industries. The other project partners recruiting PhD students are Brunel University (UK), City St. Georges University (UK), University of Seville (Spain), Technical University of Denmark, and SINTEF Industry. One of the PhD projects hosted by SINTEF Energy is titled “Advanced Control Strategies for Dynamic Operation of High-Temperature Heat Pump Systems”. The project will address the challenges related to optimal control of high temperature heat pumps and their integration within dynamic industrial processes. This project includes elements of: Investigation and development of novel or advanced control algorithms such as model predictive control (MPC) and reinforcement learning (RL) for high-temperature heat pump systems. Investigation and development of control strategies for high-temperature heat pump systems that achieve near-optimal operation using simple control elements (self-optimizing control). Evaluation of proposed control strategies in integrated scenarios within the context of industrial decarbonization and energy system flexibility. Demonstration and evaluation of proposed control strategies in a pilot-scale laboratory system.

SINTEF Energy is announcing two PhD candidate positions within the field of thermal engineering and industrial heat supply utilizing High Temperature Heat Pumps (HTHPs). Both positions are within the frame of a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Network (MSCA-DN). The candidate will be employed by the Energy Use Department to carry out the doctoral project described below, enrolled by the doctoral program at Brunel University (UK), and have supervisors at both SINTEF and Brunel.

About the project The activity is coordinated within the HeatMinds MSCA-DN by Brunel University in London, UK.

The HeatMinds project is officially launched in October 2026 and holds a consortium of 18 partners across Europe. This integrated project aims to conduct collaborative research while training fifteen doctoral candidates to make a step change in accelerating the development and deployment of industrial HTHPs to support the decarbonization of heat supply in the process industry. Supported by leading universities, research centres, and industrial actors, advanced models and design tools will be developed that contribute to the advancement of these efforts. HeatMinds will tackle highly connected research questions, namely what are the optimum and sustainable cycle arrangements, component designs, and supporting energy policy frameworks? HeatMinds will establish a roadmap for deploying IHTHP technology to support the decarbonisation of several key industries.

The other project partners recruiting PhD students are Brunel University (UK), City St. Georges University (UK), University of Seville (Spain), Technical University of Denmark, and SINTEF Industry.

One of the PhD projects hosted by SINTEF Energy is titled “Advanced Control Strategies for Dynamic Operation of High-Temperature Heat Pump Systems”. The project will address the challenges related to optimal control of high temperature heat pumps and their integration within dynamic industrial processes.

This project includes elements of:

Investigation and development of novel or advanced control algorithms such as model predictive control (MPC) and reinforcement learning (RL) for high-temperature heat pump systems.

Investigation and development of control strategies for high-temperature heat pump systems that achieve near-optimal operation using simple control elements (self-optimizing control).

Evaluation of proposed control strategies in integrated scenarios within the context of industrial decarbonization and energy system flexibility.

Demonstration and evaluation of proposed control strategies in a pilot-scale laboratory system.

Where to apply Website https://candidate.hr-manager.net/ApplicationForm/SinglePageApplicationForm.aspx…