PhD positions in applied probability and network optimization

The Department of Mathematics of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam welcomes applications for two fully-funded, 4-year PhD positions in applied probability and network optimization for climate-aware energy systems.

Both positions are part of a NWO research project motivated by one of the biggest challenges of our time: keeping the lights on in a world of clean energy and climate extremes. As we move away from fossil fuels and embrace renewables like wind and solar, our power grids must adapt to the rising threat of extreme weather events. This joint research project brings together advanced math, applied probability, and network science to build smarter and more resilient energy systems. By modeling how climate-driven disasters ripple through energy networks and by optimizing how we design and operate them, the goal is to create a new generation of tools that help prevent cascading failure and blackouts —even in the face of storms, heatwaves, and the unpredictable future of our climate.