Position Overview
Apply for the HYSTORE PhD position at the UCD School of Computer Science.
College / Management Unit: College of Science
School / Unit / Institute: Computer Science
Post Title: PhD
Post Duration: 4 years
Research Project: HYSTORE
Reports to / Principal Investigator: Prof. Eleni Mangina (eleni.mangina@ucd.ie)
Summary
The decarbonisation of the Energy System will play a vital role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and helping mitigate the impacts of climate change. HYSTORE is focused on developing and validating innovative Thermal Energy Storage (TES) concepts, including ALL‑IN‑ONE PCM, LOW‑TEMP PCM HEATING & COOLING, PCM HEATING, and TCM HEATING & COOLING solutions. These concepts aim to improve the flexibility and reliability of built‑environment energy systems, increase renewable energy integration, and enable TES as a service for grid flexibility. Experiments will be conducted in 4 use‑cases across Northern, Mediterranean, Continental, and hospital climates, targeting +150 % energy density and up to 50 % CAPEX reductions relative to existing TES technologies.
General Objectives
GO1: Deploy plug‑and‑play TES solutions for daily and monthly storage that integrate seamlessly with building energy systems and electric/thermal networks.
GO2: Eliminate technical barriers linked to storage installation and operation complexity by engineering, technical training, and interoperability solutions.
GO3: Reduce the LCOE associated with storage, making TES competitive with mainstream EES solutions and in line with the SET Plan.
GO4: Operate TES solutions as assets for grid flexibility and frequency markets, proposing business and operational models for Capacity as a Service.
GO5: Validate proposed TES solutions at TRL6/7 in: (1) a residential/mixed‑use building in a Nordic climate, (2) an office building in a Mediterranean climate, (3) an apartment dwelling in a Continental climate, and (4) a district‑connected hospital complex in a Mediterranean climate.
Education and Data Work
This PhD will focus on data analysis for the HYSTORE demonstration site on the UCD campus. Students will work with the central Building Management System (BMS) and the “Active Energy” data platform, which hosts ~50,000 data points for HVAC, water, and lighting.
Use case and framework scenario identification
Development, testing, and evaluation of TES ICT tools
Ontology‑driven model‑based storage service integration
Integration and smart operation platform for the UCD campus pilot
Demonstration and cost validation
Dissemination activities
Salary and Benefits
Salary: €19,000 per annum stipend
Benefits:
Travel budget
Budget for PC/laptop
Materials budget (books, consumables, disposables)
Principal Duties and Responsibilities
Carry out a research plan to meet project requirements and deliverables, working closely with UCD staff and the PhD team from the Computer Science and Energy Institute.
Support data acquisition tasks in building estates if required.
Travel to meetings and conferences as needed.
Collaborate with partners on specific tasks across a range of topics.
Students will also complete a 30‑credit module programme and contribute to the Energy Institute’s Climate Emergency Research Lab, ensuring all research complies with UCD ethical and data‑management policies.
Selection Criteria
Mandatory
MSc and BSc (2.1 grade or higher) in Computer Science, Engineering (Energy, Electrical, or similar)
Understanding of energy systems and grids, including local source integration
Experience or willingness to learn energy‑modelling tools
Experience or willingness to undertake on‑site energy monitoring and sensor installation
Experience or willingness to learn data‑analysis tools
Willingness to travel to site
Good report‑writing experience
Excellent English communication skills
Excellent interpersonal skills
Willingness to work as part of a research team
Willingness to work closely with stakeholders
Desirable
Knowledge of Excel, MATLAB, R, Python, etc.
Well‑developed research skills (qualitative and quantitative)
Attention to detail and strong organisational skills
Experience in stakeholder engagement
Awareness of equality, diversity and inclusion agenda
Ability to manage a complex workload and meet tight deadlines
Applicants should send a CV, cover letter, transcripts, and two references to Prof. Eleni Mangina (eleni.mangina@ucd.ie) by 16:00 CET / 17:00 GMT on January 20th, 2023. Shortlisted candidates will be called for interview in February 2023, with a commencement date as soon as possible.
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