Research Assistant (Hiwi) for Building Railway Digital Twins

The Transport Systems group of the Institute for Transport Planning and Systems works on advancing public transport planning and operation with a focus on railway systems. Typical research projects include the development of methods for timetable optimization, delay prediction, evaluating passenger behaviour, reducing power peaks in railways, and improving disruption management. We apply a range of methods, most prominently mathematical optimization, machine learning, and techniques from complex system science. 

In a recently started doctoral project we aim on improving disruption management by applying methods from complex system science fused with analysis techniques of non-linear systems and non-linear control. With novel datasets on railway operations from multiple case studies, we have a data basis that was, to such an extent and level of detail, never available for research before. 

You will assist in implementing a digital-twin like model for railways in Switzerland which will be utilized for applying advanced operation analysis methods and disruption management techniques based on complex and non-linear system theory. Your tasks may include:

• Primary
  • Digitalization of data
  • Data cleaning and re-structuring
  • Implementation of data conversion and fusion algorithms
• Secondary
  • Implementation of analysis techniques for railway operation data
  • Assistance in preparing results (e.g. visualisation)
• Other domains
  • Assistance in teaching and other organisational tasks

You are interested in supporting high-level research in the domain of railway operation and like working with data. Therefore, you study in an engineering, mathematics, computer science, or natural science program. You have already completed your first year and have some experience in working on (student) projects. The following skills are necessary to deal with potential tasks:

• Working with data in Excel
• Programming in Python

Your programming skills should enable you to deal with object-oriented programs, graph structures, and algorithmic solutions to fuse and restructure data. Advantageous is knowledge about the railway system regarding infrastructure and operation. Furthermore, helpful is experience in graph theory. German skills are a plus, but only sufficient English communication skills are necessary. A working permit is necessary.

We offer you to participate in a cutting-edge research project in a relevant field of engineering working interdisciplinary between railway operation science, complex system theory, and computer science. You will directly support research that aims to increase the quality and capacity of the railway system thereby supporting environmentally friendly mobility.

You will work in a relaxed working environment where you are highly flexible in planning working time. We respect your schedule and consider study-intensive phases when planning workload. You will get close assistance in solving your tasks, if necessary, but you also have the freedom to solve tasks self-driven by applying your creativity.

You work on an hourly basis with a salary of 28 CHF per hour. The starting date of your position is flexible from December 2023.