[TSE 132] PhD position at the Collaborative Research Center 'AgiMo'

The Collaborative Research Center “AgiMo” funded by the DFG, offers a position as 

Research Associate / PhD Student (m/f/x)

(subject to personal qualifications employees are remunerated according to salary group E 13 TV-L)

starting October 1, 2025. The position is limited until June 30, 2029. The period of employment is governed by the Fixed Term Research Contracts Act (Wissenschaftszeitvertragsgesetz - WissZeitVG). The position aims at obtaining further academic qualifications (usually a PhD).

Job ID:	TSE132
Investigators:	Prof. Dr. Constantinos Antoniou, Chair of Transportation Systems Engineering, Dr. Mohamed Abouelela, Chair of Transportation Systems Engineering
Requirements:	Excellent university degree (diploma, master's degree) in transport, computer science or related study programs with a solid basis in transport science and/or data analytics

The Collaborative Research Center 'AgiMo'

The Technical University of Munich (TUM) is a University of Excellence and one of the country's leading and most dynamic research institutions. Together with TU Dresden, TU Berlin, TU Braunschweig and the German Aerospace Center (DLR), TUM has established the Collaborative Research Center (CRC) named 'Data-driven agile planning for responsible mobility' (AgiMo), which is funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG).

This interdisciplinary center, involving four universities and the DLR, will conduct research on 20 research topics with 25 PhD candidates over the next years. The following main research goals are pursued by this Center: (1) develop a new set of consistent scientific methods for mobility planning and management, (2) integrate a new set of modular metrics for responsible mobility, (3) embed the planning methods into the open data AgiMo Digital Twin, (4) develop participatory planning methods based on the technical outcomes from the digital twin to create future scenarios for responsible mobility that are technically well-grounded and at the same time represent stakeholder preferences.

The integrated Research Training Group (RTG) will provide doctoral researchers with an attractive qualification program, foster networking, enable internationalization and mobility, and create a collaborative environment. TUM and the CRC embody a university culture that is characterized by cosmopolitanism, mutual appreciation, thriving innovation, and active participation. For TUM, diversity is an essential feature and a quality criterion of an excellent university. Accordingly, we welcome all applicants who would like to commit themselves, their achievements, and productivity to the success of the whole institution.

Description of the PhD topic (subproject C7)

One of the main outputs of AgiMo is a digital twin, based on MATSim, while great amounts of heterogeneous data will also be collected. The performance of such a system relies heavily on its calibration, which becomes much more challenging in the presence of rich data. The primary research question for this project is: How can we tackle the data heterogeneity and model uncertainty to provide a transferable and “automated” calibration pipeline? The goal of this project is thus to extend the state-of-the-art by developing an automated calibration framework for the heterogeneous microscopic transportation demand models used within AgiMo with the core objectives of (i) framework generalizability, (ii) uncertainty quantification, and (iii) automating heuristics for calibration. The platform will involve a modular design of the calibration pipeline to allow for flexible integration with varying components for different uses, such as diverse (i) data sources, (ii) optimization algorithms, and (iii) performance measures. This project will develop novel, simulation-efficient calibration methods that capitalize on state-of-the-art machine learning techniques, such as Bayesian learning, and will be developed to support effective uncertainty quantification.

Tasks: 

Independent and cooperative qualification through scientific research within the project; training in the technical tasks of the individual dissertation topic through study of the literature and in making the objectives more precise; working on the individual PhD study project with its focus on microscopic simulation model calibration framework development in collaboration with other CRC members (fellow students and supervising professors); implementation of the planned research program, evaluation and interpretation of the results, elaboration and presentation of the research; participation in lectures, workshops and summer schools according to the guidelines of the RTG curriculum; supporting scientific graduation work (Bachelor/Master/Diploma) in the subject-specific research field; regular reporting on research progress to the supervising professors; publishing the results of the research work individually and in concert with others; cooperative maintenance of internal exchange platforms (database, information pages, etc.); summarizing the results of the individual doctoral study project in a dissertation within the due time of 3 years and 9 months. Successful candidates will share an engaging working environment together with 10 doctoral researchers at the Chair of Transportation Systems Engineering at TUM, and together with the other universities and Chairs, being part of the CRC.

General requirements

We are looking for first-class graduates with expertise in the CRC-addressed PhD subjects, high interdisciplinary desire to learn and willingness to cooperate, openness for internationalization and diversity, excellent verbal and written English communication skills, as well as the absolute determination to submit the dissertation after 3 years and 9 months of research.

What we offer

• Pioneering Research Environment: Shape the future of data-driven transport planning and management through the involvement in collaborative research.

• Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: Immerse yourself in a highly collaborative and interdisciplinary research environment, where you will work alongside experts from fields, such as transport and urban planning, engineering, data science, and computer science.

• Skill Development: Our extensive qualification concept goes beyond research, offering targeted training in research methods, project management, and leadership skills. This ensures you graduate not only as a specialist in your field but also as a well-rounded professional.

• Global Networking: Collaborate with our network of local and international partners, fostering connections that transcend geographical boundaries and enrich your academic and professional network. This includes a paid research stay abroad for three months.

• Career Advancement: Receive dedicated support for fellowship applications and tailored guidance for your career.

• Quality of Life in Munich: Experience a high quality of life in Munich, with its vibrant international community, rich cultural offerings, and dynamic urban scene, uniquely combined with proximity to amazing nature.

Further questions regarding the open PhD positions can be discussed with the supervisor, Prof. Dr. Constantinos Antoniou (c.antoniou@tum.de).

TUM is an equal-opportunity employer. Qualified women are particularly encouraged to apply. Applicants with disabilities are treated with preference, given comparable qualifications.