MSCA Doctoral Network PhD student / MSCA Doctoral Network PhD student

MSCA Doctoral Network PhD Student (100%)

The Eastern Switzerland University of Applied Sciences (OST) is an intercantonal and interstate institution with campuses in Buchs, Rapperswil-Jona, and St. Gallen. Known for its excellent Bachelor's and Master's degree programs as well as its state-of-the-art continuing education courses, we train forward-thinking specialists and managers. OST is recognized as one of the leading institutions in Switzerland for application-oriented research, development, and services.

We are currently seeking to fill the position of:

MSCA Doctoral Network PhD Student (100%)

The “Training Wind Energy Experts on Digitalisation (TWEED)” Doctoral Network aims to develop the next generation of exceptional researchers equipped with comprehensive technical and complementary skills necessary for impactful careers in wind energy digitalisation. Co-funded by the European Commission through the Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Networks Programme, the TWEED network offers 12 Doctoral Candidate positions to provide high-level training in the emerging field of Wind Energy Data Science and Digitalisation.

The objective of this Doctoral Candidate project, titled “Novel Methods for a Knowledge Graph Generation Approach within TWEED’s Virtual Wind Farm Hub,” is to investigate, design, and implement a knowledge graph generation approach for the Virtual Wind Farm Hub within the TWEED project. This hub will serve as an open platform facilitating the exchange of datasets, research results, and applications, allowing domain experts and data scientists to prototype new services.

As a Swiss University of Applied Sciences, OST is unable to matriculate or award PhD degrees. Therefore, the PhD student will be enrolled at ETH Zurich under the supervision of Prof. Eleni Chatzi (Chair of Structural Mechanics and Monitoring), who will co-supervise the thesis alongside the main supervisor, Dr. Sarah Barber at OST (Institute of Energy Technology). Additionally, Prof. Mitra Purandare at OST (Institute for Software) will serve as a co-supervisor.

Required Skills and Qualifications:

• Completed Master’s degree (by the date of appointment) in a technical field such as mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, or equivalent.
• Students in their final year of a Master’s degree are encouraged to apply, with the understanding that selected candidates will need to start their PhD in the first quarter of 2025.
• Experience and understanding of basic knowledge engineering concepts, including knowledge graphs, semantic web, ontologies, and semantic artifacts.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python, Javascript, and Java.
• Interest and capability to work on interdisciplinary projects with diverse teams, particularly at the intersection of computer science and engineering.
• Excellent writing and communication skills in English.
• Basic German communication skills or a willingness to learn.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team and independently.
• Willingness to follow the programme's mobility plan, including conducting secondments at the host institute.

Optional Skills:

• Experience with tools such as Spring, Node.js, Angular, React, MongoDB, Elasticsearch, or TensorFlow.
• Experience in the field of wind energy.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Applicants must not hold a doctoral degree or equivalent at the time of recruitment.
• Applicants can be of any nationality but must not have resided or conducted their main activities (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the recruiting organization for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately preceding the appointment. Short stays such as holidays or mandatory national service are excluded.

We Offer:

• Professional and research-based development opportunities in a motivated and performance-oriented team.
• A varied area of responsibility with creative opportunities in a dynamic university environment.
• Modern employment conditions and an attractive workplace on the shore of Lake Zurich, in close proximity to the Rapperswil train station and historic town.

Apply online using the form below. Please note that only applications matching the job profile will be considered.

For additional information about the position, please visit this link.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact Dr. Sarah Barber at sarah.barber@ost.ch.