FUNDED PHD STUDENTSHIP: Exploiting Digital Technologies to Influence Rural Travel Behaviours
dot.rural digital economy research hub
University of Aberdeen

Start date: 
1st October 2010 (or as soon as possible thereafter)

Application deadline: 
17th September 2010

Funding Eligibility: 
Tuition fees will be paid at UK/EU rates, for 2010/2011 this is £3,400.  A maintenance grant will also be paid for 2010/2011 which is £13,590. The studentship will be fully funded by dot.rural, which is supported by RCUK Digital Economy Programme (http://www.rcukdigitaleconomy.org.uk/)

Background
The Informed Rural Passenger project, funded by the RCUK-funded rural digital economy research hub, (www.dotrural.ac.uk) will investigate techniques to describe personal mobility profiles and create a connected transport information 'ecosystem'. This will integrate a range of information and knowledge sources including operator timetables, sensor data and local inhabitants' knowledge in order to support services such as real-time travel alerts and personal travel planners at key stages in the journey planning process. 

This PhD will focus on the role that such an integrated system of transport information and associated on-line services can play in influencing travel patterns in rural areas. The identification of informal information sources and the design of tailored, multi-modal dynamic travel information require collaborative research with users. Theoretical, practical and experimental work will aim to understand the capacity for user centric, intelligent information to overcome issues of trust, social norms and habit in order to influence travel choices. 

The topic necessitates interaction between disciplines such as psychology, computer science, ethnography and transport planning. The candidate should be positive about multi-disciplinary research and have a strong interest in understanding the role of information on activity patterns and travel behaviour using a range of research methods.

Educational requirements:
1st or 2(1) in Transport Studies/Social Science/Psychology (with an interest in digital technologies) or Computer Science (with aan interest in human-computer interaction and user studies).

Supervisors: 
Dr Jillian Anable (Centre for Transport Research); Dr Yaji Sripanda & Prof Peter Edwards (Computing Science)

Further details: 
http://www.abdn.ac.uk/cops/graduate/phds/62/

Application procedure:
Formal applications can be completed online: http://www.abdn.ac.uk/postgraduate/apply.   You should apply for MSc with a view to transfer to PhD in Computing Science, to ensure that your application is passed to the correct College for processing.  Please note, you should apply at least 4 days before the deadline to allow us to contact you for further information, if required.  All applications received up to, and including the closing date, will be processed.