Postdoc Integrating Predictive Road Safety Assessment Into Traffic Micro-Simulation

Would you like to develop and test a predictive safety assessment framework for urban traffic systems? Then we might be looking for you!

Urban traffic systems are experiencing an increasing array of dynamic factors, from new means of transport to new infrastructure, technologies, or regulatory changes with uncertain safety consequences. Micro-simulation of traffic allows some effects of these changes to be tested and understood before any physical or operational changes are made in the real-world environment. However, existing micro-simulation techniques are strongly focused on traffic efficiency, and are limited in their ability to simulate (or model) safety outcomes, particularly non-motorised transport modes (such as bicyclists and micro-mobility) and pedestrians and their behaviour in traffic. The central challenge for this Postdoc position is to develop and test a predictive safety assessment framework for urban traffic systems.

The Postdoc researcher will contribute to the Horizon Europe project PHOEBE (Predictive Approaches for Safer Urban Environment ) which brings together the inter-disciplinary power of traffic simulation and road safety assessment into a harmonised, prospective assessment framework for road safety. This collaborative project consists of 11 partners across 7 countries in Europe and will last for four years (2022 to 2026).

The successful candidate will work under the supervision of Dr. Eleonora Papadimitriou and Dr. Amir Pooyan Afghari, also assisting them in leading certain Work Packages and Tasks of the project. Eleonora and Amir are assistant professors in transport safety at TU Delft. They have extensively worked in the area of road safety assessment.

• A PhD degree on road safety, transportation engineering, or relevant fields; other PhD degrees will also be considered, for instance in safety science, data science or social sciences, if you have demonstrable expertise in conceptual and methodological problems and approaches in transport applications;
• Research experience on road safety, traffic simulation and human behaviour modelling;
• Experience with EU-funded research projects is desirable;
• Excellent research, academic writing and presentation skills, demonstrated by Journal and / or Conference publications;
• The ability to work both independently and as part of a team;
• High level of proficiency in English;
• Familiarity with traffic (micro)simulation and its software application tools such as Aimsun and VISSIM;
• Familiarity with advanced statistics and probability theories.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities. Salary for this position is between € 2.960,00 - € 4.670,00 gross per month (scale 10). We offer a fulltime contract for the duration of 3 years. 

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

For international applicants we offer the Coming to Delft Service and Partner Career Advice to assist you with your relocation. An International Children's Centre offers childcare and there is an international primary school.

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!

With its excellent education and research at the intersection of technology, society and policy, the Faculty of TPM makes an important contribution to solving complex technical-social issues, such as energy transition, mobility, digitalisation, water management and (cyber) security.
We combine insights from the engineering sciences, the social and the humanities. We develop robust models and designs, are internationally oriented and have an extensive network with knowledge institutions, companies, social organisations and governments.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management.

For more information about this vacancy, please contact Dr. Eleonora Papadimitrioui at this email address: [email protected] or Dr. Amir Pooyan Afghari at this e-mail address: [email protected] .

For more information about the application procedure, please contact Olivie Beek, HR-advisor, at this email address: [email protected] . 

Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply before 16 December 2022 via the application button and upload:

• A current CV;
• Motivation letter stating your interest in the position;
• Short research statement (no more than one page), detailing the work you have already done in the field of road safety (optional)

Please note:

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
• A pre-employment screening can be part of the selection procedure.
• Contact be recruiting agencies is not appreciated.

Would you like to develop and test a predictive safety assessment framework for urban traffic systems? Then we might be looking for you!

Urban traffic systems are experiencing an increasing array of dynamic factors, from new means of transport to new infrastructure, technologies, or regulatory changes with uncertain safety consequences. Micro-simulation of traffic allows some effects of these changes to be tested and understood before any physical or operational changes are made in the real-world environment. However, existing micro-simulation techniques are strongly focused on traffic efficiency, and are limited in their ability to simulate (or model) safety outcomes, particularly non-motorised transport modes (such as bicyclists and micro-mobility) and pedestrians and their behaviour in traffic. The central challenge for this Postdoc position is to develop and test a predictive safety assessment framework for urban traffic systems.

The Postdoc researcher will contribute to the Horizon Europe project PHOEBE (Predictive Approaches for Safer Urban Environment ) which brings together the inter-disciplinary power of traffic simulation and road safety assessment into a harmonised, prospective assessment framework for road safety. This collaborative project consists of 11 partners across 7 countries in Europe and will last for four years (2022 to 2026).

The successful candidate will work under the supervision of Dr. Eleonora Papadimitriou and Dr. Amir Pooyan Afghari, also assisting them in leading certain Work Packages and Tasks of the project. Eleonora and Amir are assistant professors in transport safety at TU Delft. They have extensively worked in the area of road safety assessment.

• A PhD degree on road safety, transportation engineering, or relevant fields; other PhD degrees will also be considered, for instance in safety science, data science or social sciences, if you have demonstrable expertise in conceptual and methodological problems and approaches in transport applications;
• Research experience on road safety, traffic simulation and human behaviour modelling;
• Experience with EU-funded research projects is desirable;
• Excellent research, academic writing and presentation skills, demonstrated by Journal and / or Conference publications;
• The ability to work both independently and as part of a team;
• High level of proficiency in English;
• Familiarity with traffic (micro)simulation and its software application tools such as Aimsun and VISSIM;
• Familiarity with advanced statistics and probability theories.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities. Salary for this position is between € 2.960,00 - € 4.670,00 gross per month (scale 10). We offer a fulltime contract for the duration of 3 years. 

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

For international applicants we offer the Coming to Delft Service and Partner Career Advice to assist you with your relocation. An International Children's Centre offers childcare and there is an international primary school.

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!

With its excellent education and research at the intersection of technology, society and policy, the Faculty of TPM makes an important contribution to solving complex technical-social issues, such as energy transition, mobility, digitalisation, water management and (cyber) security.
We combine insights from the engineering sciences, the social and the humanities. We develop robust models and designs, are internationally oriented and have an extensive network with knowledge institutions, companies, social organisations and governments.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management.

For more information about this vacancy, please contact Dr. Eleonora Papadimitrioui at this email address: [email protected] or Dr. Amir Pooyan Afghari at this e-mail address: [email protected] .

For more information about the application procedure, please contact Olivie Beek, HR-advisor, at this email address: [email protected] . 

Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply before 16 December 2022 via the application button and upload:

• A current CV;
• Motivation letter stating your interest in the position;
• Short research statement (no more than one page), detailing the work you have already done in the field of road safety (optional)

Please note:

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
• A pre-employment screening can be part of the selection procedure.
• Contact be recruiting agencies is not appreciated.