Postdoc in User Acceptance of Automated Buses

Study how passengers experience automated buses and help evaluate a new service connecting Delft Campus station and the TU Delft campus.

In this Postdoc in User Acceptance of Automated Buses position, you will study the acceptance of automated buses and help evaluate a new service connecting Delft Campus station and the TU Delft campus.

Job description

This postdoc position is part of an international project aimed at automated bus transport. Automated buses have proven they can drive safely, but most still require onboard staff because supervision, safety assurance, and regulatory requirements must be met before driverless operation is possible. The project aims to remove this barrier by combining remote supervision, passenger safety monitoring, and fleet management into a single operational framework. With demonstrations in Switzerland, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, the project aims to create deployment-ready solutions that can be scaled after 2030. Automated bus transport is essential to maintain and expand public transport services, enabling operators to deliver more public transport while supporting accessible and zero-emission mobility. For the demonstration in the Netherlands, the project plans to study an automated bus service connecting the train station Delft Campus to the TU Delft premises.

As postdoctoral researcher you will focus on the acceptance of automated buses. To apply vehicle automation in public transport at a larger scale, it is essential to carefully assess the acceptance by end users, understand the contribution of vehicle automation to the overall public transport system (for instance as first/last kilometer) and evaluate the lessons learned on the demonstration sites. Specific tasks are:

1. definition of the impact assessment and evaluation plan
2. conducting research into user acceptance and positioning in the public transport system
3. consolidate lessons learned from the demonstration sites
4. produce a final dissemination report

Specific emphasis will be on the demonstration site in the Netherlands, working with DAM Shuttles and supported by the concession provider MRDH, the city of Delft and public transport operators RET and HTM. As postdoctoral researcher you will also write scientific papers and present results at conferences.

At TU Delft you will be part of the Sustainable Urban Multimodal mobility (SUM) Lab in the Department of Transport & Planning.

Job requirements

• You have obtained your PhD degree in transport or a related field.
• You have experience with user acceptance of automated transport and public transport systems.
• You have the capability and experience to work independently as well as with public and private parties.
• You have excellent English language and communication skills.
• Preferably you possess Dutch language skills and familiarity with the Dutch transport system and context.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)

At TU Delft, you will have the opportunity to take the initiative, work with others, and grow as a professional. Working at TU Delft means joining an international community of professionals and students.

Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences

The Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences (CEG) is committed to outstanding international research and education in the field of civil engineering, applied earth sciences, traffic and transport, water technology, and delta technology. Our research feeds into our educational programmes and covers societal challenges such as climate change, energy transition, resource availability, urbanisation and clean water. Our research projects are conducted in close cooperation with a wide range of research institutions. CEG is convinced of the importance of open science and supports its scientists in integrating open science in their research practice. The Faculty of CEG comprises 28 research groups in the following seven departments: Materials Mechanics Management & Design, Engineering Structures, Geoscience and Engineering, Geoscience and Remote Sensing, Transport & Planning, Hydraulic Engineering and Water Management.

Conditions of employment

• Duration of contract is 2 years, expected starting date 1st January 2027. Temporary external finance.
• A job of 21-24 hours per week.
• Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities.
• An excellent pension scheme via the ABP.
• The possibility to compile an individual employment package every year.
• Discount with health insurers on supplemental packages.
• Flexible working week.
• Every year, 232 leave hours (at 38 hours). You can also sell or buy additional leave hours via the individual choice budget.
• Plenty of opportunities for education, training and courses.
• Partially paid parental leave.
• Attention for working healthy and energetically with the vitality program.

• Salary range: €3706 - €5760
• FTE: 0,6
• Faculty/Department: Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences
• Demonstration site: the Netherlands
• The project includes demonstrations in Switzerland, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.
• The project aims to create deployment-ready solutions that can be scaled after 2030.

As part of knowledge security, TU Delft conducts a risk assessment during the recruitment of personnel. The assessment is based on information provided by the candidates themselves, such as their motivation letter and CV, and takes place at the final stages of the selection process. When the outcome of the assessment is negative, the candidate will be informed.