The main focus of BEAT is on Informal Urban Mobility Barriers (IUMBs), approaching inclusive city-making from the perspective of human lived experience. The project aims to address these barriers through a combination of (1) interaction design research, (2) urban planning, and (3) policy research. This specific PhD position is part of the interaction design research strand and draws on methods from Human-Computer Interaction (HCI).

** Note that a similar PhD position is available within the BEAT project at the Department of Industrial Engineering, TU Delft. You are welcome to apply for both positions.

• The TU Delft PhD focuses on co-designing personalised tools that support individuals in navigating specific mobility barriers, capitalizing on technological advances such as wearables.
• The University of Amsterdam PhD focuses on co-designing interactive technologies embodied by the urban context, including spatial, physical, and social dimensions of cities.

These two PhDs will collaborate closely. In addition, the PhD at the University of Amsterdam will have close collaboration with another PhD in the same project, whose focus is on the “geographies of access” in the department of spatial sciences at the University of Groningen.

BEAT recognizes that each person has unique abilities, needs, emotions, and passions, which may vary depending on the situation. Therefore, any intervention aimed at supporting people with physical and cognitive diversities must be highly tailored and context-sensitive. Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) offers a wide range of methods for studying the subjective and situational aspects of human experience, such as research in the wild and participatory design, and for incorporating these insights into the design of services and products.

As part of the BEAT (Breaking Everyday Barriers to Inclusive City-Making) project, this PhD position will employ HCI methods to contribute to two objectives: (1) co-creating a comprehensive understanding of urban mobility barriers as they unfold in everyday life, and (2) co-designing and co-assessing technological interventions that eliminate these barriers or reduce their impact on people with physical and cognitive diversities. Within these broad objectives, the PhD candidate will have space for exploration and creative tinkering, bringing new ideas and perspectives to BEAT. In addition, the project provides an open and safe environment for collaboration with other components of the project and for defining the focus of the PhD in relation to them.

BEAT has defined three case studies, which the PhD candidate is expected to work on in contribution to the objectives outlined above: (1) Mobility hubs: as the accessibility of mobility hubs (e.g., train stations) determines access to other areas, they play a critical role in ensuring inclusive mobility. (2) Residential areas: these areas are essential for maintaining everyday access to amenities at the neighborhood level and for enabling individuals to sustain their daily routines, especially for short, routine trips. (3) Green and leisure spaces: access to these spaces significantly impacts well-being, making their accessibility a key consideration for improving quality of life.

The successful PhD candidate will have:

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Computer Science or Urban Design, with courses on interaction design, human-computer interaction, urban analytics, or designing with data.
• Personal or professional experience of working with people and communities living with disabilities.
• Ability and willingness to work in a multi-disciplinary and multi-stakeholder team
• Excellent research skills
• Proficiency in written and verbal English.
• Fluency in Dutch is recommended but not mandatory.
• Strong interest in accessibility, assistive technology, and human-computer interaction in urban context.
• Prior publications and experience in human-computer interaction research are assets but not a requirement.

We offer a temporary contract for 38 hours per week for the duration of 4 years (the initial contract will be for a period of 18 months, and after satisfactory evaluation, it will be extended for a total duration of 4 years). The preferred starting date is as soon as possible, but it can be discussed. This should lead to a dissertation (PhD thesis). We will draft an educational plan that includes attendance at courses and (international) meetings. We also expect you to assist in teaching and tutoring undergraduates and master's students.

The gross monthly salary, based on 38 hours per week and dependent on relevant experience, ranges between € 3,059 to € 3,881 (scale P). This does not include 8% holiday allowance and 8,3% year-end allowance. The UFO profile PhD Candidate is applicable. A favourable tax agreement, the ‘30% ruling’, may apply to non-Dutch applicants. The Collective Labour Agreement of Universities of the Netherlands is applicable.

In addition to the salary and a vibrant and challenging environment at Science Park, we offer you multiple fringe benefits:

• 232 holiday hours per year (based on full-time) and extra holidays between Christmas and 1 January;
• multiple courses to follow from our Teaching and Learning Centre;
• a complete educational program for PhD students;
• multiple courses on topics such as leadership for academic staff, time management, handling stress, and an online learning platform with 100+ different courses;
• 7 weeks of birth leave (partner leave) with 100% salary;
• partly paid parental leave;
• the possibility of setting up a workplace at home;
• a pension at ABP for which UvA pays two-thirds of the contribution;
• the possibility to follow courses to learn Dutch;
• help with housing for a studio or small apartment when you’re moving from abroad.

If you are curious to read more about our extensive package of secondary employment benefits, take a look here.