PhD scholarship in Human Decision-Making and Immersive Virtual Reality

Are you excited about understanding human behaviour and decision-making? Are you eager to find out how we can leverage immersive virtual reality experiments to better explain and predict human decision-making? Are you interested in applying advanced modelling and data collection approaches to tackle real-world challenges in the human-centric design of future transport and infrastructure systems? If so, we invite you to apply for this PhD position in Human Decision-Making and Immersive Virtual Reality at DTU Management.

The position is part of the research project IMMERSION: Explaining human decision-making by combining choice and process data , which is funded by a European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant. The project aims to advance the study of human decision-making by developing new innovative methods for combining choice and process data. This includes new models for integrating choice and process data and new methods for collecting rich behavioural data in immersive experiments.

You will be part of a diverse research team led by Associate Professor Rico Krueger. You will be a member of the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) section within the Division for Transportation Science at the Department of Technology, Management and Economics (DTU Management) at DTU. You will be supervised by Rico Krueger (Associate Professor of Transport Modelling) and Peter Martinsson (Professor of Behavioural Science).

Responsibilities and qualifications

In this PhD project, you will compare several immersive and non-immersive data collection methods to analyse human decision-making in hypothetical and futuristic scenarios considering various qualitative and quantitative criteria. These data collection methods will include non-immersive stated preference surveys and immersive virtual reality experiments. You will design, implement and conduct non-immersive and immersive experiments to study human decision-making in an empirical study on the human-centric design of future transport and infrastructure systems. To analyse the collected data consisting of both choice and process data, you will employ and develop advanced modelling approaches at the interface of economics, cognitive psychology and statistics.

In your role, you will:

1. Design, implement and conduct immersive and non-immersive experiments to study human decision-making in the context of future transport and infrastructure systems.
2. Lead data collection efforts involving the use of virtual reality technologies and neurophysiological sensors (e.g. to gather biomarker, neuroimaging and eye-tracking data).
3. Analyse the collected data using advanced modelling methods from economics, cognitive psychology and statistics.
4. Formulate new modelling approaches at the interface of economics, cognitive psychology and statistics for explaining and predicting human decision-making using both choice and process data.
5. Collaborate with team members and international research partners.
6. Present research findings at international conferences and publish in leading journals.

You must have a two-year master's degree (120 ECTS points) or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a two-year master's degree. Specifically, we seek applicants with a master’s degree in economics, neuroeconomics, behavioural economics, behavioural science, psychology, cognitive psychology, human-centric computing, human-computer interaction, human factors, transport science, urban studies, architecture or similar.

In addition, you should meet the following requirements:

1. Excellent quantitative and analytical skills.
2. Interest in human decision-making and behavioural science.
3. Experience in statistical modelling and data analysis; ideally experience with quantitative models of human decision-making such as discrete choice models, sequential sampling models or similar.
4. Proficiency in a programming language such as Python, Julia or R for data analysis and model development.
5. Interest in leveraging insights into human decision-making to tackle real-world challenges in transport and infrastructure systems.
6. Experience in immersive virtual reality is a plus, though not mandatory.
7. Strong written and oral communication skills in English.

Approval and Enrolment

The scholarship for the PhD degree is subject to academic approval, and the candidate will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes at DTU. For information about our enrolment requirements and the general planning of the PhD study programme, please see DTU's rules for the PhD education .

Assessment

The review of applications will begin on 16 January 2025.

We offer

DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.

Salary and appointment terms

The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union. The period of employment is 3 years. The starting date is 1 June 2025. An earlier or later start date is possible by mutual agreement.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here .

Further information

Further information about the position may be obtained from Associate Professor Rico Krueger ( ).

You can read more about DTU Management at .

If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark . Furthermore, you have the option of joining our monthly free seminar “PhD relocation to Denmark and startup “Zoom” seminar ” for all questions regarding the practical matters of moving to Denmark and working as a PhD at DTU.

Application procedure

Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 15 January 2025 (23:59 Danish time) . Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply now", fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file . The file must include:

1. A cover letter motivating the application and outlining your profile addressing the requirements of the positions.
2. Curriculum vitae.
3. Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma (in English) including official description of grading scale.
4. Names and contact details of at least two references.

You may apply prior to obtaining your master's degree but cannot begin before having received it.

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered. All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, race, disability, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply.

About the department

The Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) section belongs to the Division for Transportation Science of the Department of Technology, Management and Economics (DTU Management) at DTU. The division conducts research and teaching in the field of traffic and transport planning, with particular focus on behavioural modelling, machine learning and simulation.

DTU Management conducts high-level research and teaching with a focus on sustainability, transport, innovation, and management science. Our goal is to create knowledge on the societal aspects of technology - including the interaction between technology and sustainability, business growth, infrastructure, and prosperity. Therefore, we explore and create value in the areas of management science, innovation and design thinking, business analytics, systems and risk analyses, human behavior, regulation and policy analysis. The department offers teaching from introductory to advanced courses/projects at BSc, MSc and PhD level. The Department has a staff of approximately 350 people.

Technology for people

DTU develops technology for people. With our international elite research and study programmes, we are helping to create a better world and to solve the global challenges formulated in the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU in 1829 with a clear mission to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That mission lives on today. DTU has 13,500 students and 6,000 employees. We work in an international atmosphere and have an inclusive, evolving, and informal working environment. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland, and we collaborate with the best universities around the world.

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