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Doctoral Researcher In Transportation Engineering, Travel Behaviour Modelling, And Sustainable Mobility Systems
Posted on Jan. 8, 2026
- Espoo, Finland
- 0 - 0 USD (yearly)
- Full Time
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Aalto University is where science and art meet technology and business. We shape a sustainable future by making research breakthroughs in and across our disciplines, sparking the game changers of tomorrow, and creating novel solutions to major global challenges. Our community is made up of 120 nationalities, 14 000 students, 400 professors, and close to 5000 faculty and staff working on our dynamic campus in Espoo, Greater Helsinki, Finland. Diversity is part of who we are, and we actively work to ensure our community’s diversity and inclusiveness. This is why we warmly encourage qualified candidates from all backgrounds to join our community.
Aalto University School of Engineering, Department of Built Environment, invites applications for a
Doctoral Researcher in Transportation Engineering, Travel Behaviour Modelling, and Sustainable Mobility Systems
The doctoral researcher will be embedded in the Spatial Planning and Transportation (SPT) research group and contribute to ongoing and forthcoming research projects funded through national and European programs. The PhD project will focus on the design, analysis, and evaluation of the behavioural impacts of user-oriented traffic and mobility management, with particular attention to sustainability, safety, and efficiency in multimodal transport systems. The PhD project may focus on one or more of the following themes:
- Traffic modelling and multimodal transport simulation
- Travel behaviour and choice modelling
- Network optimization and algorithmic methods
- Machine learning and data-driven approaches for mobility analysis, prediction, or decision support
- Policy-oriented evaluation of traffic and mobility interventions
Your experience and ambitions
We are looking for a highly motivated candidate with strong analytical skills and a clear interest in transport systems, travel behaviour, and sustainable mobility. The successful applicant should enjoy working in an international and interdisciplinary research environment and be willing to engage with both methodological and applied research questions. Applicants should hold a master’s degree in transportation engineering, civil engineering, computer science, data science, economics, or a closely related field. Fluent written and verbal communication skills in English are essential. Also essential is the ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a research team. Previous knowledge and experience in the field of traffic and transport modelling is an advantage. Knowledge of Finnish is not required. Applicants must fulfil the eligibility and admission criteria for Aalto’s Doctoral Programme in Engineering as specified at
Aalto Doctoral Programme in Engineering | Aalto University
.
Your network and team
The doctoral researcher will join a team of world-class researchers at Aalto University, a public research university that was established in 2010 after a merger of three major Finnish universities. It is consistently highly ranked in the areas of science, art, technology, and business. The University’s main campus is located in Espoo, approximately 15 minutes by metro from the centre of Helsinki. Helsinki is a safe, clean, green capital city with a very high quality of life. Most of the country’s population speaks English fluently. More information about living and working in Finland can be found at
For international staff | Aalto University
.
The doctoral researcher will receive extensive individual academic training and support, and be given wide opportunities to participate in scientific conferences and meetings. The doctoral researcher will work under the supervision of Assistant Professor Shaya Vosough in the SPT research group:
Spatial Planning and Transportation Engineering | Aalto University
, at the Department of Built Environment.
What we offer
The position is fully funded for four years, with a preferred starting date in spring 2026 (negotiable). The doctoral degree is granted after successfully completing a set of advanced taught courses (30 ECTS), writing a doctoral thesis (usually based on publications), and defending the thesis in a public examination. During the PhD, the doctoral researcher will be expected to present at high-level scientific conferences, publish in leading academic journals, actively participate in the SPT research group activities, assist in the preparation of new research proposals, and help to advise master’s students during the preparation of their final project.
The salary range, terms, and conditions are based on a collective bargaining agreement among Finnish universities. The starting salary is approximately 2900 €/month (gross), and it increases as the Doctoral Researcher progresses in the research and studies. The initial contract period is 2 years, evaluated by a compulsory midterm review during the second year, with the possibility of extension for the remaining period (a further two years) if satisfactory progress has been made.
Ready to apply?
Please submit your application through our recruitment system by 13 February 2026. The link to the recruitment system can be found at the end of this job advertisement (“Apply now!”). If you are already working at Aalto, please apply via our internal system Workday -> Find Jobs.
All applications must include the following materials:
- Motivation letter with the applicant’s contact information and an indication of the preferred starting date (max 1 page)
- CV including details of all academic outputs and email information for 2 persons who may be contacted to provide a character reference (max 2 pages)
- Outline of the applicant’s proposed PhD research project, including an overview of related research in the field, important academic theories/debates, research hypotheses/questions, research methods, work plan, data sources, and analytical approaches (max 3 pages)
- Summary of the applicant’s master’s dissertation (max 1 page)
- Copy of the applicant’s master’s degree certificate and transcript of studies (with a clear explanation of the grading scale). Students in the final year of their master’s are welcome to apply, but the expected graduation date must be clearly stated in the application. Candidates must have completed the master’s degree before the PhD contract begins.
All materials should be submitted in English in a single PDF file (compiled in the order specified above). Applications submitted by email will not be accepted. Aalto University reserves the right to leave the position open, extend the application period, and consider candidates who have not applied during the application period.
Further information
Content-related questions about the vacancy may be directed via email to Shaya Vosough (PhD supervisor), while recruitment-related questions may be directed to Sanni Mero (HR Partner) using the email format firstname.lastname@aalto.fi.
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