PhD scholarship in urban mobility

For already 50 years, the Vrije Universiteit Brussel has stood for freedom, equality and connectedness. These values are strongly present on our campuses, in our students as well as our staff. At the VUB, you’ll find a diverse collection of personalities: pure innovators and especially people who are 100% their authentic selves. With about 3.500 employees, we are the largest Dutch-speaking employer in Brussels, an international city with which we are all too happy to be connected, and around which our four campuses are located.

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• the development, the transfer and the application of high-standing academic education and scientific research, free from any prejudice;
• community integration of this in a spirit of social compassion;
• critical development of everyone in light of the responsibilities borne in the community.

The Faculty Social Sciences & Solvay Business School, Department Business Technology and Operations, is looking for a PhD-student with a doctoral grant. 

More concretely your work package, for the preparation of a doctorate, contains: 

Role

The MOBI Mobility, Logistics and Automotive Technology Research Centre at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) is looking for a doctoral researcher who will contribute to interdisciplinary research in the domains of transport, sustainability, and socio-economic assessment. The goal is to complete a 4-year PhD based on the different research projects in which the researcher will have been involved. The research and approach will be entirely embedded in the research projects of MOBI in line with the skills and knowledge background of the candidate. The topic of the PhD will be related to urban mobility and sustainability based on the background and interest of the candidate and building on possible links to ongoing research. The researcher is expected to contribute to projects about

• the inclusion of stakeholders and especially citizens in transport planning through participatory planning and impact assessment tools;
• preparing for future uncertainties in transport through participatory foresight;
• measuring and incentivising behavioural change in mobility through travel behaviour analysis and the impact assessment of mobility management policies and measures;
• supporting the design of an equitable, accessible and inclusive transport system through the development of policy support and evaluation tools.

Tasks

• The candidate will carry out academic research in the domains of urban mobility and socio-economic assessment.
• She/he will contribute to the implementation of ongoing research projects in the fields of urban mobility.
• She/he will assist the project manager (senior researcher and the team leader) in project management activities such as project reporting, organisation of workshops and conferences.
• She/he will write research reports and valorise research results in popular and academic publications.
• She/he will present research results at workshops and conferences.
• She/he will contribute to public dissemination activities.
• She/he will supervise master thesis students.

For this function, our Brussels Humanities, Sciences & Engineering Campus (Elsene) will serve as your home base. 

What do we expect from you?

A Master’s Degree in Transportation, Transport planning, Urban planning, Urban studies, Economics, Geography, Management, Commercial engineer (Handelsingenieur), Political science, Sustainable Development, Sociology or related discipline.

Candidates that have not yet acquired their Master’s degree can apply and participate in the selection procedure, but need to offer proof of registration in their Masters programme and need to have complied with all diploma requirements before starting their position at VUB-MOBI.

Essential:

• Demonstrated interest in mobility, logistics, sustainability and socio-economic assessments.
• Strong oral and written communication skills in English.
• The ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of partners.
• Good time management and planning skills, with the ability to meet tight deadlines and work effectively under pressure.
• Good knowledge of Microsoft Excel and other Office applications.
• Good qualitative and/or quantitative research skills.
• Knowledge of SPSS/GIS software.
• Good knowledge of Dutch and/or French is an advantage.

• You have not performed any works in the execution of a mandate as an assistant, paid from operating resources, over a total (cumulated) period of more than 12 months.

Are you going to be our new colleague?

You’ll be offered a full-time PhD-scholarship, for 12 months (extendable up to max. 48 months, on condition of the positive evaluation of the PhD activities), with planned starting date 01/09/2022. 

You’ll receive a grant linked to one of the scales set by the government.

IMPORTANT: The effective result of the doctorate scholarship is subject to the condition precedent of your enrolment as a doctorate student at the university.

At the VUB, you’re guaranteed an open, involved and diverse workplace where you are offered opportunities to (further) build on your career.

As well as this, you’ll enjoy various benefits:

• Full reimbursement for your home-work commute with public transport according to VUB-policy, or compensation if you come by bike;
• Cost-free hospitalisation insurance;
• The space to form your job content and continuously learn via VUB LRN;
• Excellent facilities for sport and exercise;
• Ecocheques;
• Delicious meals at attractive prices in our campus restaurants;
• An open, family-friendly work environment where attention is paid to work-life balance, and exceptional holiday arrangements with 35 days of leave (based on a fulltime contract).

Is this the job you’ve been dreaming of?

Send us ONLINE and at the latest on 30/06/2022  your CV, letter of motivation and the highest degree you’ve attained (not applicable for VUB alumni).

Do you have questions about the job content? Contact Prof. Dr. Imre Keseru / Prof. Dr. Cathy Macharis at [email protected]  or on +32 (0)2 614 83 23 / +32 (0)2 614 83 03.

Would you like to know what it’s like to work at the VUB? Go to www.vub.ac.be/vacatures and find all there is to know about our campuses, benefits, strategic goals and your future colleagues.