PhD student in Transportation and Mobility Planning

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Prof. Eva Heinen is seeking an ambitious PhD candidate to join her research group at the Institute for Transport Planning and Systems, Department of Transportation and Mobility Planning. Our research is conceptually driven and empirical. The motivation for our research is to enhance resilience in urban areas in terms of well-being, performance, sustainability, and health.

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We are looking for individuals with a strong interest in and enjoyment of scientific work in our key research areas. Our group aims to expand causal knowledge of travel behavior and behavioral change in the field of transportation by conducting empirical research and combining different research disciplines. Our mobility and transport research aims to further conceptual and theoretical understanding of travel behavior and mobility. Our research has strong conceptual and theoretical foundations, is ideally based on primary data, uses a mix of methods, and tries to infer causality as strongly as possible. Our research contributes to socially and environmentally desirable outcomes.

We are looking for an ambitious Ph.D. student to join our team. We are interested in hiring someone interested in recreational travel, long-distance travel, or road safety. We anticipate future projects in these areas.

Swiss people travel the longest for recreational purposes, and the amount of time spent traveling for this purpose is increasing. People are also traveling greater distances. Understanding and forecasting this demand is essential for environmental, social, and transportation reasons.

Traffic safety remains an important topic, especially for active travel. As populations increase, the demand for space increases, which could result in more conflicts between road users. The number of pedestrian fatalities has risen in the past years, and the increased level of cycling may also impact the safety of active travelers in the future. Understanding the causes and trends while exploring the best approach is of key importance.

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Key tasks of the new hire include:

• Successful authorship and defense of a doctoral dissertation on one of the research group�s core research areas
  
• Participation in (ongoing) research projects and support for the acquisition of new research projects
  
• Contribution to teaching and examinations
  
• Authorship and successful publication of research papers in high-impact research journals
  
• Active participation both within the research group and via (inter)national networks and conferences
  
• Participation in the organizational and administrative tasks of the institute
  

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Requirements:

• MSc degree in the fields of transportation, civil engineering, computer science, urban analytics, spatial planning, geography, geoinformation, psychology or an equivalent qualification.
  
• Experience with first-hand data collection, such as questionnaire design.
  
• Very good knowledge of written and spoken English (C1 or higher).
  
• (Some) knowledge of programming and data analysis and a willingness to familiarize yourself further with scientific software packages (e.g., scripting languages, GIS software, MATLAB, Python, R, Stata, etc.).
  
• Enjoyment of scientific work.
  
• Ability to work in a team, have problem-solving skills, and the ability to self-organize and take personal responsibility in the fulfilment of tasks.
  
• Good communication skills.
  

Desired skills and qualifications (not required but a plus):

• Advanced knowledge of the field of transport planning or travel behaviour.
  
• Demonstrated ability to write high-quality scientific texts (e.g., publications or well graded theses or publications).
  
• Experience with simulation programs, big data analyses, or qualitative analyses. N.B. it is not expected/desired that you have experience with all of these methods/programs, but familiarity with some are desired.
  
• Good German language skills (B2) or higher is a plus.
  

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• Work in one of the most liveable cities in the world.
  
• Your career with impact: Become part of ETH Zurich, which not only supports your professional development, but also actively contributes to positive change in society.
  
• We are actively committed to a sustainable and climate-neutral university.
  
• You can expect numerous benefits, such as public transport season tickets and car sharing, a wide range of sports offered by the ASVZ, childcare and attractive pension benefits.
  

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In line with our values, ETH Zurich encourages an inclusive culture. We promote equality of opportunity, value diversity and nurture a working and learning environment in which the rights and dignity of all our staff and students are respected. Visit our Equal Opportunities and Diversity website to find out how we ensure a fair and open environment that allows everyone to grow and flourish.

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We aim to fill this position as soon as possible. Please indicate a realistic starting date in your application. The planned duration of the initial contract is 18 months, after which an aptitude colloquium will determine the further continuation of the project. The total doctoral project is expected to be finished in 4 years in total.

We look forward to receiving your online application with the following documents:

• A (short) letter of motivation (max 2 A4). The goal of your letter of motivation should be to help us gauge your interest and motivation in pursuing research in transport and mobility planning at the ETH Zürich.
  
• A short proposal on the main topic of interest (max 2 A4). Please focus on why this topic is scientifically important, and propose a possible research approach.
  
• CV.
  
• Your list of grades of your BSc and MSc.
  
• The names and email addresses of people who could provide a reference (min 2). We will only request references in the final stage of the process, i.e. after the interviews.
  
• Two outputs. This could be your MSc thesis, a coursework, or anything else you consider worth showing (e.g. code, poster, etc.).
  

Please note that we exclusively accept applications submitted through our online application portal. Applications via email or postal services will not be considered. We plan to start shortlisting on August 24th. And may close the portal soon after.

Further information about the institute can be found on our website. Questions regarding the position should be directed to Prof. Dr. Eva Heinen eheinen@ethz.ch (no applications).