How do mobility systems respond when everyday travel is disrupted? Who loses access, where, for how long, and how can planning reduce these impacts?
We are looking for a Doctoral student in Complex Mobility Systems. The position is part of a Swedish Research Council-funded project developing dynamic synthetic populations and mobility digital twins for resilient and equitable transport planning. The project combines agent-based modelling, large-scale mobility data, transport networks, generative modelling, resilience indicators, and equity analysis.
This doctoral student position is particularly suitable for a candidate who wants to develop strong theoretical and computational expertise while working on real-world problems in mobility, cities, resilience, and sustainability.
About us
The candidate will be based at the Division of Physical Resource Theory at Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden. With around 50 staff members, including faculty and doctoral students from engineering, natural sciences, and social sciences, the division promotes challenge-driven, multidisciplinary research and offers courses linked to its research areas. Our group, STEAM – Sustainable Transport, Energy Analytics and Modelling, studies the transformation of transport and energy systems using data-driven, computational and policy-relevant approaches. We work at the intersection of mobility systems, energy systems, electrification, resilience, equity and sustainability, combining large-scale empirical data, modelling, simulation and systems analysis.
In Energy, Environment, and Systems PhD program, you will learn the use of techniques and analytical methods regarding the environment, energy, nature and society. The graduate school offers different specializations, Energy Conversion, Industrial Energy Systems, Energy and Material Systems, Physical Resource Theory, Environmental Systems Analysis and Complex Systems.
The graduate school is organised within the Departments of Environmental and Energy Sciences and Technology Management and Economics.
About the research project
The position is connected to the DYnamic populatioNs for resilient And equitable MObility systems (DYNAMO) project. The project develops next-generation synthetic populations that are dynamic, scenario-conditioned and suitable for stress-testing mobility systems under disruptions. The work combines mobile phone data, census and urban data, activity-based and agent-based modelling, generative sequence models, transport networks, digital twins, resilience indicators and equity-sensitive analysis. The project explicitly seeks to move beyond static “average-day” demand modelling towards dynamic, behaviourally rich and policy-relevant simulations of how different groups adapt under changing conditions.
The project is carried out in collaboration withthe department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Danmarks Tekniske Universitet (DTU, Denmark) and Universidad del Desarrollo / ISI Foundation (Chile/Italy), contributing expertise in human mobility modelling, resilience science, and empirical disruption analysis using large-scale mobile phone data from Chile.
Who we are looking for
The successful candidate will be expected to contribute intellectually to the theoretical development of the project. We are particularly interested in candidates whose background can help us connect empirical mobility data and computational modelling with theories of complex systems, network dynamics, resilience, disruption response, adaptation, inequality, or urban systems.
The following requirements are mandatory:
A master’s degree corresponding to at least 240 higher education credits, or equivalent, in a relevant field such as engineering, applied mathematics, physics, computer science, data science, complex systems, transport systems, urban science, geography, urban planning, computational social science, or a related field.
Strong quantitative, analytical, computational, or theoretical training relevant to the research topic.
Meritorious educational qualifications:
Coursework or thesis work in complex systems, network science, agent-based modelling, transport modelling, urban analytics, resilience, computational social science, data science, machine learning, statistics, applied mathematics, GIS, or spatial analysis.
A master’s thesis or research project related to mobility, cities, networks, infrastructure, human behaviour, resilience, sustainability, disruptions, or socio-spatial inequality.
Mandatory experiences and skills
- Strong motivation to conduct doctoral research
- Good analytical and problem-solving skills
- Good programming, modelling, data analysis, or mathematical skills, with the ability to understand and engage with computational model implementation.
- Ability or strong motivation to work with activity-based modelling, agent-based modelling, synthetic populations, mobility data, or geospatial data.
- Very good written and spoken English
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively in an interdisciplinary research environment
The following experience will strengthen your application:
- Experience with Python, R, Julia, Java, GIS tools, MATSim, transport simulation, network analysis, or similar tools
- Experience with mobility data, transport networks, census data, geospatial data, public transport data, GPS/mobile phone data, or other large-scale datasets
- Interest in complex systems, network science, resilience theory, disruption modelling, agent-based modelling, urban science, or computational social science
- Experience with scientific writing, open-source code, reproducible workflows, version control, or data documentation
- Interest in sustainable transport, urban planning, climate adaptation, civil preparedness, equity, or infrastructure resilience
What you will do
Your main responsibility will be to conduct doctoral research and complete a PhD degree. Depending on your profile, your work may include:
- Developing theoretical and computational models of complex mobility systems
- Studying how people and networks adapt to disruptions
- Contributing to dynamic synthetic populations and agent-based simulations
- Applying complex systems, network science, resilience, or computational social science methods
- Analysing mobility, demographic, land-use, transport network, or other urban data
- Developing indicators for accessibility loss, unmet mobility needs, recovery, vulnerability, and equity
- Publishing in international journals and presenting at conferences
- Contributing to open and reproducible research workflows
- The position may also include departmental duties, such as teaching, up to the level allowed by Chalmers’ doctoral employment rules.
Contract terms
- The Doctoral student positions are fully funded from start.
- The position is a fixed-term appointment of four years, with the possibility to teach up to 20%, which extends the position up to five years.
- A starting salary of 35,725 SEK per month (valid from May 1, 2026).
- Doctoral studies require physical presence throughout the entire study period. A valid residence permit must be presented by the study start date; otherwise the admission may be withdrawn.
What we offer
- As a Doctoral student at Chalmers, you are an employee and enjoy all employee benefits. Read more about working at Chalmers and our benefits for employees.
- A dynamic and inspiring working environment in the coastal city of Gothenburg.
- Read more about Sweden’s generous parental leave, subsidized day care, free schools, healthcare etc at Move To Gothenburg.
Chalmers is dedicated to improving gender balance and actively works with equality projects, such as the GENIE Initiative for gender equality and excellence. We celebrate diversity and consider equality and inclusion as fundamental aspects of all our activities.
If Swedish is not your native language, Chalmers offers Swedish courses to help you settle in.
Find more general information about doctoral studies at Chalmers here.
Application procedure
The application should be written in English and attached as PDF-files, as below. Maximum size for each file is 40 MB. Please note that the system does not support Zip files.
CV
Personal letter
- A brief introduction about yourself.
- A brief motivation as to why you are interested in this position.
- Two references that we can contact.
Bachelor’s and, if available, master’s thesis together with the transcripts.
Use the button at the foot of the page to reach the application form.
A background check may be conducted as part of the application process.
Please note: The applicant is responsible for ensuring that the application is complete. Incomplete applications and applications sent by email will not be considered. Contact details to references will be requested after the interview.
We welcome your application no later than 2026-08-11 Shortlisting is planned for late August, with first interviews expected around 1 September.
For questions, please contact:
- Sonia Yeh, Professor, Department of Environmental and Energy Sciences. Email: [email protected], 031-772-67 16
- Jorge Gil, Associate Professor, Urban Analytics and Informatics, Head of Division Urban Design and Planning, Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering (ACE), Chalmers University of Technology. Email: [email protected]
- Yuan Liao, Department of Human Geography, Lund University, Lund, Sweden, [email protected]
- Frances Sprei, Professor, Unit head, Department of Environmental and Energy Sciences, [email protected], 031-772 2146
We look forward to your application!
*** Chalmers declines to consider all offers of further announcement publishing or other types of support for the recruiting process in connection with this position. ***
Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg conducts research and education in technology and natural sciences at a high international level. The university has 3100 employees and 10,000 students, and offers education in engineering, science, shipping and architecture. With scientific excellence as a basis, Chalmers promotes knowledge and technical solutions for a sustainable world. Through global commitment and entrepreneurship, we foster an innovative spirit, in close collaboration with wider society.
Chalmers was founded in 1829 and has the same motto today as it did then: Avancez – forward.
Chalmers University of Technology conducts research and education in engineering sciences, architecture, mathematical sciences, natural and nautical sciences, working in close collaboration with industry and society. The strategy for scientific excellence focuses on our eight Areas of Advance; Built Environment, Energy, Information & Communication Technology, Life Science, Materials Science, Nanoscience & Nanotechnology, Production and Transport. The aim is to make an active contribution to a sustainable future using the basic sciences as a foundation and innovation and entrepreneurship as the central driving forces. Chalmers has around 11,000 students and 3,000 employees. New knowledge and improved technology have characterised Chalmers since its foundation in 1829, completely in accordance with the will of William Chalmers and his motto: Avancez!
