[sustran] Post-Doctoral Fellowships Mobility Cultures in Megacities (BMW Group project)

[eric britton]

Together with the Institute for Mobility Research (ifmo), a research facility of BMW Group, we are pleased to announce an international call to researchers for up to 6 post-doctoral fellowships within the strategic field of �Mobility Cultures in Megacities�.

Duration of Fellowship: 	6 months (extension of 2 months possible)
Location: 	Munich, Germany
Academic Partners: 	Technische Universit�t M�nchen, Goethe-Universit�t Frankfurt
Disciplines: Urban transport and mobility; social sciences with a specialisation in mobility and transport research; other fields of study directly related

Please download the paper on http://www.sv.bv.tum.de/index.php/de/aktuelles/94-post-doctoral-fellowships-mobility-cultures-in-megacities
	
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
The major objective of the program is to generate a profound understanding of mobility patterns and mobility cultures in megacities in different parts of the world. Fellows with a regional background in these cities are asked to collaborate on a set of research questions in an attractive, interdisciplinary and intercultural environment. Please contact us for further details and background on the current research approach.

KEY RESEARCH INTERESTS INCLUDE

- Identifying the characteristics, opportunities and constraints of the megacity studied like demographic, social, economic and regulatory conditions
- Analyzing long-term mobility decisions like location choice/urbanization, motorization, �
- Studying every-day mobility patterns like activity-chains, mode and destination choices in function of spatial structure and transport supply as well as underlying social motivations
- Investigating mobility cultures, lifestyles, perceptions and attitudes in the respective cities and their �points of entry� in order to learn if and how they might change over time
- Assessing stakeholder interaction, local planning and policy discourses and their cultural background in order to develop perspectives for �good governance�
- Identifying challenges and developing strategies for the future of urban mobility

CONCEPT
The fellowship addresses post-docs in the following disciplines:

- urban transport and mobility
- social or cultural sciences with a specialisation in mobility or transport research
- other fields of study directly related

Fellows from different parts of the world will be working on these topics at mostly the same time in Munich, Germany. They are asked to contribute substantially to the interdisciplinary collaboration on mobility from the perspective of one specific megacity. This should include previous research work and where appropriate additional in-depth investigations. Scientific exchange between the fellows is an integral part of the program in order to learn from the respective experiences and results in a transdisciplinary approach. Research results must be documented in a well-founded research paper including documentation of data, methodology and interpretation of results and should contribute to a transfer of knowledge enabling to tackle the global challenges of future urban mobility in megacities.

Candidates should have a cultural background in one or several of the cities listed in the map above. They do not necessarily need to be residents of the cities; also scientists with an outstanding knowledge about a special city are welcome. Fellows will be asked to collect and analyze relevant data and material regarding their research before their stay in Munich.

The fellowship program will be accompanied by scientific supervision on behalf of Technische Universit�t M�nchen (TUM), Prof. G. Wulfhorst, Dr. S. Kesselring and Goethe-Universit�t Frankfurt/Main, Prof. M. Lanzendorf and Guest Prof. J. Kenworthy. Additionally the program is incorporated into a broad international expert network of scientists and practitioners from several disciplines.

Conclusions will be drawn in a closing conference and related international publications.

FACTS AND DATES
The research grant at TUM is funded by ifmo und comprises a monthly fellowship of 2500 Euro, travel expenses and additional research funds / family support (in function of individual proposals). Fellows will be asked to work in Munich, the relocation services of BMW Group and TUM will assist accommodation issues.
Applications are to be submitted to ifmo (by e-mail to the address below) by August 31st 2010.
The following documents need to be submitted (in English) with the application:

- Letter of motivation
- CV and list of publications
- Summary of own research work on related topics (2 pages)
- Earliest potential date of starting the fellowship stay in Munich � expected to be in 2011
- 2 letters of reference

Principal selection criteria are thematic qualification, interest in intercultural and interdisciplinary scientific exchange as well as relevance of previous work. Candidates will be invited to an international expert workshop taking place from November 17th to 19th 2010 in Munich.

The program coordinators will be present at the World Conference on Transport Research (WCTR) 2010 (July 11-15) in Lisbon, Portugal and are available for further inquiries and information. To arrange an appointment please contact gebhard.wulfhorst at tum.de.


FURTHER INFORMATION AND ADDRESS FOR SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION
Institute for Mobility Research (ifmo)
A Research Facility of BMW Group
80788 M�nchen
Germany
E-mail: irene.feige at ifmo.de 
Website: http://www.ifmo.de/