Zaharah Bukhsh

Zaharah Bukhsh is an Assistant Professor in the Information Systems group at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), specializing in data-driven decision support technologies with a focus on deep reinforcement learning applications for operational optimization challenges including resource utilization, cost optimization, planning, and scheduling.

Her academic background includes:

• MSc in Information Systems Engineering (2015) from the University of Twente
• PhD in Operations Research (2019) from the University of Twente, with research focused on data-driven decision support methods for transport infrastructure maintenance planning

Dr. Bukhsh's research extends to process mining for monitoring and improving operational processes. She has established strong industry collaborations with organizations including Rijkswaterstaat and IrishRail, as well as academic partnerships with ETH Zurich, Trinity College Dublin, and TU Delft. Her PhD research was funded by the H2020 projects DESTination RAIL and COST ACTION TU1406.

Her recent publication portfolio shows a clear trend toward developing hybrid approaches that combine simulation with deep reinforcement learning to address real-world operational challenges. The research demonstrates significant improvements in cycle time reduction (up to 307%) and resource allocation efficiency across various business process and scheduling contexts. Her work bridges theoretical AI advancements with practical applications in infrastructure management and business process optimization.

Before joining TU/e in 2021, Dr. Bukhsh contributed to the PrimaVera (NWO) project as a post-doc researcher at Radboud University. She teaches courses on Business Analytics & Decision Support and Data-Driven Artificial Intelligence, reflecting her commitment to translating cutting-edge research into educational content.