Doctoral Researcher (TV-L E13) - "Autonomous Driving in Public Transport"

11.08.2026, Academic staff

The Professorship for Travel Behavior at the Department of Mobility Systems Engineering, Technical University of Munich (TUM), is seeking a Doctoral Researcher (TV-L E13) to join a three-year research project on the future of autonomous driving in public transport, expected to start on October 1, 2026 (subject to funding approval).

The position focuses on understanding the effects of autonomous mobility services on travel behavior and supporting the development of technological, operational, and societal foundations for the implementation of autonomous public transport systems.

Your Responsibilities

Design and conduct empirical surveys, including stated-preference and revealed-preference studies, to investigate user preferences and behavioral responses to autonomous mobility services.
Develop and estimate discrete choice models for transportation mode choice decisions.
Implement and apply agent-based transport simulations to assess demand and modal-split changes under different policy and technology scenarios.
Collaborate with project partners to integrate behavioral findings into system-level impact assessments.
Contribute to project reports, scientific publications, conference presentations, and stakeholder engagement activities.
Participate in teaching activities within TUM's M.Sc. Transportation Systems program.

Your Profile

Master's degree or equivalent qualification in a relevant field.
Strong interest in transport modeling, transport planning, mobility, or related research areas.
Knowledge of empirical survey methods and choice modeling.
Programming experience is desirable, particularly with Java and/or MATSim.
Excellent written and spoken English skills and working knowledge of German.

We Offer

An international and collaborative research environment, flexible working conditions, and competitive remuneration according to TV-L E13. The position provides excellent opportunities for scientific publication, conference participation, and academic development within a leading research university.

Applicants should submit a letter of interest (maximum two pages), a curriculum vitae, and the names and contact details of three references as a single PDF file to applications.tb@ed.tum.de. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

The position is suitable for disabled persons. Disabled applicants will be given preference in case of generally equivalent suitability, aptitude and professional performance.

Kontakt: qin.zhang@tum.de