The Chair of Infrastructure Management at ETH Zürich has an opening for a fully funded doctoral student. This position is part of the interdisciplinary ETH Mobility Initiative research project, conducted in close collaboration with the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB). It focuses on developing uncertainty-aware methods and optimization tools to improve robust railway intervention planning and resource forecasting.
Doctoral Position in Robust Railway Intervention Planning under Uncertainty, ETH Zürich, Switzerland
Key Information
| Item | Details |
| Designation | Doctoral Student (PhD Candidate) |
| Employment Type | 100%, Fixed-term |
| Location | Zurich, Switzerland |
| Preferred Start Date | January 1, 2027 (negotiable) |
| Application Deadline | September 11, 2026 |
Research Area
The core research focuses on Infrastructure Management and Operations Research. Specifically, the project aims to bridge the gap in fact-based decision-making for railway infrastructure by quantifying and propagating uncertainties in maintenance planning, developing robust optimization algorithms, and integrating these into a geospatial decision-support environment.
Job Description
The successful candidate will be tasked with:
- Characterizing and propagating the principal sources of uncertainty in intervention planning and resource usage across multiple time horizons and asset categories.
- Extending mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) models through stochastic and robust optimization to compute robust intervention programs.
- Contributing to the design of a GIS-based decision-support platform that integrates asset data, intervention plans, and uncertainty analytics.
- Validating the developed methods using historical and planned SBB corridor data.
Eligibility & Qualifications
To be considered for this position, applicants must possess:
- A Master’s degree in civil engineering, transport engineering, operations research, applied mathematics, computer science, or a closely related discipline.
- A strong background in mathematical optimization (particularly mixed-integer linear programming), alongside stochastic or robust optimization.
- Solid programming skills, preferably in Python.
- Proficiency in written and spoken English is required. Knowledge of German is considered a strong asset due to collaboration with Swiss project partners.
- Familiarity with uncertainty quantification, railway/infrastructure asset management, or geographic information systems (GIS) is an advantage.
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted exclusively through the online application portal. Applications sent via email or postal services will not be considered.
Please prepare and upload the following documents before the deadline:
- Letter of Interest: Include your specific ideas regarding potential research within this project.
- Curriculum Vitae (CV): Include a list of publications (if applicable) and contact information for at least two referees.
- Academic Transcripts: Grades and diplomas from all university courses taken.
To start your application, visit the official job listing and click Apply online now.
Last Date to Apply
The deadline for submitting your online application is September 11, 2026. Screening of applications will officially begin on September 14, 2026, and will continue until the position is filled.
