Internship | Enabling Interoperability of Heterogeneous Data Models for Data Sharing in Logistics

The logistics and transport industry operates across multiple modalities—including maritime, air, and road—each governed by its own standards, data models, and regulatory vocabularies at national, European, and international levels. The fragmentation of these creates significant barriers to interoperability, data reuse, and automation across the end-to-end supply chain. By enabling the interoperability (both governance and technical-wise) of heterogeneous standardized data models, your work will help logistics stakeholders—especially SMEs—adopt plug-and-play data sharing interfaces without needing expensive consulting.

You will design and implement syntactic mappings between existing standardized ontologies and data models for an example industry, in this case logistics and transport (L&T). Your work will also include identifying commonalities between the semantics of standardized L&T data models and, together with your supervisor, to define a syntax-free conceptual model of the considered standardized L&T data models.

Where appropriate, you will use state-of-the-art semantic web and knowledge representation approaches, including explicit mapping dictionaries and metadata frameworks (e.g., DCAT, SKOS, controlled vocabularies), to ensure transparency and long-term maintainability.

The ideal candidate for this thesis project is in the final phase of a Master’s in Data Science / Industrial Engineering / Computer Science and has an interest in semantics and data engineering. This candidate enjoys pattern recognition, doesn't shy away from thinking outside the box, and has experience with data engineering, ontology engineering or knowledge representation.

We expect that you can start as soon as possible. The project is designed as a 6 to 9 month full time assignment (with some flexibility), ending no later than December 1st. To support effective collaboration, we expect it is feasible for you to work from the TNO office in Soesterberg or Eindhoven at least twice a week.

You want an internship opportunity on the precursor of your career; an internship gives you an opportunity to take a good look at your prospective future employer. TNO goes a step further. It’s not just looking that interests us; you and your knowledge are essential to our innovation. That’s why we attach a great deal of value to your personal and professional development. You will, of course, be properly supervised during your work placement and be given the scope for you to get the best out of yourself. Furthermore, we provide:

• A highly professional, innovative internship environment, within a team of top experts.
• A suitable internship allowance (615 euro for wo-, hbo- and mbo-students, for a full-time internship).
• Possibility of eight hours of free leave per internship month (for a full-time internship).
• A free membership of Jong TNO, where you can meet other TNO professionals and join several activities, such as sports activities, (work-related) courses or the yearly ski-trip.
• Use of a laptop.
• An allowance for travel expenses in case you don’t receive an OV-card.

At TNO, we innovate for a healthier, safer and more sustainable life. And for a strong economy. Since 1932, we have been making knowledge and technology available for the common good. We find each other in wonder and ingenuity. We are driven to push boundaries. There is all the space and support for your talent and ambition. You work with people who will challenge you: who inspire you and want to learn from you. Our state-of-the-art facilities are there to realize your vision. What you do at TNO matters: impact makes the difference. Because with every innovation you contribute to tomorrow’s world. Read more about TNO as an employer.

At TNO we encourage an inclusive work environment, where you can be yourself. Whatever your story and whatever unique qualities you bring to the table. It is by combining our unique strengths and perspectives that we are able to develop innovations that make a real difference in society. Want to know more? Read what steps we are taking in the area of diversity, equity and inclusion.

After the first CV selection, the application process will be conducted by the concerning department. TNO will provide a suitable internship agreement. If you have any questions about this vacancy, you can contact the contact person mentioned below.

For this internship vacancy it is required that the AIVD issues a security clearance (VGB) after conducting a security screening. Take into account that this process may take about 8 weeks. If you have been abroad for more than 6 consecutive months, or if you do not have the Dutch nationality, it may take longer. Read more about security screening on the AIVD website.

Important to be aware of before applying:

• Before the start of the internship, the internship agreement from TNO needs to be signed. For students at a college or university based in the Netherlands, TNO uses the UNL-template (supplemented with a number of specific agreements from TNO). For students of foreign and MBO educational institutions, the TNO internship agreement applies. TNO does not sign any other internship agreements.
• Before the start of the internship, the educational institution will need to confirm in writing that:
  • You are enrolled at the educational institution during the internship, and;
  • The internship takes place as part of the programme of the study.

• The confirmation of educational institution takes place by signing the UNL template or forms prepared by TNO.
• Interns at TNO must be in possession of a Dutch residential address at the start of the internship. Performance of internship activities from abroad is not possible.