The future role of walking and cycling in a world of resource scarcity & health inequality: Understanding and Modelling the impacts on Travel, Lifestyles and Policy'
A 3 year PhD Studentship. Applications are invited for the commencement of study May/June 2010, (latest start date 1st October 2010)
SUSTRANS, the UK's leading sustainable transport charity, is a strategic partner of EPSRC, and this enhanced-stipend, CASE studentship arises as a result of this partnership. The research and monitoring unit of SUSTRANS leads the way in monitoring walking and cycling activity (SUSTRANS, 2010), yet the demands on such data are ever-changing. In particular, two major strategic priorities in the future will be (i) the link from travel choice to health and obesity (NHF, 2007; SUSTRANS, 2009), and (ii) the link from the choice of such sustainable transport modes to the 'resilience' of our transport systems (VTPI, 2010), in the context of growing energy resource scarcity for motorized modes. In order to assess possible future policy measures to address these priorities, planning models are needed (NHF, 2009), for example to assess the impact on health of new initiatives in transport, and to reflect the impacts of both policy and travel choice decisions on resilience. Clearly all such models will require data to inform their relationships, and therefore the focus of the project will be on how best to design data and monitoring systems so as to give maximum information to such planning models.
Specifically, the primary objective may be stated as:
'Given a fixed budget, what is the best way to collect data in order to develop a planning model that informs decisions on strategic issues relevant to SUSTRANS, such as obesity and resilience? In other words, what is the optimal trade-off in costs (survey costs) and benefits (level of information for the planning model) between different ways of monitoring, both thinking about the current situation and future hypothetical situations?'
While previous knowledge of transport issues would be helpful, they are not essential. More important is that the student possesses (a) the analytical skills to delve into the mathematical planning models, to explore the transfer of methods from disciplines such as statistical experimental design, and (b) the interest and ability to understand the cross-disciplinary issues, as the project draws on elements of mathematics combined with economics, planning and subject-specific issues to health and transport.
Given the demands of this exciting project, we envisage a good part of the first year will involve the student gaining familiarity with the various modelling methodologies and data monitoring approaches currently in existence, and in training themselves under guidance in the appropriate skill and application areas.
Eligibility
UK applicants are eligible to apply for a studentship award of fees plus maintenance of £13,290 plus a £3,000 enhanced stipend p.a tax free. EU applicants are eligible to apply for a studentship award of fees only. The usual eligibility criteria for PhD study apply.
The deadline for receipt of applications is 19th March 2010.
Further information including how to apply: http://www.its.leeds.ac.uk/restrain/fees.php
Administrative queries to: Jo Davies - [log in to unmask]
If you wish to discuss the project informally please contact Professor David Watling: [log in to unmask]
Applications must be made online by the closing date of 19th March 2010.
Referees should send their references directly to Jo Davies, Postgraduate Research Administrator, Institute for Transport Studies, University of Leeds, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds, LS2 9JT or email: [log in to unmask]
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