Assistant Professor – Urban Planning

• Are you inspired by the challenge of urban planning design models and methods to specific planning domains (public space, infrastructure, retail, jobs, housing, and public facilities)?
• Are you fascinated by going beyond the teaching methods and planning concepts, by focusing on the planning of sustainable built environments that cater to the diverse characteristics, preferences, needs, and activity patterns of individuals and communities?
• Do you see yourself as our next Assistant Professor in the Chair of the Urban Planning and Transportation Group?
• Are you eager to supervise BSc and MSc students and co-supervising PhD candidates, and teach lectures/courses and supervise student projects at the Bachelor and Master level?
• Are you passionate about contributing to state of the art theories and methods, applying advance modelling to real world problems?

Job description

Urban planning refers to a scientific approach to support multi-objective decisions concerning the location, size, and quality of a set of interconnected land uses; and this considers environmental, societal, cultural and economic perspectives, and people's preferences, needs and behavior. The scientific orientation is reflected in theories, concepts, and modeling approaches that may be used to guide these location decisions. This in turn quantifies the demand for land use and assesses the impacts of plans, together with a set of supporting methods and models that support the plan development and implementation process. State of the art theories, methods and advanced modelling to real world problems!

Urban planning is closely related to transportation planning. The change in the spatial distribution of demand and facilities has a direct impact on generated and attracted traffic, while in turn traffic volumes influence the feasibility of land use patterns and facilities.

Recent years have witnessed an increased policy focus on safe and healthy living environments promoting the development of urban planning and designs to support such policies. The development of digital twinning and mixed-reality (in particular VR) facilities has enabled new ways to support the generation of various urban forms and planning. This allows citizens to evaluate and co-create the new design and planning solutions in a semi-real world context. Moreover, it has been widely recognized that due to the complexity of the urban system, any (urban) planning and policy can have secondary and higher order effects which are essential to be understood. Digital twining of built environment provides the opportunity for examining and communicating the effects of planning and policies to a large group of stakeholders.

You are expected to develop and maintain an accurate overview of the state of the art (intersection of urban planning, VR experiments,  digital twining, big data and machine learning); as well as recent developments in this field of study in academics and urban planning practice, plus help students to apply this knowledge and skills set through a series of lectures and projects.

** We are looking for the successful candidate to start on December 2024 as this position is to follow up for a colleague who is retiring. **

We offer a stimulating and ambitious educational and research environment and are looking for candidates with the following qualifications:

• A PhD Degree in Urban Planning or a closely related discipline;
• Some experience as a postdoc researcher;
• Demonstrated research skills evidenced by publications in leading planning journals and conference proceedings.
• Expertise in/affinity with the application of digital twin technology to smart and healthy urban systems
• The ability to create a vibrant and effective learning environment and motivate students both in research-based and challenge-based types of education (academic proficiency and design and engineering attitude).
• Broad (inter)national network in academia and industry to acquire research grants.
• Good command of English, both orally and in writing.
• Team player by nature, willing to develop teaching and research in close collaboration with other members of the group and the department, respectively TU/e.

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 to the central train station. In addition, we offer you:

• A Tenure Track of five years with the prospect of becoming an Associate Professor.
• The opportunity to focus your career on education, research or impact. You can develop your personal ambitions and goals within the strategic objectives of the university.
• Salary in accordance with the Collective Labor Agreement for Dutch Universities, scale 11 (min. €4.322,-max. € 5.929,-).
• A year-end bonus of 8.3% and annual vacation pay of 8%.
• High-quality training programs for academic leadership and teaching.
• An excellent technical infrastructure, on-campus children's day care and sports facilities.
• Partially paid parental leave and an allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs.
• A Staff Immigration Team, a tax compensation scheme (30%) and partner career support is available for international candidates