PhD in Behavioral and Experiential Modeling of Inclusive Neighborhood Environments - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Introduction

Are you interested in understanding how neighborhood environments shape the everyday lives of older adults? This project combines behavioral, spatial, and urban data to develop and evaluate innovative socio-spatial and AI-enabled interventions in two living labs in the Netherlands.

Job Description

Neighborhood environments may contain physical, cognitive, social, and psychological barriers that affect how older adults move through, experience, and use everyday environments. However, many of these barriers remain insufficiently understood.

This PhD position is part of the ELLI project (Empathic Living Labs for Inclusive Neighborhoods), a national interdisciplinary initiative investigating how neighborhood environments shape the everyday experiences, behavior, mobility, and accessibility of older adults with physical or cognitive vulnerabilities. The project focuses on understanding how older adults experience, interpret, and navigate neighborhood environments, and how these experiences relate to everyday mobility, environmental interaction, and accessibility.

The candidate will investigate behavioral patterns, environmental perception, and everyday mobility in neighborhood settings. The goal is to develop behavioral and spatial models that reveal implicit accessibility barriers and inform neighborhood-level intervention strategies.

The research will combine qualitative, quantitative, and spatial methods, including behavioral observation, environmental perception studies, interviews, wearable and sensor-based data collection, spatial behavior modelling, GIS and spatial analytics, and participatory approaches.

The insights generated in this project will provide a scientific foundation for the analysis and development of neighborhood interventions within the ELLI project.

The candidate will work closely with another PhD student in this project.

Job Responsibilities

The PhD candidate will:

• Investigate how older adults experience, interpret, and navigate neighborhood environments.
• Analyze behavioral patterns, mobility trajectories, and environmental interactions in daily life.
• Study how physical, social, and perceptual environmental conditions shape everyday mobility, accessibility, and neighborhood use.
• Develop behavioral and spatial models that identify accessibility barriers and support neighborhood-level intervention strategies.
• Work with behavioral, spatial, environmental, and sensor-based data collected in the living lab neighborhoods.
• Collaborate with researchers, municipalities, and care organizations involved in the project.
• Publish results in high-quality scientific journals and conferences.

Contribute to the interdisciplinary research community of the ELLI project.

 

Job Requirements

We are looking for a candidate with:

• A Master’s degree in Architecture/Urban Design, Urban Studies, Human Geography, Behavioral Science, Environmental Psychology, Data Science, or a related field.
• Interest in research on urban environments, accessibility, and ageing societies.
• Experience with spatial analysis, behavioral research methods, or data analysis.
• Programming skills (e.g., Python, R, or similar) are an advantage.
• Strong analytical and communication skills.
• Ability to work in interdisciplinary teams.
• Fluency in spoken and written English (C1 level).

Fluency in Dutch is an advantage.

 

Conditions of Employment

A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network. You will work on a beautiful, green campus within walking distance of the central train station. In addition, we offer you: 

• Full-time employment for four years, with an intermediate assessment after nine months. You will spend a minimum of 10% of your four-year employment on teaching tasks, with a maximum of 15% per year of your employment. 
• Salary and benefits (such as a pension scheme, paid pregnancy and maternity leave, partially paid parental leave) in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, scale P (min. € 3,059 - max. € 3,881).  
• A year-end bonus of 8.3% and annual vacation pay of 8%. 
• High-quality training programs and other support to grow into a self-aware, autonomous scientific researcher. At TU/e we challenge you to take charge of your own learning process. 
• An excellent technical infrastructure, on-campus children's day care and sports facilities.  
• Unlimited access to the modern on‑campus TU/e Student Sports Center at an exceptionally affordable rate.
• An allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs. 
• A Staff Immigration Team and a tax compensation scheme (the 30% facility) for international candidates. 

On our website you can discover even more information about our conditions of employment. Build on your career at TU/e!

About us

We are a leading international university where scientific curiosity meets a hands-on mindset. We work in an open and collaborative way with high-tech industries to tackle complex societal challenges. Our responsible and respectful approach ensures impact — today and in the future. TU/e is home to over 13,000 students and more than 7,000 staff, forming a diverse and vibrant academic community.

Our university is located in Brainport Eindhoven — a world‑leading tech region with more than 7,000 high‑tech companies and strong R&D activity. Known for breakthroughs in AI, photonics, semiconductors and advanced manufacturing, Brainport is a place where technology serves people and society. Learn more about the Brainport region here.

Sustainability, in its broadest definition, is the cornerstone of research and education in the Department of Built Environment. We take the lead in (re)shaping the built environment to be future-proof, safe, healthy, inclusive and respectful of planetary boundaries. We house the entire spectrum of technology, engineering, design, and human behavior disciplines in the built environment, with world-class experimental facilities at all scales. This allows us to address societal challenges from a uniquely integrated perspective.

Information

Do you recognize yourself in this profile and would you like to know more? Please contact the hiring manager, Prof.dr.ir. Masi Mohammadi, m.mohammadi@tue.nl. 

Visit our website for more information about the application process. You can also contact HRServices.be@tue.nl.

Curious to hear more about what it’s like as a PhD candidate at TU/e? Please view the video.

Are you inspired and would like to know more about working at TU/e? Please visit our career page.

Application

We invite you to submit a complete application by using the apply button. The application should include a:

• Cover letter in which you describe your motivation and qualifications for the position.
• Curriculum vitae, including a list of your publications and the contact information of three references. Kindly note that we may reach out to references at any stage of the recruitment process. We recommend notifying your references upon submitting your application.

Ensure that you submit all the requested application documents. We give priority to complete applications.

We look forward to receiving your application and will screen it as soon as possible. The vacancy will remain open until the position is filled.

Please note

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post. 
• A pre-employment screening (e.g. knowledge security check) can be part of the selection procedure. For more information on the knowledge security check, please consult the National Knowledge Security Guidelines.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.