UCD Post-doctoral Research Fellow Level 1, Spatial Dynamics Lab (Up to 30th November 2021)

Applications are invited for a UCD Post-doctoral Research Fellow Level 1 post within Spatial Dynamics Lab.

Applications are invited from enthusiastic and talented individuals for a post–doctorate research position which will contribute to the Horizon 2020 funded project WeCount. The position is available from 1 January 2020 in the area of pervasive network of sensors and data analysis.

Cities currently account for only 1% of the earth's surface. However, they also account for half of the world's population, 67% of the global primary energy demand, and 71% of the global energy-related CO2 emissions. Energy consumption, pollution and other urban challenges are, to a large extent, a result of our current mobility systems. Road transport and citizens' behaviour is the root cause of a variety of societal problems ranging from road safety, air and noise pollution, urban health issues to the liveability of our communities. Particularly urban and suburban areas suffer from these adverse effects, and areas exposed to high road traffic volumes go hand in hand with social deprivation. Obtaining reliable and updated traffic data is fundamental to understanding the complex links between our urban infrastructure, transport systems and people's day-to-day practices. Traffic counts help authorities and scientists make sense of urban mobility and are instrumental to assess its impacts and consequently improve planning. However, while local authorities are under pressure to tackle the adverse effects of traffic, they rely on high cost, spatially and temporally restricted traffic counting techniques to gather data.
As sensing technologies become more accessible to laypeople and citizens increasingly engage with participatory science projects there is a real opportunity to radically change the way traffic data is produced, analysed and used for scientific and policy outcomes in the field of mobility. WeCount aims to empower citizens to take a leading role in the production of data, evidence and knowledge around mobility in their own neighbourhoods, and at the street level. The project will follow participatory citizen science methods to co-create and use innovative low cost, automated, road traffic counting sensors and multi-stakeholder engagement mechanisms in 5 pilots in Madrid, Ljubljana, Dublin, Cardiff and Leuven.

This is a research focused role, where you will conduct a specified programme of research supported by research training and development under the supervision and direction of a Principal Investigator.
The primary purpose of the role is to further develop your research skills and competences, including the processes of publication in peer-reviewed academic publications, the development of funding proposals, the mentorship of graduate students along with the opportunity to develop your skills in research led teaching.

Include if relevant:
In addition to the Principal Duties and Responsibilities listed below, the successful candidate will also carry out the following duties specific to this project:
- Planning, designing, assessing and performing the field campaigns for the sensors as part of citizen science activities.
- Supporting the PI in preparing new funding proposals for national and international research calls.
- Supporting the team in activities related to sensors and data mining.
- Preparation of deliverables for H2020 projects

Post Doc Level 1 Salary Scale: €37,874 - €43,782 per annum
Appointment on the above range will be dependent on qualifications and experience

Closing date: 17:00hrs (local Irish time) on 21st February 2020.

Applications must be submitted by the closing date and time specified. Any applications which are still in progress at the closing time of 17:00hrs (Local Irish Time) on the specified closing date will be cancelled automatically by the system. UCD are unable to accept late applications.

UCD do not require assistance from Recruitment Agencies. Any CV's submitted by Recruitment Agencies will be returned.