Challenge: Understanding how micromobility affects pedestrian stress and comfort
Change: Leveraging XR simulations to explore real-world pedestrian interactions.
Impact: Guiding urban policy toward safer, more inclusive public spaces.
Job description
Micromobility holds promise to improve zero-emission transport and improve accessibility in urban areas. Recognizing this potential, cities have granted micromobility operators broad access to public space. However, their deployment has revealed unintended consequences: increased conflicts with pedestrians, reduced comfort, and heightened stress in already constrained urban spaces.
To tackle this challenge, the MicroMReg project aims to develop adaptive micromobility regulation that promotes safe, inclusive, and pedestrian-friendly urban environments. In this postdoc position, you will focus on using Extended Reality (XR) simulations to investigate how micromobility influences pedestrian well-being and behavior, with particular attention to stress, comfort, and experience.
In this role you will:
- Develop XR micromobility simulators and develop realistic virtual urban scenarios that reflect micromobility scenarios.
- Conduct XR experiments to measure pedestrian-micromobility mode interaction.
- Identify key indicators of stress and discomfort for different types of vulnerable road users.
- Collaborate closely with other project partners across different work packages to ensure alignment.
- Collaborate closely with other European project partners across different work packages to ensure knowledge exchange, alignment, and integration of research outcomes into project goals.
- Support other researchers in the lab and contribute to the management of Lab activities.
- Publish in high-impact scientific journals and disseminate findings through conferences and stakeholder workshops.
Your home base will be the Mobility in eXtended Reality Lab in the Department of Transport & Planning within the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences. Our diverse team of researchers, project managers, and professors shares the ambition to create smart, sustainable, and equitable mobility systems. In our 12 collaborative labs we apply advanced technologies such as sensing, data analytics, modelling, and AI to turn scientific research into real-world impact. You'll join an open, supportive environment that fosters learning and professional growth.
Job requirements
Your profile:
- PhD degree in a relevant field (e.g., transportation, human-computer interaction, cognitive science, mechanical engineering, or related disciplines).
- Solid background in XR technologies and skills in developing XR applications using Unity/Unreal game engine.
- Demonstrable experimental and analytical skills, including designing and conducting studies, programming (e.g., Python, C#).
- Advanced skills in both qualitative and quantitative research methods.
- Excellent communication skills in English and ability to collaborate with diverse stakeholders.
- A publication record in relevant scientific journals.
- Excellent writing and communication skills in English.
TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)
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.
Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences
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. To go to the website of the Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences.
Conditions of employment
- Duration of contract is 3 years.
- A job of 40 hours per week.
Additional information
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Are you interested in this vacancy? Apply via the application button below no later than and please submit the following documents:
- A motivation letter (max 2 pages) explaining your interest in this position and qualifications for the position.
- Curriculum Vitae (max 2 pages).
- Publication list incl. A one-page summary of your PhD thesis.
- A 3-slide presentation (PDF) with your initial research ideas and directions for this project.
Please note:
- A pre-employment screening can be part of the selection procedure.
- For the final candidates, a knowledge security check will be part of the application procedure. For more information on this check, please consult Chapter 8 of the National Knowledge Security Guidelines. We carry out this check on the basis of legitimate interest.
- Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.
Het salaris bedraagt €3378 - €5331