PhD scholarship in Risk-Based Maintenance Planning for Wind Turbine Components – DTU Wind

If you are aspiring to shape the future of industrial R&D or academia, especially in the rapidly advancing fields of meta-materials, renewable energy systems, and intelligent structural technologies, this PhD position offers a unique opportunity. Join MET2ADAPT to engage with some of the most challenging and high-impact questions surrounding next-generation wind and wave energy systems, digital twins, and resilient structural design.

We are looking for a motivated, curious, and ambitious researcher committed to accelerating the green transition by advancing adaptive materials, predictive modelling, and autonomous maintenance solutions. You thrive on scientific discovery, enjoy tackling complex multi-physics problems, and have the drive to explore innovative concepts at the intersection of engineering, data, and emerging technologies.

DTU Wind and Energy Systems, in collaboration with leading industrial and academic partners in renewable energy, including NADARA, a major European operator of onshore wind assets, invites applications for a fully funded PhD position on Risk-Based Maintenance Planning for Wind Turbine Components . This position is part of the MET2ADAPT Doctoral Network (Meta-Materials and Meta-Structures for Adaptable, Resilient and Sustainable Renewable Energy Power Plants), a prestigious Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network funded by the European Union.

As a Doctoral Candidate in MET2ADAPT, you will create a comprehensive risk assessment and maintenance planning framework for wind turbine technologies, with a focus on enhancing structural resilience and operational efficiency. Key objectives include the development of a tailored risk-based inspection (RBI) and risk-centered maintenance (RCM) model to address specific vulnerabilities in wind turbine components, such as blade erosion, fatigue cracking, and high-cycle fatigue. The model will focus on critical structural issues, including leading-edge erosion, hydrogen embrittlement in marine environments, and load-induced wear on turbine blades and support structures. Additionally, a digital tool will be developed to allow operators to visualize real-time risk indicators, maintenance sched-ules, and preventive repair alerts, facilitating optimized maintenance decisions and reducing unplanned downtimes. The framework will be validated through close collaboration with industry partners, incorporating actual operational data and ensuring that the model meets practical industry needs.

You will be part of a cohort of 16 international PhD researchers benefiting from interdisciplinary training across Europe, including thematic training weeks, specialist workshops, and transferable-skills courses central to the MSCA programme. Your research will be based at DTU’s Risø campus, a leading international hub for wind energy research, providing an inspiring, collaborative, and industry-connected working environment. Close collaboration with NADARA will allow you to apply and validate your methods using real operational data from a large wind turbine portfolio.

Project Responsibilities and Qualifications

You will analyse SHM, SCADA, and environmental datasets to extract meaningful indicators of asset health, assess key degradation modes, and quantify their influence on remaining useful life. A major component of your work will involve building and validating digital-twin-assisted tools that support real-time maintenance decisions, optimised inspection scheduling, and improved operational reliability.

This research will be conducted in close collaboration with both academic and industrial partners across the MET2ADAPT consortium. The project includes 3 month secondments at:

NADARA (Portugal/UK)

These secondments form an integral part of your training and will contribute significantly to the interdisciplinary and intersectoral nature of your PhD.

Applicants should have a strong academic background in engineering, applied mathematics, data science or a related discipline, together with solid skills in programming and quantitative modelling. An interest in risk analysis, structural reliability or digital twin technologies is highly desirable. Your ability to think rigorously, work systematically, and integrate modelling with practical engineering decision-making will be key to advancing more sustainable and efficient maintenance solutions for the renewable energy sector.

To be considered for this position, you must have a two-year master’s degree (120 ECTS points) or an equivalent academic qualification at the same level.

risk-based maintenance

• Scientific programming in Python or MATLAB
• Structural mechanics, reliability analysis, or probabilistic modelling
• Data analytics, SHM/SCADA data interpretation, or digital-twin technologies
• Wind energy systems, maintenance planning, or related engineering topics

You should be able to work effectively within a collaborative, interdisciplinary research environment while also taking responsibility for your individual research objectives and deliverables.

As this position is funded under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network (MSCA DN) programme, applicants must also meet the following eligibility criteria:

• Not already hold a doctoral degree (i.e., you must not have been awarded a PhD at the time of recruitment).
• Comply with the MSCA mobility rule: you must not have resided or carried out your main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Denmark for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the recruitment date.

Approval and Enrolment

We offer

MET2ADAPT trains a new generation of creative, entrepreneurial, and resilient researchers who are prepared to address emerging challenges in the renewable energy sector. The programme focuses on advancing intelligent meta-materials, digital twinning, autonomous monitoring, and risk-informed decision methodologies that will contribute to safer, more efficient, and more sustainable energy systems. Upon completing the programme, you will be equipped to translate research-driven insights into impactful technologies, tools, and services that generate both economic and societal value.

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

You can read more about career paths at DTU here http://www.dtu.dk/english/about/job-and-career/working-at-dtu/career-paths.

Further information

You can read more about DTU Wind at https://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 

one PDF file

• A letter motivating the application (cover letter)
• Curriculum vitae 
• 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, race, disability, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply.

DTU Wind

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