Are you a passionate researcher with interest in the fast pacing advances in the field of smart mobility? University of Twente has a 3-year opening for a postdoctoral researcher position in the SmartHubs research project. SmartHubs will assess if a co-creation process in the development of mobility hubs, involving users, governments and businesses, can enable mobility hubs to act as a game changer towards inclusive, sustainable urban mobility and accessibility.

In this project you will work closely with research and industrial partners from six countries, including the following universities: TU Munich, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, University of Münster (WWU), University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), University of Bologna (UNIBO), TU Wien. In the SmartHubs project you will conduct research that goes beyond the state of the art to explore the potential of user-centric mobility hubs that promote inclusive sustainable urban mobility and accessibility. The research will be applied in five living labs in Vienna, Brussels, The Hague-Rotterdam, Munich and Istanbul.

 

THE CHALLENGE

In the SmartHubs project you will have to coordinate the activities of The Hague-Rotterdam, which is one of the five project living labs, liaise with the local partners, organize surveys and focus-group workshops, analyze smartcard data from public transport service providers, and collaborate with researchers from the six other universities in the project to adopt best practices from other living labs.

Specific research questions that will be addressed in this postdoctoral research project are:

• Investigate the mobility and accessibility impacts of different levels of digital and physical integration between shared mobility modes and public transport (bus, light rail, metro). The level of integration can vary from separate app-based shared mobility services to integrated mobility-as-a-service platforms
• Examine the impact of changes in mobility and accessibility induced by mobility hubs in all living labs on satisfaction with travel and subjective wellbeing for population segments
• Provide decision support to third-party journey planners with respect to the integration of public transport and shared mobility options to suggest multiple options to travelers

The expected outcome is:

• The successful coordination of The Hague-Rotterdam living lab
• The publication of research papers and technical reports related to the deliverables of the project
• The successful adoption of best practices from other living labs to the living lab of The Hague-Rotterdam

We are searching for the best PhD graduate with a research background in the areas of mobility hubs, shared mobility, accessibility and mobility-as-a-service. Past experience on discrete choice modeling and big data analysis will be a plus. Besides, you have the ambition and talent to accelerate in finding solutions for complex problems with a multidisciplinary character. Additional important professional skills are:

• English language skills (knowledge of Dutch is also a plus);
• Communication and interpersonal skills, teamwork, initiative and self-reflection;
• Prior knowledge in the analysis of surveys and in the processing of big data will be useful for you to successfully complete the project. 

 

• A  full-time contract for 36 months.
• A gross salary between € 3.353,- and € 4.402,-  per month , depending on experience and qualifications.
• An annual holiday allowance of 8% of the gross annual salary, and an annual end of year bonus of 8.3%.
• A solid pension scheme.
• Minimum of 29 leave days in case of full-time employment.
• Professional and personal development programs.
• The University of Twente is situated on a green and lively campus with lots of facilities for sports and other extracurricular activities.

Ideally, the starting day of your employment will be the 1st of May.

ET

The Faculty of Engineering Technology (ET) engages in education and research Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering and Industrial Design Engineering with a view to enabling society and industry to innovate and create value using sound, efficient and sustainable technology. We are part of a ‘people-first' university of technology, taking our place as an internationally leading centre for smart production, processes and devices in five domains: Health Technology, Maintenance, Smart Regions, Smart Industry and Sustainable Resources. Our faculty is home to some 1,800 Bachelor's and Master's students, 400 employees and 150 PhD candidates and offers three degree programmes: Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering and Industrial Design Engineering. Our educational and research programme are closely connected with UT research institutes Mesa+ Institute, TechMed Centra and Digital Society Institute. As an employer, the ET Faculty offers jobs that matter. We equip you as a staff member to shape new opportunities both for yourself and for our society. With our Faculty, you will be part of a leading tech university that is changing our world for the better. We offer an open, inclusive and entrepreneurial climate, in which we encourage you to make healthy choices, for example, with our flexible, customizable conditions.