PhD-Scholarship: Psychological Factors and Participatory Planning in the Adoption of Cooperative Connected, and Autonomous Mobility (CCAM) Services –

Join us in our efforts to integrate cultural diversity into the design and implementation of autonomous vehicles. Be part of a European Project dedicated to overcoming cultural and regional barriers in the deployment of autonomous vehicles and contribute to uncovering the influence of psychological factors and participatory planning.
DTU Management’s Transportation Systems Modelling section invites applications for a 3-year PhD position starting on 1 October 2024 or earlier. The successful candidate will join the section under the co-supervision of Asst. Prof. Guido Cantelmo, Prof. Sonja Haustein, and Asst. Prof. Felix Siebert.

The candidate will contribute to the Horizon EU project CulturalRoad. We are looking for an excellent applicant with experience in qualitative and quantitative research methods, and a background in psychology, policy and governance, spatial/transport planning, geography or related.

Project Background
With the increasing transport demand, traffic pressure on existing infrastructure has grown considerably, a trend that is unlikely to change as transportation links with economic growth. Unfortunately, the transport sector also generates several negative externalities, and it is one of the few economic sectors that have not seen a significant decline in emissions. Accordingly, the European Commission indicated CCAM as a strategic asset to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations and reduce negative environmental impacts on the environment. CCAM is not only expected to be more efficient than conventional mobility solutions (e.g. conventional vehicles) but also allows the development of entirely new mobility services, such as autonomous on-demand responsive transport (DRT), that can serve different typologies of users and completely revolutionise our mobility ecosystems.

In such a context, the PhD project is established to develop user-centric and inclusive mobility systems around CCAM and leverage participatory planning to involve local citizens, regions/cities, and governments in developing tailor-made strategies to meet their specific and unique mobility needs. Achieving these challenges will ensure that CCAM services promote equity in mobility.

Responsibilities and qualifications
The project includes 18 partners from 10 different countries. You will work in an international environment and in close collaboration with scholars from various disciplinary backgrounds. You will have the opportunity to engage with a variety of consortium partners, including mobility companies and municipalities. You will be responsible for conducting case studies/experiments to generate and validate behavioural assumptions on relevant psychological factors of CCAM adoption.

Your primary tasks will be:

• Co-organize focus groups and workshops in five consortium countries
• Investigate the impact that cognitive and emotional aspects such as technophobia, affinity to technology, and trust in automation have on CCAM adoption
• Investigate the role of socio-cultural and spatial diversity on CCAM adoption
• Contribute to the creation of a participatory planning framework to facilitate and accelerate CCAM deployment in Europe
• Analyse data generated during focus groups and interviews using qualitative and quantitative data analysis
• Provide recommendations that lead to the development of new standards and guidelines to deploy CCAMs
• Publish in high-impact journals and present your results at conferences
• Spend 6 months visiting one of our partner universities.

This position is rooted in two sections within the Division of Transportation Science at DTU Management: the Transportation Systems Modelling and the Human Behaviour section. The Transport Division also consists of research sections within Intelligent Transport Systems and Transport Policy.

You will be part of an expanding group working on integrated urban mobility system with other PhD students and staff in the division.

You must have a two-year master’s degree (120 ECTS points) or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a two-year master’s degree.

We furthermore expect:

• Capability to analyse qualitative data
• Good communication skills in English, both written and orally
• High motivation for the subject
• Ability to work independently
• Willingness to engage in group work with a multi-national team.

Approval and Enrolment
The scholarship for the Ph.D. degree is subject to academic approval, and the candidate will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes at DTU. For information about our enrolment requirements and the general planning of the PhD study programme, please see DTU's rules for the PhD education.

Assessment
The assessment of the applicants will be made by the advisor team as soon as possible after the application deadline.

We offer
DTU is a leading technical university globally recognised for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterised by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.

Salary and appointment terms
The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. This includes, among others a highly attractive salary scheme and other benefits, see Salary paid to PhD students. The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union. The period of employment is 3 years.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here.

Further information
Further information may be obtained from: Asst. Prof. Guido Cantelmo, [email protected], Asst. Prof. Felix Wilhelm Siebert, [email protected] or Prof. Sonja Haustein, [email protected].

You can read more about DTU Management at https://www.man.dtu.dk/english.

If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark. Furthermore, you have the option of joining our monthly free seminar “PhD relocation to Denmark and startup “Zoom” seminar” for all questions regarding the practical matters of moving to Denmark and working as a PhD at DTU.

Application procedure
Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 1 May 2024 (23:59 Danish time). Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link “Apply online”, fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file. The file must include:

• A letter motivating the application (cover letter)
• Curriculum vitae
• Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma

You may apply prior to obtaining your master’s degree but cannot begin before having received it. If you have finished your master’s degree, you may attach a PDF version of this to the application and any published English papers.

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

All interested candidates, irrespective of age, gender, race, disability, nationality, religion or ethnic background, are encouraged to apply.

Technology for people
DTU develops technology for people. With our international elite research and study programmes, we are helping to create a better world and to solve the global challenges formulated in the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU in 1829 with a clear mission to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That mission lives on today. DTU has 13,500 students and 6,000 employees. We work in an international atmosphere and have an inclusive, evolving, and informal working environment. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland, and we collaborate with the best universities around the world.

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