Privacy Barriers to the Uptake of Collaborative Transport Technology
A 3-year Ph.D. Studentship available for immediate start
While demonstrable benefits exist from increased levels of collaboration between transport infrastructure, vehicle systems and individual travellers, there is also the potential for such systems to be perceived as an invasion of personal privacy. While technology defines the potential leading edge of transport systems therefore, the actual state-of-the-art is more often defined by public acceptability and formal legislation.
This research therefore will seek to quantify the perceptions of collaborative systems and potential cultural differences across the European Union, understand the degree to which such perceptions impact on the deployment of collaborative transport technologies, and develop understanding of whether existing legislation on information exchanges within the transport sector align with the desires of European citizens.
The successful applicant will be based in the Transportation Research Group, School of Civil Engineering and the Environment, University of Southampton under the supervision of Dr Ben Waterson. This research is funded by the cross-European NEARCTIS project and the student will be expected to work in partnership with organisations participating in NEARCTIS. It is anticipated therefore that a proportion of the primary data collection activities will take place in other EU member states.
* NEARCTIS project http://www.nearctis.org
* Transportation Research Group http://www.trg.soton.ac.uk
* School of Civil Engineering and the Environment http://www.civil.soton.ac.uk
The value of the studentship will be £13,000 per annum (subject to satisfactory progress), plus tuition fees to UK/EU levels. Applicants with overseas fee status are welcome to apply, but would need to find the additional tuition fees themselves from a different source. Additional financial support will be available to contribute to the costs of spending time in other EU member states for data collection activities.
If you wish to discuss the project informally please contact Dr Ben Waterson ([log in to unmask])
Applicants should have at least a 1st or 2.1 class degree (or equivalent) in either an engineering related or social science related subject. Experience in transportation engineering and/or in undertaking large scale surveys will be considered an advantage.
Applications must be made online by the closing date of 31st July 2009 and should include a one page outline discussing how you would approach surveying people's views on privacy.
Online applications http://www.soton.ac.uk/postgraduate/pgstudy/howdoiapplypg.html
Referees should send their references directly to Jacqui Holmes, PGR Programmes Coordinator, School of Civil Engineering and the Environment, University of Southampton, Highfield Campus, Southampton, SO17 1BJ or email: [log in to unmask]
Please send original or certified copies of your academic transcripts, certificates, and your English language test results (if applicable) to Jacqui Holmes. The requirements of which are a minimum IELTS Grade of 6.5 in each discipline (Speaking, Reading, Listening and Writing) or TOEFL (paper-based test 580 or internet-based test 92). Fluency in an additional European language will be considered an advantage.
