Postdoc Researcher in Behavioural Modelling and Urban Sustainability Transitions

Postdoc Researcher in Behavioural Modelling and Urban Sustainability Transitions

Are you interested in developing innovative behavioural models to understand how urban mobility policies shape human behaviour, exposure, and environmental outcomes?

We are seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Researcher to join the European UrbanAIR project, an interdisciplinary initiative that aims to support healthier and more sustainable cities by integrating environmental modelling, decision analysis, and behavioural simulation within a digital twin infrastructure.

UrbanAIR develops innovative methods to assess how policy interventions influence urban mobility patterns, air pollution exposure, and population vulnerability.

The postdoctoral researcher will play a central role in connecting behavioural decision‑making with environmental exposure assessment through the development of an Agent‑Based Model (ABM) of mobility behaviour in Barcelona.

The successful candidate will lead the development of a behavioural model that simulates how individuals make mobility decisions in urban environments and how these decisions evolve in response to policy interventions.

Key responsibilities include:

• Designing and implementing a mobility‑focused Agent‑Based Model for selected neighbourhoods in Barcelona.
• Developing and conducting a discrete choice experiment (or related choice modelling approach) to identify behavioural preferences and mobility decision‑making processes.
• Simulating the effects of policy interventions such as public transport incentives, active mobility measures, pricing schemes, or other behavioural interventions developed in collaboration with decision analysis experts.
• Collaborating closely with environmental modelling partners to translate simulated mobility patterns into estimates of population exposure and vulnerability.

We are looking for candidates with:

• A PhD in Transportation, Environmental Psychology, Behavioural Economics, Computational Social Science, Industrial Ecology, Geography, Urban Studies, or a related field.
• Demonstrated expertise in choice modelling, such as discrete choice experiments, stated preference methods, or travel behaviour analysis.
• Strong quantitative and statistical skills.
• Experience in Agent‑Based Modelling (e.g., Net Logo, Mesa, Repast, GAMA, Any Logic, or similar platforms).
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work in interdisciplinary teams.
• Fluency in English.

The following are considered strong assets:

• Experience with urban mobility research.
• Experience working with spatial data and GIS.
• Knowledge of air quality, environmental exposure, or sustainability transitions.
• Experience interacting with policymakers or stakeholders.

• Duration of contract is 2 years full time. Temporary external finance.
• A job of 32-40 hours per week.
• Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities.
• An excellent pension scheme via the ABP.
• The possibility to compile an individual employment package every year.
• Discount with health insurers on supplemental packages.
• Every year, 232 leave hours (at 38 hours). You can also sell or buy additional leave hours via the individual choice budget.
• Plenty of opportunities for education, training and courses.
• Partially paid parental leave.
• Attention for working healthy and energetically with the vitality program.

Contact: dr. Amineh Ghorbani, email: a.ghorbani.

Submission is possible until: 16 Aug 2026.

FTE: 1,0