Postdoctoral Researcher Urban Design and Inclusive Urban Mobility

Deze vacature is alleen beschikbaar in het Engels

Join an ambitious, multidisciplinary project at the crossroads of interaction and urban design, where your research can shape the vision of open and accessible cities! This position is part of the NWO-funded research project BEAT (Building Equitable Accessibility Together) , which started in January 2026.

Within the Faculty of Spatial Sciences, department of Spatial Planning we are looking for a postdoctoral researcher (0.8 – 1.0 FTE) on Inclusive mobility within BEAT NWO funded research project. Operating from the standpoint that mobility is essentially a subjective human experience, BEAT aims to investigate urban mobility barriers as they unfold in the daily activities of people. Rather than examining a specifi c mode of mobility (e.g., public transport, walking) or a single accessibility barrier, the focus of this project is the holistic experience of urban mobility in the daily lives of individuals with physical and cognitive diversities. The point of departure is “people”—their routines and travel behaviours, their daily frustrations with various mobility obstacles, and the impact of these hindrances on their personal, social, and professional lives. BEAT investigates a wide range of barriers that may be labelled as temporary or even mundane. Examples of such temporary-but-everyday barriers include construction sites and road works planned by municipalities, but also a variety of unplanned situations, such as improperly parked delivery vehicles, poorly placed planters and bikes on the sidewalk, unauthorised market stalls, and so forth. While each of these situations may be perceived as a temporary problem, collectively they form a permanent reality of how we experience our cities. These barriers signify an “informal” layer of inaccessibility superimposed on more structural or “formal” accessibility problems in the city. This informal layer is highly diverse, stems from many underlying causes and factors, and highlights a notable knowledge gap.

Faculty of Spatial Sciences Solliciteer uiterlijk: 20 September 2026 23:59 Dutch local time 0.8 - 1 fte €3.706 - €5.760

Postdoctoral Researcher Urban Design and Inclusive Urban Mobility

https://werkenbij.rug.nl/vacature/postdoctoral-researcher-urban-design-and-inclusive-urban-mobility-2353/

What are you going to do?

As a postdoctoral researcher within the BEAT project, you will investigate how urban mobility barriers are experienced in the everyday lives of people with physical and cognitive diversities. You will contribute to developing a holistic understanding of inclusive mobility by examining how formal and informal barriers shape people’s daily routines, spatial practices, and participation in urban life. You will:

• Conduct qualitative and mixed-methods research on everyday urban mobility experiences, including observations, interviews, and participatory methods
• Work closely with people with physical and cognitive diversities to co-identify and map mobility barriers encountered in daily life
• Analyze how temporary, informal, and often overlooked obstacles contribute to broader patterns of urban inaccessibility
• Collaborate with an interdisciplinary team of researchers in spatial planning, urban design, AI, and human-centred technologies
• Contribute to the co-design and evaluation of inclusive mobility solutions, including spatial interventions, tactical urbanism strategies, accessibility tools, and policy recommendations
• Explore how digital technologies and human-centred AI can support more accessible and responsive urban mobility systems
• Participate in organization of workshops, stakeholder meetings, and co-creation sessions with municipalities, societal partners, and user groups
• Present research findings at international conferences and contribute to the broader academic and societal impact of the BEAT project
• Publish research findings in leading international peer-reviewed journals and contribute to collaborative academic outputs within the project consortium
• Contribute to teaching activities within the Faculty of Spatial Sciences where relevant. Faculty of Spatial Sciences Solliciteer uiterlijk: 20 September 2026 23:59 Dutch local time €3.706 - €5.760

Who are you?

