This position is related to the Horizon Europe-funded project called metaCCAZE that accelerates the user-centered deployment of smart systems and services that combine electric automated and connected mobility and related infrastructure across European cities.

In this PhD project, we focus on piloting, assessing, and optimizing a citizen marketplace for mobility and logistics credits scheme, supporting equity and environment. The marketplace will enable travelers/logistics companies to organize part of their transportation needs making use of their highly connected environment that the digital twining allows between services and both passengers and freight transport demand whilst aiming for sustainable traveling. Very interesting work is being developed in the field of mobility credits in several projects. In MetaCCAZE we take advantage of the Living Lab Amsterdam to test a multimodal credits allocation solution, where decisions need to be taken on number of credits and how to allocate those to the different modes and departure times for passengers and freight. The key aspect is to build optimization models that represent both the supply and demand sides in an integrated fashion so that the solutions can yield stable equilibriums between supply and demand at a particular time period or across different time periods. Special focus will be given to fostering the usage of electric and automated transport modes which are increasingly being supplied in Amsterdam through mobility hubs and other innovations. The PhD project will entail several tasks such as: data collection on behavior, creation of algorithms, piloting and testing the marketplace in the Amsterdam Living Lab environment.

The methodological tools that will be used to conduct the above research objectives include: operations research (robust and stochastic optimization) combined with AI methods, behavioral models (choice-based optimization), and simulation.

The Department of Transport & Planning (T&P) of Delft University of Technology is coordinating this project. T&P is composed of 11 research labs addressing various transport challenges. The researcher will be associated with the hEAT Lab (hEAT lab (tudelft.nl)) and the SUM Lab (SUM Lab (tudelft.nl)).

• A Master's degree in a relevant field, i.e. Operations research, Transportation, Mathematics, Applied mathematics or Computer science.
• Solid knowledge of data science and combinatorial optimization (mathematical modelling, algorithms, heuristics, metaheuristics).
• Strong programming skills
• Ability to work both in a project team, but also independently and take leadership and responsibility for research tasks
• Willingness and ability to communicate with other scientific partners, companies, and cities.
• Willingness to contribute to a stimulating research environment and interactions with project partners and stakeholders
• A passion for scientific research in close cooperation with practice
• Excellent communication skills in English, both written and oral 

Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis. For more details please check the Graduate Schools Admission Requirements.

Fixed-term contract: 4 years.

Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1,5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2,5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from € 2770 per month in the first year to € 3539 in the fourth year. As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged. 

For international applicants, TU Delft has the Coming to Delft Service. This service provides information for new international employees to help you prepare the relocation and to settle in the Netherlands. The Coming to Delft Service offers a Dual Career Programme for partners and they organise events to expand your (social) network.

Delft University of Technology

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

Faculty Civil Engineering & Geosciences

The Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences (CEG) is committed to outstanding international research and education in the field of civil engineering, applied earth sciences, traffic and transport, water technology, and delta technology. Our research feeds into our educational programmes and covers societal challenges such as climate change, energy transition, resource availability, urbanisation and clean water. Our research projects are conducted in close cooperation with a wide range of research institutions. CEG is convinced of the importance of open science and supports its scientists in integrating open science in their research practice. The Faculty of CEG comprises 28 research groups in the following seven departments: Materials Mechanics Management & Design, Engineering Structures, Geoscience and Engineering, Geoscience and Remote Sensing, Transport & Planning, Hydraulic Engineering and Water Management.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences.