Department of Geography
PhD Position in Urban Analytics – Mobility in the Net-Zero Transition 80 %
Start of employment 01.09.2025 (or by agreement)The Urban Analytics Unit at the University of Zurich invites applications for a 4-year PhD position as part of a new research program. The PhD project will focus on the transition to net-zero transport and its implications for spatial inequalities in cities.
The PhD project will involve:
- Quantifying city- and population-level trends in mobility across different socioeconomic groups and geographies, using both emerging digital data sources (e.g., mobile phone data) and traditional sources (e.g., transport surveys).
- Investigating the influence of net-zero interventions and technologies (e.g., electric vehicles, incentives for low-carbon and active transport, smart grids, shared mobility) on mobility behavior with particular emphasis on spatial inequalities.
- Developing simulation models for scenario testing by integrating approaches from agent-based modelling, spatial interaction models, and deep learning.
The position is open to both Swiss and international applicants. The initial appointment is for the first year, with a three-year extension following an internal evaluation.
Your responsibilities
- Take the lead on the PhD research project outlined above, conducting original research that will form the core of your doctoral work.
- Lead the collection, integration, and analysis of relevant data sources, and develop simulation models for scenario testing.
- Present your research at national and international conferences and publish in high-quality peer-reviewed journals.
- Participate in the Graduate School in Geography and Earth System Science and complete the associated requirements.
- Contribute to teaching, research, and services within the Urban Analytics Unit.
Your profile
- A completed MSc degree (including thesis) in transport, urban analytics, spatial data science, energy systems, geography, GIScience, or a related field.
- Experience in empirical data analysis, ideally including geospatial data.
- Familiarity with statistical models, simulation models, and/or machine learning methods, and a willingness to develop these further in the context of urban mobility.
- Proficiency in programming and computational tools (e.g., Python, R).
- Strong communication and organizational skills.
- Fluency in spoken and written English.
- Knowledge of German is not a requirement but will be an asset and there will be opportunities for learning German during the PhD.
- A strong interest in understanding cities, the interaction between transport planning, energy, and social systems, and how these systems are shaped by policy and behavioral influences.
- An enthusiasm for interdisciplinary research and a proactive approach to learning new methods and applying them to novel challenges.
- A collaborative mindset and an openness to working with people from diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
- A problem-solving attitude with the ability to approach complex issues creatively and analytically.
Your benefits
- Your PhD will be part of a structured programme at the Graduate School of Geography and Earth System Science
- 70% of your time will be protected for your research.
- Pay according to the regulations of the University of Zurich for PhD Candidates (at the standard employment level for doctoral students of 80%)
- Holiday entitlement of 25 days per year plus public holidays
- Regular supervision, mentoring, and support for academic and professional development.
- UZH offers attractive working conditions and opportunities for further education.
Information on your application
To find out more about the research undertaken at the Urban Analytics group, visit our web page. More general information about teaching and research in the Department of Geography is available here.For any inquiries about the position, please contact Prof. Esra Suel at esra.suel@geo.uzh.ch.
To apply, please upload the following documents in English in our job portal:
- A motivation letter explaining why you want to apply for this position and how you meet the criteria outlined above.
- A CV and the contact details for two to three referees.
- Degree transcripts.
- A 500-word summary of your Master's thesis, outlining the scientific motivation, methods, key results, and implications of your work. Please also upload your Master's thesis separately.
What we offer
Our employees benefit from a wide range of attractive offers. More
What we offer
Further information
Questions about the job
Prof. Dr. Esra Suel
Contact Form
Thank you for your message. We will get back to you shortly.
Working at UZH
The University of Zurich, Switzerland's largest university, offers a range of attractive positions in various subject areas and professional fields. With around 10,000 employees and currently 12 professional apprenticeship streams the University offers an inspiring working environment on cutting-edge research and top-class education. Put your talent and skills to work with us. Find out more about UZH as an employer!
More → https://www.uzh.ch/cmsssl/en/explore/work.html
Please apply via our job portal www.jobs.uzh.ch.
The University of Zurich, Switzerland's largest university, offers a range of attractive positions in various subject areas and professional fields. With around 10,000 employees and currently 12 professional apprenticeship streams the University offers an inspiring working environment on cutting-edge research and top-class education. Put your talent and skills to work with us. Find out more about UZH as an employer!
More → https://www.uzh.ch/cmsssl/en/explore/work.html
Please apply via our job portal www.jobs.uzh.ch.
Working at UZH
The University of Zurich, Switzerland's largest university, offers a range of attractive positions in various subject areas and professional fields. With around 10,000 employees and currently 12 professional apprenticeship streams the University offers an inspiring working environment on cutting-edge research and top-class education. Put your talent and skills to work with us. Find out more about UZH as an employer!
More
