Master Thesis - Investigation of occupancy estimation techniques in office buildings

Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH; Germany (OH); On-site; USD 16,740 - 27,900; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working hours

Scientific environment and excellent equipment

Fair remuneration

Onboarding & teamwork support

Job summary

Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH is seeking a Master's Thesis candidate to investigate occupancy estimation techniques in office buildings. As part of the Living Lab Energy Campus project, you will work with IoT devices and contribute to enhancing heating and shading systems through data analysis.

This role involves hands-on experience with various sensors and a profound understanding of programming in Python, offering the opportunity to develop frameworks for real-time occupancy estimation in a collaborative team.

Qualifications

• Ongoing master’s degree studies in computer science, engineering, or a closely related field.
• Good knowledge of programming in Python.
• Familiarity with data processing in Python.
• Proficiency in using Git for version control of software.
• Strong analytical skills, initiative, and self-motivation.
• Good command of the English language.
• Excellent teamwork and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Familiarize yourself with available data and infrastructure.
• Install and configure occupancy detection sensors.
• Set up experimental plans for testing occupancy estimation approaches.
• Analyze characteristics of various approaches regarding setup and cost.
• Analyze detection accuracy and reliability of approaches.
• Develop a framework for real-time occupancy estimation.

Skills

Programming in Python

Data processing in Python

Using Git for version control

Analytical skills

Teamwork

Communication skills

Education

Master’s degree in computer science, engineering, or related field

Job description

Master Thesis - Investigation of occupancy estimation techniques in office buildings

At the Institute of Climate and Energy Systems - Energy Systems Engineering (ICE-1), we develop advanced models and algorithms for the simulation and optimization of integrated multi‑energy systems. Within the Living Lab Energy Campus (LLEC) project, large office buildings are equipped with many IoT devices, typically 5‑10 devices per office room. These devices transmit real‑time data such as the opening state of windows, doors as well as room air quality and luminance measurements to a cloud infrastructure. Additionally, through a user‑facing energy dashboard with a desk booking system, building occupants can interact bidirectionally with the building systems. These occupant‑building interactions are the basis for several avenues of research including the intelligent operation of heating and shading systems. As part of our team, you will contribute to widening the scope of devices and the associated insights and efficiency improvements we can gain from such instrumentation, and applying such insights to the real world in a living‑lab setting.

Your Job

• Familiarize yourself with available data, infrastructure, relevant physical processes and requisite background knowledge (in occupancy estimation techniques)
• Install and configure available occupancy detection sensors (e.g. PIR sensors, PQI meters, infrared camera, etc.)
• Set up a suitable experimental plan for testing occupancy estimation approaches
• Analyze characteristics of the various approaches in terms of ease of setup, cost, data quality, suitability for different end‑uses, etc.
• Analyze combinations of approaches in terms of detection accuracy and reliability
• Develop a framework for real‑time and retrospective occupancy estimation

Your Profile

• Ongoing master’s degree studies in computer science, engineering, or another closely related field
• Good knowledge of programming in Python
• Familiarity with data processing in Python
• Proficiency in using Git for version control of software
• Strong analytical skills, initiative, and self‑motivation
• Good command of the English language
• Excellent teamwork and communication skills

Our Benefits for You

We work on the very latest issues that impact our society and offer you the chance to actively help shape the change. We support you in your work with:

• Meaningful Tasks: Your thesis deals with a future‑oriented, socially relevant topic with direct practical relevance in an international environment
• Practical relevance: Hands‑on as well as theoretical work in a Living Lab setup with existing tools and supporting frameworks.
• Scientific environment: You can expect excellent scientific equipment, modern technologies, and qualified support from experienced colleagues
• Personal responsibility: You organize your tasks independently—from preparation to implementation
• Onboarding & teamwork: You can look forward to working in a dedicated, international, and collegial team. It is important to us that you quickly settle into the team and are given structured training for your tasks. We also support you from the very beginning and make your start easier with our Welcome Days and Welcome Guide
• Work‑life balance: We offer flexible working hours to help you balance your professional and personal life. You also have the option of flexible working (in terms of location), which is generally possible after consultation and in line with upcoming tasks and (on‑site) appointments
• Flexibility: Flexible working hours make it easier for you to balance work and study
• Fair remuneration: We will pay you a reasonable remuneration for your thesis

In addition to exciting tasks and a collegial working environment, we offer you much more: https://go.fzj.de/benefits

We welcome applications from people with diverse backgrounds, e.g. in terms of age, gender, disability, sexual orientation / identity, and social, ethnic and religious origin. A diverse and inclusive working environment with equal opportunities in which everyone can realize their potential is important to us.

The following links provide further information on diversity and equal opportunities: https://go.fzj.de/equality and on specific support options: https://go.fzj.de/womens-job-journey

Place of Employment: Jülich

Start Date: To the next possible date

Salary: We will pay you a appropriate remuneration for your thesis

Application Deadline: The position will be published until it is successfully filled.