PhD scholarship in Road Safety Modelling

A 3-year PhD position in Road Safety is vacant at DTU Transport. The project is financed by DTU Transport in cooperation with key trade organizations.

The aim of the PhD project is to estimate the influence of road type and maintenance on road traffic accidents and injury levels, as well as the relation between road maintenance investments and accident related expenses. The estimation will partly be based on emergency room accident data as well as on data on the road maintenance at specific road locations. The project is innovative in a Danish context as well as internationally, since estimations based on the combined use of this type of data have not previously been performed.

Therefore, key tasks of the PhD project will involve (i) providing a thorough overview of the relevant national data, (ii) explore the possible availability and use of additional data and (iii) provide a state-of-the-art model based on international experiences. The model to be formulated and estimated is expected to be constructed as a DRAG-type model (modele de la Demande Routiere, des Accidents et leur Gravite). This model, already developed in several countries around the world, will allow estimating the economic value of aspects of road design and maintenance.

The PhD project will use the model to analyze the effects of selected scenarios in order to provide concrete evaluations. The project and its results are of high interest to the Danish transport sector. Therefore, initiating and maintaining collaboration with different national stakeholders and financers is an essential part of the project. 

The PhD project will be carried out under the supervision of Professor Carlo G. Prato. Senior researchers Ninette Pilegaard, Thomas S. Nielsen and Mette Møller are expected to have a role as co-supervisor(s).

Qualifications
The applicant should have relevant academic qualifications, e.g. M.Sc. in Civil Engineering, M.Sc. in Transport and Logistics, M.Sc. in Geography and Geoinformatics or equivalent. The qualifications must be documented by courses, M.Sc./B.Sc. theses and/or publications. Good command of English and Scandinavian skills are expected, as well as an interest in programming. Interest and skills in dissemination activities at the national and international levels are required.

Approval and Enrolment 
The scholarships for the PhD degree are subject to academic approval, and the candidates will be enrolled at the DTU Transport PhD School. The candidate will be part of the Traffic Modelling and Planning Section at DTU Transport.

For information about the general requirements for enrolment and the general planning of the scholarship studies, please see the DTU PhD Guide.

Assessment
The assessment of the applicants will be made by Professor Carlo G. Prato, DTU Transport, Senior researchers Ninette Pilegaard, Thomas S. Nielsen and Mette Møller, DTU Transport, and Professor (adj.) Thomas Randrup (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences). In addition, a human resource person and the deputy head of the PhD School at DTU Transport will be involved in the assessment.

We offer
We offer an interesting and challenging job in an international environment focusing on education, research, public-sector consultancy and innovation, which contribute to enhancing the economy and improving social welfare. We strive for academic excellence, collegial respect and freedom tempered by responsibility. The Technical University of Denmark (DTU) is a leading technical university in northern Europe and benchmarks with the best universities in the world.

Salary and appointment terms
The salary and appointment terms are consistent with the current Danish rules for PhD degree students.

The period of employment is 3 years. 

Further information
For further information about the PhD project, please contact Professor Carlo Giacomo Prato at cgp@transport.dtu.dk  or senior researcher Mette Møller at mm@transport.dtu.dk

Please do not send applications to this e-mail address, instead apply online as described below.

Further information concerning DTU Transport is available at www.transport.dtu.dk.

Application
Please submit your online application no later than 26 August 2015.

Applications must be submitted as one pdf file containing all materials to be given consideration.

To apply, please open the link "Apply online," fill in the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one pdf file.

The file must include:

• A letter motivating the application (cover letter - not more than one page)
• A document including reflections on the content and development of the project including the sector specific collaboration and dissemination (not more than one page).
• Curriculum vitae providing relevant academic, employment and personal details
• Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma (an official translation into English)
• Original course and grade list of bachelor and master degrees including grades for bachelor and master thesis
• A copy of the master thesis uploaded as a pdf-file, and, if available, any English paper
• Documentation of English language skills, if available TOEFL test
• Excel sheet with translation of grades to the Danish grading system (see guidelines and excel spreadsheet here)

Candidates may apply prior to obtaining their master's degree, but cannot begin before having received it.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, race, disability, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply.

Please write in your application that you've seen the job at Jobfinder