Post-Doctoral Researcher, Travel Behaviour and Demand Modelling

About the role

The Singapore-ETH Centre, in collaboration with the National University of Singapore, is looking for a post-doctoral researcher in Travel Behaviour and Demand Modelling. The project works with the Land Transport Authority (LTA) of Singapore to turn methods for fusing household travel survey data with passively collected mobility data (e.g. transit smart-card records) into operational evidence for transport planning. The candidate works daily with the principal investigator, Assist. Prof. Prateek Bansal, and coordinates with LTA's modelling and survey-design staff.

Key responsibilities

• Estimate transport models and planning indicators (e.g. trip generation rates, destination, mode and departure-time choice models) from both the complete household travel survey and fused population activity plans, and compare parameter estimates, elasticities, goodness of fit and policy conclusions under agreed test scenarios.
• Run sample-reduction experiments by fusing progressively smaller survey samples with smart-card data to find the minimum survey size needed and where fusion compensates for lost observations.
• Extend the team's fine-tuned, open-source LLM-based population synthesis to generate full sequential travel diaries and assess whether they can supplement a reduced survey sample in downstream behavioural models.
• Support capability transfer so that LTA can re-run the analyses independently, with regular technical meetings, a mid-project checkpoint and a final evaluation workshop.

Required profile

• Doctoral degree in spatial planning, transport planning, civil engineering, systems engineering or a related field.
• Good grasp of probability theory, optimization, deep learning, discrete choice models, activity-based travel demand modelling and traffic assignment.
• Methodological experience reflected in a publication record.
• Strong programming skills in Java, Python and/or R, and use of GIS tools.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.

What we offer

• Fixed-term contract with 25 days of annual leave and 1 day of birthday leave.
• Annual dental benefits and comprehensive healthcare insurance.
• Flexible hybrid work (up to 2 days per week from home).
• Diverse, inclusive workplace with networking opportunities across disciplines.

Applications must be submitted online through the centre's online application portal, with a first-author publication, a CV with two referees and grade records; applications by email or post are not accepted.