The successful candidate will have:

• PhD degree in Human Geography, Sociology, Architecture, Urban Sciences, Digital Design, or related interdisciplinary fields
• Knowledge and skills in qualitative and quantitative research methods, and ideally, participatory methods like PPGIS
• Knowledge of or previous research experience in the domains of Interaction Design or Human-Computer Interaction
• Affinity or personal or professional experience of working with people living with disabilities or marginalized communities
• Strong interest in accessibility, co-design research, and developing digital tools/interactive maps
• Ability and willingness to work in a multi-disciplinary and multi-stakeholder environment
• Excellent research skills and publication records
• Fluency in English and experience in academic writing in English
• Good communicative skills, proactive and independent work attitude
• Strong planning skills, ability to organize own work and related activities, ability to meet deadlines

What can you expect from us?

• In accordance with the collective labor agreement for Dutch universities, we offer a salary of at least € 3.706 up to a maximum of € 5.760 (schaal 10) gross per month for a full-time employment contract.
• 232 vacation hours per year, based on a 38-hour workweek (1.0 FTE). You can also work more or fewer hours in exchange for more or fewer free hours. For example, with a 40-hour workweek, you save 96 extra free hours, and with a 36-hour workweek, you lose 96 hours.
• End-of-year bonus of 8.3% and 8% holiday allowance.
• Extensive opportunities for personal and professional development.
• a temporary employment of 0.8 to 1.0 FTE for a period of 3 years

Where will you be working?

At the University of Groningen (UG), researchers from all fields of academia and technology are working on academic challenges and societal questions. Lecturers prepare their students for meaningful careers within or outside the academic world. Interdisciplinary research and teaching, sharing of knowledge, collaboration with businesses, government institutions, and societal organizations are aspects that are of the utmost importance to this European top university. The UG aims to be an open academic community with an inclusive and safe working climate that invites you to add your value.

The Faculty of Spatial Sciences (FRW) is an interdisciplinary faculty that makes a significant impact on societal issues such as climate, broad prosperity, population decline, healthy ageing, and sustainable energy. With approximately 100 staff and over 100 PhD students, we engage daily in up-to-date and relevant teaching and research in the fields of planning, demography, and geography. Through our research programme TRACE (Transformations, Communities, and Environments), we are committed to internationally oriented, interdisciplinary research. With two Bachelor’s and seven Master’s programmes, the Faculty offers broad educational opportunities to about 1,100 students from around the world. The Faculty of Spatial Sciences plays a crucial role in understanding and shaping the living environment of the future. We work for and with society. Our motto is: we are making places better together. If you would like to learn more, visit rug.nl/frw.

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Application procedure

Step 1: Your application After submitting your application, you will receive a confirmation by email.

Step 2: Selection The selection committee assesses your application and you will be notified as soon as possible whether you are invited for an interview.

Step 3: First interview We would like to get to know each other better in a first interview, which can take place either online or on location.

Step 4: Second interview and possible assessment or guest lectureWe may schedule a second interview with you. Depending on the position, this interview can be complemented with an assessment or guest lecture.

Step 5: Terms of employment meeting After a positive interview, we will discuss the terms of employment together. When everything is completed, we are happy to welcome you at the University of Groningen!

Interested?

Does this vacancy appeal to you? If so, click on the button below and apply straightaway.

Please add the following documents to your application:

• A detailed CV including the months (not just years) when referring to your education and work experience, publications.
• A letter of motivation, including a description of your research interests and an explanation for why you are applying for this position (1-2 pages).
• The names, affi liations, and email addresses of two references who can provide letters of recommendation.

Do you have any questions or need more information?

• Questions about the content of the job?

Farzaneh Bahrami

Assistant Professor

F.Bahrami@rug.nl

• Questions about your application process?

Farzaneh Bahrami

Assistant Professor

F.Bahrami@rug.nl Information about applying

When scheduling meetings, we will take your schedule into account as much as possible.

The University of Groningen considers social safety important. We strive to be a university where staff and students feel respected and at home, regardless of differences in background, experiences, perspectives, and identity. For more information, see also our page about our diversity policy.

Acquisition is not appreciated.

Our selection procedure follows the guidelines of the NVP Application Code.

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