PhD Position in Transport Modelling for Sustainability Transitions

Molde University College; Molde; On-site; NOK 496,000 - 606,000; Full time

Job summary

Molde University College invites applications for a PhD position in Transport Modelling for Sustainability Transitions within TRANSPLAN. The project aims to develop modelling approaches that analyse desirable transport scenarios under deep uncertainty, integrating discrete choice and agent-based modelling to inform planning for a low-emission future by 2050.

The PhD is linked to Molde University College’s PhD-program in logistics.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in transport, economics, engineering, OR data science.
• Strong analytical and quantitative skills; interest in transport systems and modelling.
• Programming in Python or R; ability to develop modelling tools.

Responsibilities

• Develop modelling approaches for future transport scenarios under deep uncertainty.
• Integrate discrete choice modelling with agent-based modelling to examine transport behaviour.

Skills

Analytical skills

Quantitative skills

Programming

Education

Master's degree in transport, economics, engineering, OR data science

60 ECTS credits and master's thesis

Tools

Python

R

Job description

PhD Position in Transport Modelling for Sustainability Transitions

Molde University College announces

About the position

Molde University College is seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate to join TRANSPLAN – Norwegian Centre for Sustainable Transport Planning, an eight-year national research centre dedicated to understanding the role of the transport system in the transition towards a low-emission, nature-positive society by 2050. TRANSPLAN is one of three national centres funded through the Norwegian Research Council’s TRANSPORT 2050 programme and brings together leading Norwegian research institutions and transport agencies to develop new knowledge for sustainable transport planning.

The purpose of this PhD project is to develop modelling approaches that improve the ability to analyse future desirable transport scenarios under deep uncertainty. A central research direction is the integration of strategic transport models, such as discrete choice modelling (DCM) with agent-based modelling (ABM), to examine potential transport behaviour under different scenarios for achieving a low-carbon society in 2050. A key ambition of the project is to support scenario-based planning and backcasting. Rather than predicting a single future, the modelling framework should help identify pathways and policies that can contribute to desirable long-term societal outcomes. The research is expected to advance both methodological knowledge in transport modelling and practical decision support for sustainable transport planning. The PhD position is linked to Molde University College’s PhD-program in logistics, and the candidate must fill the entry requirements of the program (see necessary documentation to be submitted below).

We welcome a research proposal of 3 to 5 pages describing how you would approach this research challenge within the framework of a PhD dissertation consisting of 3 to 4 publishable scientific articles.

Qualifications

Applicants should hold a strong master's degree in transport, economics, engineering, operations research, data science, geography, or a related field.

The ideal candidate should demonstrate strong analytical and quantitative skills, with an interest in transport systems, travel behaviour, sustainability transitions, and modelling under uncertainty. Experience with quantitative research methods, stated choice experiments, simulation modelling, agent-based modelling, transport modelling, econometrics, or related approaches is considered an advantage. Candidates should have programming skills in Python, R, or similar languages and be motivated to develop advanced modelling tools for sustainable transport planning.

Your master’s degree (or equivalent) must constitute at least one full year of study (60 ECTS credits) and must include an individual piece of academic work, normally a master’s thesis. The minimum average grade for the master’s degree should be B or better on the ECTS grading scale, or an equivalent grade on other grading scales. For applicants with degrees from some countries, this may require more than five years of higher education. Please consult the GSU list for information relevant to the nationality of your degrees: https://hkdir.no/en/foreign-education/lists-and-databases/higher-education-entrance-qualification-gsu

We emphasize personal qualities and an excellent command of written and spoken English.

We offer

The appointment period is 3 years. The position will be remunerated with gross salary from NOK 550 800 a year, of which 2 % is deducted for the Norwegian State Pension Fund. The appointment will be in accordance with current Norwegian regulations concerning fixed-term jobs in the public sector and guidelines for employment as a scholarship holder at universities and university colleges.

Application

• A description of your proposed research topic, maximum 5 pages. The description must give a title, an outline of the research, including a research problem/research question(s), theory, research method and an exposition of the novelty of the research relative to the existing academic literature.
• A proposal that does not meet these requirements will cause a rejection of your application. The quality of your project proposal will be the most important criterion for ranking qualified applicants.
• CV (summarizing your education and work experience).
• English language certified copies of educational diplomas/certificates/transcripts that clearly indicate achieved degrees and the number of credits and grades achieved for both undergraduate and graduate studies.
• A master thesis or equivalent independent student work. If the thesis is not in English or a Scandinavian language, a certified transcript of the abstract of the thesis must be provided.
• Any other academic publications (e.g. conference papers) that the applicant wishes to be considered.
• Names, positions, and e-mail addresses of three persons who can be contacted as references for academic and personal qualifications.

The application deadline is 1 November 2026.

Other

Molde University College believes that inclusion and diversity are strengths. If there are qualified applicants with disabilities, gaps in their CV, or an immigrant background, we will invite at least one applicant from each of these groups to an interview. To be considered as belonging to these groups—meaning to receive positive preferential treatment in this way—applicants must meet certain requirements. Read more about these requirements on the Employer Portal. We encourage applicants to indicate in the job portal if they have a disability, gaps in their CV, or an immigrant background. These selections in the job portal form the basis for anonymized statistics that all state institutions report in their annual reports.

According to the Freedom of Information Act section 25, 2nd part, the list of applicants can be made public. Requests for anonymity must be specifically requested with a written justification, but can nonetheless not be guaranteed.

This announcement is a translation from the Norwegian announcement. If there is doubt about the interpretation of words in the English announcement, the Norwegian version prevails.