PhD Position Tackling Climate Change impacts on Road Network with the Help of Data Analytics and Operations Research

Are you interested in playing a key role in collective efforts for adapting road networks to the impacts of climate change? Are you interested in predicting these impacts with the help of data science, combinatorial optimization, and simulation? Then, you should consider this PhD position.

Acting on climate change should involve both mitigation (reducing greenhouse gas emissions) and adaptation measures (lowering vulnerability to the inevitable changes). In this research, the aim is to focus on adapting the entire road network to climate change negative effects .

The research objectives can be summarized as following:
Future events and negative impacts of climate change need to be investigated using already existing parameters. Upscaling the data for the unforeseeable events whose data that is not yet available, is a major methodological challenge. We aim at deriving a data-driven approach for identifying areas of improvement and appropriate actions. Based on the already existing historical data (in close collaboration and contacts with RWS), the areas that can be affected with future events are identified using AI methods. Disruption scenarios need to be introduced. Robust and resilient replanning need to be designed for the road networks in case of disruptions. For this part, using stochastic and robust optimization (within a framework of a multi-objective model), a disruption management framework needs to be introduced for medium term planning of the roads. Long-term adaptation planning for the road networks needs to be developed through different types of interventions and policies.

The methodological tools that will be used to conduct the above research objectives include (but not limited to): data-driven pattern recognition methods (using upscaling data methods) to create reliable data sources for climate-related disruption scenario definitions; robust and stochastic optimization; agent-based simulation and multi-criteria decision making.

The Department of Transport & Planning (T&P) of Delft University of Technology is coordinating this project. T&P is composed of 11 research labs addressing various transport challenges. The researcher will be associated to the SUM Lab: https://www.tudelft.nl/citg/over-faculteit/afdelingen/transport-planning/research/labs/sum-lab-1

We are looking for an enthusiastic and ambitious candidate with the following qualifications, knowledge, and skills:

• A Master's degree in a relevant field, i.e. Operations research, Transportation, Mathematics, Applied mathematics or Computer science.
• Solid knowledge of data science and combinatorial optimization (mathematical modelling, algorithms) and simulation.
• Strong programming skills
• Ability to work both in a project team, but also independently and take leadership and responsibility for research tasks
• Willingness and ability to communicate with other scientific partners, companies, and cities.
• Willingness to contribute to a stimulating research environment and interactions with project partners and stakeholders
• A passion for scientific research in close cooperation with practice
• Excellent communication skills in English, both written and oral

Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis. For more details please check the Graduate Schools Admission Requirements .

Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1,5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2,5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from € 2541 per month in the first year to € 3247 in the fourth year. As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

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

For international applicants, TU Delft has the Coming to Delft Service . This service provides information for new international employees to help you prepare the relocation and to settle in the Netherlands. The Coming to Delft Service offers a Dual Career Programme  for partners and they organise events to expand your (social) network.

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!

The Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences (CEG) is committed to outstanding international research and education in the field of civil engineering, applied earth sciences, traffic and transport, water technology, and delta technology. Our research feeds into our educational programmes and covers societal challenges such as climate change, energy transition, resource availability, urbanisation and clean water. Our research projects are conducted in close cooperation with a wide range of research institutions. CEG is convinced of the importance of open science and supports its scientists in integrating open science in their research practice. The Faculty of CEG comprises 28 research groups in the following seven departments: Materials Mechanics Management & Design, Engineering Structures, Geoscience and Engineering, Geoscience and Remote Sensing, Transport & Planning, Hydraulic Engineering and Water Management.

Click here  to go to the website of the Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences.

For more information about this vacancy, please contact Dr. S. Sharif Azadeh, e-mail: [email protected] .

Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply before 7 May 2023 via the application button and upload your motivation and CV.

• 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.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.