Doctoral researcher in optimization for robust railway timetables

establish and use mathematical models for large-scale timetabling scheduling, with constraints on vehicles, crew, and infrastructure, able to address placement of buffers design and implement a simulation-optimization view to evaluate tentative solutions, considering estimated delay dynamics and possible degrees of rescheduling, to improve proactively and reactively the robustness against small and large delays. quantitatively understand the usefulness of the suggested decision, estimate its sensitivity to the considered assumptions; and compared to the typical reaction in real life

The project is designed in collaboration with industry player operating as railway infrastructure manager. This research is carried out within an international cooperation with the Complex Systems group at Utrecht University, in the Netherlands.

• Masters’ degree in transport sciences, management/ decision sciences, econometrics, mathematics, statistics, computer science, physics or related fields

• Research track is consistent and shows a track record, or clear potential, for analysing, modelling, control, and optimisation of transport systems

• Highly motivated and self-driven, with a clear research vision, academic ambition, and excellent communication and writing skills (fluent spoken and written English is mandatory)

• Computer science and ability to program independently complex software

• Ability to model and work with algorithmic design, existing software and data provided by industrial partners

• Knowledge of mathematical optimisation (MILP, IP, LP) and/or control sciences

• Team working and communication skills

• Knowledge of German or similar languages is not required but is a plus