PhD Candidate - Automated Hidden Markov Modelling für Netzwerktechnologien

PhD Candidate - Automated Hidden Markov Modelling for power network components

The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft (www.fraunhofer.com) currently operates 76 institutes and research units throughout Germany and is a leading applied research organization. Around 32 000 employees work with an annual research budget of 3.4 billion euros.

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCAs) Doctorial Network are joint research and training projects funded by the European Union (EU). Funding is provided for Doctorial Candidates from both inside and outside Europe to carry out individual project work in a European country other than their own. The training network FOURIER is made up of 9 beneficiaries and 12 associated partners, coordinated by Politecnico di Torino (POLITO) in Italy. The network will recruit a total of 15 Doctoral Candidates for project work lasting for 36 months.

FOURIER aims to develop innovative system state monitoring (STM) techniques using AI for autonomous inspection and health monitoring of complex infrastructure engineering systems, explicitly identifying information gaps and uncertainties to enhance resilience against failures, sabotage, accidents and disasters. The project promotes interdisciplinary research and knowledge transfer through the collaboration of 21 partners from academia, research, and industry across Europe, offering comprehensive training opportunities for DCs.

What you will do

• Develop and apply Hidden Markov Models (HMM) for automated system state modeling.
• Generate HMM training data via simulations of prosumer behavior in local electricity grids (energy, heat, storage).
• Formulate minimization problems to determine the HMM model parameters from simulation or real-world data. 
• Ensure models are explainable and based on minimal assumptions.
• Use HMMs to analyze efficiency, sustainability, and service opportunities for prosumers that can be implemented by smart metering technologies.
• Validate methods and results with an industrial SME partner.

Your Qualifications and skills

• Master’s degree in MINT fields (e.g., Electrical/Mechanical/Process Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Mathematics).
• Technical Interests: Advanced Markov Chain modeling (e.g., HMM), Monte Carlo simulation, smart metering, health monitoring, anomaly detection, predictive maintenance, system reliability, and energy optimization.
• Strong programming skills: Python, C++, or similar.
• Experience in numerical simulation and/or ML/AI applications and Knowledge of scientific writing is required.
• Preferred: Background in system simulation, optimization, and quantitative analytical system analysis methods.
• Good proficiency in English (written and spoken) and willingness to learn German.

What we offer

You will have the opportunity to work as part of an international, interdisciplinary supporting in total 15 Doctorial Candidates, based at universities and industrial firms throughout Europe. You will be supported by 3 mentors within the FOURIER project and will have multiple opportunities to participate in professional and personal development training.

• Project and results driven applied research working environment as springboard for a career in industry. 
• Excellent equipment of working places. 
• Flexible working hours to support work-life-balance.
• Family-friendly environment.
• Additional training on the job. 
• You will become partially part of internal PhD-Seminars at Fraunhofer EMI and at University Freiburg, Department of Sustainable Systems Engineering (INATECH) to foster disciplinary input and soft skills.

The position is limited to 3 years. The weekly working time is 39 hours.

We value and promote the diversity of our employees' skills and therefore welcome all applications - regardless of age, gender, nationality, ethnic and social origin, religion, ideology, disability, sexual orientation and identity. Severely disabled persons are given preference in the event of equal suitability. The exact salary of each PhD Student position is defined by the Marie-Skłodowska- Curie Actions (MSCA - https://marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/) and is to be confirmed upon appointment. The basic gross amount is composed of a living allowance = 3340 EUR/month (multiplied by a MSCA Country Correction Coefficient) and mobility/family allowance = 495 to 1095 EUR/month, depending on the family situation.

With its focus on developing key technologies that are vital for the future and enabling the commercial utilization of this work by business and industry, Fraunhofer plays a central role in the innovation process. As a pioneer and catalyst for groundbreaking developments and scientific excellence, Fraunhofer helps shape society now and in the future.

Fraunhofer Institute for High-Speed Dynamics, Ernst-Mach-Institut EMI

www.emi.fraunhofer.de

Requisition Number: 77929                Application Deadline: 2025/03/01

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