At TUM, twelve positions (proportion 0.75 or 1.0) are to be filled as of April 1, 2025 as part of a DFG-funded Research Training Group as Doctoral Candidates (m/f/x) (Entg.-Gr. TV-L). The positions are limited to three years. A further doctoral position is to be filled at the University of Augsburg.
Research Topics:
12 different research topics are promoted. At the Chair of urban Structure and Transport Planning the following focus is put:
Subproject 2: Hubs2Stay - The Potential of UGI to turn transport nodes into liveable places
PI-Leader of Subproject: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Gebhard Wulfhorst
Affiliated Post-Doc and PhD Student: N.N. & Sindi Haxhija - building on PhD of Mahtab Baghaiepoor: Breathable Corridors: Active Mobility in multi-functional urban spaces. Potentially affiliated to TUM SV Research Group “Integrated Mobility Concepts”: Dr.-Ing. Julia Kinigadner
Description:
Mobility hubs are critical infrastructure elements in the functional system of transport nodes and urban places (see Bertolini: Node Place Model). Most often, today they are planned and realized as connectors to public transport nodes in a technical way including digital interfaces, but are lacking a sound integration into the urban environment and the potential of place-making. Despite the idea that physical distance loses its importance in a digital world (see Caincross: the death of distance), we do observe that proximity matters (see Moreno: the 15 min city).
Overall aim: Building on the investigations of the importance and influence of UGI on walking and cycling in selected street segments, we will shift the focus in this 2nd cohort on nodes and places.
We wish to take advantage of local amenities to shorten local trips, to shift them towards active modes of walking and cycling and to finally encourage people to “stay”, to enable and increase stationary activities. To “stay” as a free decision for local activities is one of the most sustainable mobility options. By this, we focus on the urban function of transport nodes.
The key objective of this research is to investigate the potential of urban green and blue infrastructure to turn transport nodes into livable urban places.
Potential research questions are:
To which extent can stationary activities take place in the immediate urban surrounding of mobility hubs? What are the consequences on mobility decisions?
How does the urban green and blue infrastructure influence the quality of stay at mobility hubs? Do people feel more comfortable at mobility hubs that are well integrated into the urban environment - what is the role of Urban Green Infrastructure?
What are the consequences on the purpose, the frequency, the duration of stay of stay (e.g. waiting, eating, mobile work, playing, relaxing)? What are the implications with appropriation of space, place-making, mobility behavior?
Suggested methods are (but not limited to): Based on literature review and expert interviews, we aim to develop a system model of key variables and interactions (causal-loop diagram) incorporating the transport functions and urban functions of mobility hubs. A diversity of selected sites will enable to conduct comparative empirical investigations such as (participatory) observation, mobility investigations as well as surveys and interviews with users of the hubs about their motivations and experiences in stationary activities at mobility hubs. The results of these investigations will be shared and discussed among the cluster 1 projects, and with the measurements of thermal comfort (e.g. SP7). We will analyze the qualitative and quantitative data in order to identify correlations between UGI effects and user behavior. The findings will be re-integrated into the system model in order to analyze feedback loops that will allow describing the potential of UGI to turn transport nodes into livable urban places, and to derive future scenarios of governance and practice application. Finally, open questions for further research will be addressed.
Profile background for PhD candidate in Second Cohort
A master’s degree in a scientific field qualifying in the topic of the RTG;
Expertise in urban design, landscape architecture, or similar fields.
Link to Chair Homepage: TUM Chair of Urban Structure and Transport Planning - Chair of Urban Structure and Transport Planning
Link to SP Description of First Cohort: Subproject 2: Mobility - Research Training Groups (tum.de)
Your profile
University education with an above-average degree in a course of study qualifying for the research topic or a comparable qualification;
Specific professional interest in research on at least one of the topics;
High motivation with the aim of independent conceptual and scientific work;
Ability and eagerness to integrate into one of the research groups and the graduate school.
The gender- and diversity-balanced filling of doctoral positions is a particular concern of ours.
Interested?
Send us your informative application documents (letter of motivation, CV, certificates) including a brief description of your previous activities as a single PDF file (file name: reference number Research Topic_Lastname.Surename.pdf) by 15.11.2024 to rtg.lapl(at)ls.tum.de
For technical and organizational questions about the Research Training Group, please contact the spokesperson:
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Stephan Pauleit, pauleit(at)tum.de
If you have any questions about the various research topics, the professors mentioned will be happy to answer them.
Note on data protection: In the course of your application for a position at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), you will transmit personal data. Please refer to our data protection information in accordance with Article 13 of the General Data Protection Regulation (DSGVO) regarding the collection and processing of personal data as part of your application. By submitting your application, you confirm that you have taken note of TUM's data protection information.