Research Assistant/Associate (f/m/d) - Postdoctoral researcher in traffic safety and digitalisa[...]

Research Assistant/Associate (f/m/d) - Postdoctoral researcher in traffic safety and digitalisation

Chair and Institute of Highway Engineering

Our Profile

The Traffic Safety Group at the Institute for Highway Engineering (ISAC), RWTH Aachen University, is dedicated to advancing road safety through research in traffic flow, road design, and accident analysis. Our interdisciplinary team combines engineering with behavioural science to develop innovative solutions for reducing accidents and enhancing transportation efficiency. We collaborate actively with national and international partners.
We lead the PrioInt project, aiming to improve emergency vehicle prioritisation in urban traffic networks. Using AI-driven solutions integrated into existing telematics, the project leverages real-time traffic data to dynamically adjust traffic signals, facilitating rapid and safe passage for emergency responders, reducing response times, and improving overall traffic safety.

Your Profile

• PhD in transportation engineering, traffic engineering, computer science, or related fields, ideally focused on intelligent transport systems or traffic safety.
• Strong expertise in traffic safety and flow modelling; familiarity with traffic psychology or human factors is advantageous.
• Proven experience with traffic simulation software (e.g., Vissim, SUMO).
• Solid programming and data analysis skills; experience in artificial intelligence or machine learning.
• Knowledge of intelligent transport systems (C-ITS), telematics, or traffic signal control technologies.
• Excellent communication skills in English (written and spoken).
• Fluency in German (spoken and written) essential for local stakeholder interaction.
• Independent, proactive, problem-solving oriented, able to work in interdisciplinary teams.

Your Duties and Responsibilities

• Conduct research on intelligent prioritisation of emergency vehicles using AI-based real-time analysis and digital twin traffic simulations.
• Develop adaptive algorithms enabling traffic signals and telematics systems to prioritise emergency vehicles automatically.
• Design, execute, and evaluate traffic simulations to refine prioritisation logic under varied conditions.
• Collaborate closely with industry partners and public authorities (e.g., police, city traffic departments) for real-world pilot deployments.
• Publish findings in scientific journals and present at conferences.
• Supervise students and support project management activities (progress reports, meetings).
• Prepare research proposals and effectively manage your time to combine proposal writing, ongoing project activities, and publication tasks.

What We Offer

The successful candidate will be employed under a regular employment contract.
The position is to be filled at the earliest possible date and offered for a fixed term of 36 months initially.
An extension is possible.
The fixed-term employment is possible as it constitutes one of the fixed-term options of the Wissenschaftszeitvertragsgesetz (German Act on Fixed-term Scientific Contracts).
This is a full-time position.
The successful candidate has the opportunity to pursue a doctoral degree in this position.
The salary is based on the German public service salary scale (TV-L).
The position corresponds to a pay grade of EG 13 TV-L.

About us

RWTH is a certified family-friendly University. We support our employees in maintaining a good work-life balance with a wide range of health, advising, and prevention services, for example university sports. Employees who are covered by collective bargaining agreements and civil servants have access to an extensive range of further training courses and the opportunity to purchase a job ticket.
RWTH is an equal opportunities employer. We therefore welcome and encourage applications from all suitably qualified candidates, particularly from groups that are underrepresented at the University. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability or age. RWTH is strongly committed to encouraging women in their careers. Female applicants are given preference if they are equally suitable, competent, and professionally qualified, unless a fellow candidate is favored for a specific reason.
As RWTH is committed to equality of opportunity, we ask you not to include a photo in your application.

Application

Number: V000009511
Application deadline: 15/05/2025
Mailing Address: RWTH Aachen University
Lehrstuhl und Institut für Straßenwesen
Alvaro Garcia
Mies-van-der-Rohe-Straße 1
52074 Aachen

Email: Send Email
Applicants are invited to submit their applications via email. For data protection reasons, however, we recommend sending applications via mail.