PhD on Behavior-based predictive tools to support development of affordable homes for the middle class

Eindhoven University of Technology is looking for a PhD candidate with a background in (Urban) Exact and Data sciences, (Industrial) Engineering, Quantitative economics, Computer sciences, or Statistics and Mathematics, interested in developing digital, behaviour- and data-based tools that serve to increase the availability of affordable homes for the middle class.

Information
Urban areas worldwide are facing a deepening housing crisis, especially for middle-income households who are squeezed between ineligible social housing and unaffordable private rentals. How to improve the availability of affordable homes for the middle class has increasingly become a public concern and hot policy debate, with new policies like the Affordable Rent Act aiming to improve affordability in the Netherlands.

We are looking for a PhD-candidate to join a team of researchers and practitioners, including building engineers, behavioural economists, data scientists, psychologists and investors. This PhD research project aims to produce insights and tools that help tackle the affordable housing shortage by:

• combining cutting edge qualitative and quantitative research to investigate landlord and investor strategies and underlying motivations, modelling their investment behaviour under various scenarios;
• using big data to analyze effectiveness of housing policy shifts and their impacts on behavioral changes among middle-income tenants;
• developing digital tools to predict the availability of affordable homes for the middle income households in different scenarios;
• providing data-driven insights to support landlord decision-making and policy design and adjustment.

You will be part of the Real Estate and Urban Development research group in the Urban System and Real Estate unit of the Department of the Built Environment. Our research bridges technology, stakeholder behavior, and policy, with a particular focus on the integration of data science, real estate development and sustainable urban development and engineering. You will work alongside municipalities, real estate investors, developers, and various relevant stakeholders.

We are looking for a candidate with the following background:

• A Master’s degree (or an equivalent university degree) in (Urban) Data sciences, Exact sciences, (Industrial) Engineering, Quantitative economics, Computer sciences, or Statistics and Mathematics, or a related field.
• A strong educational track-record including at least several of the following subjects: computational modelling, microeconomics, econometrics, operations research, data science.
• Interest in housing research and sustainable urban development. Affinity with behavioural research, policy evaluation and stakeholder engagement.
• Strong skills in quantitative research, including predictive modelling and experience with statistical software (e.g., R, Python).
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in an interdisciplinary, international research environment.
• Motivation to contribute to teaching and mentoring students (approx.. 10% of your time).
• Strong analytical skills and fluency in spoken and written English (C1 level, Dutch proficiency is an advantage but not required).

Do you recognize yourself in this profile and would you like to know more? Please contact the hiring manager, dr. Rianne Appel-Meulenbroek via email: h.a.j.a.appel@tue.nl

Visit our website for more information about the application process or the conditions of employment. You can also contact HR advice BE, hradvicebe@tue.nl.

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