PhD Student in Forcing and Nonlinear Interactions in Wind Turbine Wakes - DTU Wind

Are you motivated by fundamental questions in turbulence and excited to develop next-generation data-driven models for wind turbine wakes?

At DTU Wind and Energy Systems, we are seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate to investigate how nonlinear interactions between turbulent flow structures influence wind turbine wake dynamics.

The project combines fluid mechanics, high-fidelity simulations, and data-driven reduced-order modelling to advance our understanding of wind turbine wake behaviour under realistic atmospheric conditions.

The PhD is conducted in close collaboration with Imperial College London and Professor Oliver Buxton, and includes an extended research stay at Imperial with the aim of bridging state-of-the-art numerical simulations and advanced laboratory experiments to create new modelling approaches for turbulent wind turbine wakes. 

Responsibilities and qualifications
Your overall responsibilities will be to:

• To perform CFD simulations of wind turbine wake aerodynamics across various operational and atmospheric conditions.
• To investigate different data-driven methods in terms of accuracy and computational efficiency, e.g. linear and non-linear methods, in order to develop models of wind turbine wake aerodynamics
• To perform detailed uncertainty quantification and higher-order validation of the data-driven models compared to high-fidelity experimental and CFD results.
• To provide physical interpretation of the constructed models.
• Participate in scientific conferences and publish results in scientific journals.

We expect that you have:

• A background in engineering, physics or similar.
• Understanding of fluid mechanics, including turbulence, boundary-layer flows and wake aerodynamics.
• Understanding of dynamical systems.
• Experience developing and using data-driven methods, such as POD and/or autoencoders, and spectral analysis.
• Ability to work with large data sets.
• Experience with scientific programming, e.g. Python.
• Clear and concise communication skills in English.
• Positive attitude, a strong drive, critical thinking, and an eagerness to learn. 

You must have a two-year master's degree (120 ECTS points) or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a two-year master's degree.

Approval and Enrolment 
The scholarship for the PhD degree is subject to academic approval, and the candidate will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes at DTU. For information about our enrolment requirements and the general planning of the PhD study programme, please see DTU's rules for the PhD education. 

Assessment
The assessment of the applicants will be made by Associate Professor Søren Juhl Andersen, Professor Henrik Bredmose from DTU as well as Professor Oliver Buxton from Imperial College London.  

We offer
DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.

Salary and appointment terms 
The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. Please see DTU’s salary structure for scientific staff: www.inside.dtu.dk/en/human-resources/during-employment/salary/salary-structures

Starting date will be coordinated in mutual agreement, but no later than February 1^st 2027. The position is full-time. The start date will also depend on the enrollment as a PhD student.

The period of employment is 3 years.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here.

Further information 
Further information may be obtained from Søren Juhl Andersen, [email protected], tel. +45 4525 4332.

You can read more at www.wind.dtu.dk

If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark. Furthermore, you have the option of joining our monthly free seminar “PhD relocation to Denmark and startup “Zoom” seminar” for all questions regarding the practical matters of moving to Denmark and working as a PhD at DTU. 

Application procedure 
Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 6 September 2026 (23:59 Danish time). 

Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply now", fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file. The file must include:

• A letter motivating the application (cover letter)
• Curriculum vitae incl contact information for two references
• Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma (in English) including official description of grading scale

You may apply prior to ob­tai­ning your master's degree but cannot begin before having received it.

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply. As DTU works with research in critical technology, which is subject to special rules for security and export control, open-source background checks may be conducted on qualified candidates for the position.

DTU Wind and Energy Systems is about taking the technology to the next level. About creating an impact for people and society through research and innovation. About collaborating with the entire energy sector to develop the most effective technology on the planet. We have more than 451 staff members of which 60% are researchers, 20 professors, 107 PhDs, 26 % women, spanning 48 nationalities. We work every day on our mission to lead by scientific excellence and impact driven research that enables a sustainable, large-scale deployment of wind energy and the development of an integrated and resilient energy system.

DTU – For the benefit of society since 1829
DTU is one of Europe's leading elite technical universities. Through research and education at an international top level, we create solutions to the major societal challenges of our time and help secure Europe's global leadership in sustainable technological development. Since Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU almost 200 years ago, our mission has remained the same: We develop and create value through the natural and technical sciences for the benefit of society. DTU has 13,800 students, 1,600 PhD students, and 6,500 employees. We work in an international environment and have an inclusive, stimulating, and informal work culture. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland and collaborates with the best universities around the world.