PhD Position Data-Driven Health Monitoring of Floating Wind Turbines

As pioneers in the field of wind energy, wave tank testing and control, we are looking for an ambitious PhD candidate to join our research group on the following topic

Job description

We are seeking a motivated researcher to join our team in advancing innovative approaches for mitigating wake interaction effects in floating wind turbines. Recent advancements in dynamic actuation strategies have shown promise for enhancing wake mixing, but significant gaps remain in understanding the complex behavior and nonlinearities of mooring systems. This project aims to address these gaps by developing hardware-in-the-loop facilities for emulating mooring line nonlinearities at model scale and devising active control and health monitoring strategies. These efforts are aligned with the HybridLabs project, which leverages bio-inspired, data-driven control techniques in controlled wind tunnel environments.

The successful candidate will focus on  real-time data-driven control and health monitoring techniques for mooring systems and floating wind turbines. Key responsibilities include designing an experimental setup at TU Delft to mimic the realistic nonlinearities of mooring lines, implementing and testing control algorithms, and conducting a comprehensive test campaign using state-of-the-art facilities. This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking research at the intersection of renewable energy, control systems, and experimental mechanics.

Job requirements

The successful candidate has the following qualifications:

• A M.Sc. degree in systems and control, wind energy or hydrodynamics.
• Fundamental knowledge in the field of optimization and control.
• The capacity to communicate effectively with peers, students and stakeholders in the application field.
• Good programming skills are a plus: MATLAB, Python,  Git.
• Fluency in English.
• An open personality and good communication skills in written and spoken English.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology) 

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context. 

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration. 

Challenge. Change. Impact! 

Faculty Mechanical Engineering 

From chip to ship. From machine to human being. From idea to solution. Driven by a deep-rooted desire to understand our environment and discover its underlying mechanisms, research and education at the ME faculty focusses on fundamental understanding, design, production including application and product improvement, materials, processes and (mechanical) systems. 

ME is a dynamic and innovative faculty with high-tech lab facilities and international reach. It’s a large faculty but also versatile, so we can often make unique connections by combining different disciplines. This is reflected in ME’s outstanding, state-of-the-art education, which trains students to become responsible and socially engaged engineers and scientists. We translate our knowledge and insights into solutions to societal issues, contributing to a sustainable society and to the development of prosperity and well-being. That is what unites us in pioneering research, inspiring education and (inter)national cooperation. 

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. Do you want to experience working at our faculty? These videos will introduce you to some of our researchers and their work. 

Conditions of employment 

Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1,5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2,5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met. 

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from € 2872 per month in the first year to € 3670 in the fourth year. As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills. 

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.  

Will you need to relocate to the Netherlands for this job? TU Delft is committed to make your move as smooth as possible! The HR unit, Coming to Delft Service, offers information on their website to help you prepare your relocation. In addition, Coming to Delft Service organises events to help you settle in the Netherlands, and expand your (social) network in Delft. A Dual Career Programme is available, to support your accompanying partner with their job search in the Netherlands.  

Additional information

For more information about this vacancy, please contact prof. Jan-Willem van Wingerden, j.w.vanwingerden@tudelft.nl.

For more information about the application procedure, please contact Mr. Giedo Kocken, HR advisor, recruitment-me@tudelft.nl. 

Application procedure

Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 31 August 2025 via the application button and upload the following documents:

• CV

• Motivation letter

• Names and contact information of two referees

• (Draft) Master thesis

Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis. For more details please check the Graduate Schools Admission Requirements. 

Please note:

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post. 
• A pre-employment screening can be part of the selection procedure.
• For the final candidates, a knowledge security check will be part of the application procedure. For more information on this check, please consult Chapter 8 of the National Knowledge Security Guidelines. We carry out this check on the basis of legitimate interest.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.