PhD position in Science and Technology Studies (STS) with a special focus on Computational Ethnography for Inclusive and Sustainable Mobility - DTU Management

If you wish to pursue a research career within Science & Technology Studies (STS) and computational ethnographic methods developing your expertise within intelligent and inclusive transportation, you may consider applying for this PhD position. 

We are looking to hire 1 PhD candidate to help realize the ambitions put forth in the cross-disciplinary Horizon-funded MOVEO project spanning several European locations and partner organizations. 

You will work with a combination of computational methods, ethnographic fieldwork, and the Urban Belonging photo voice app for mobile ethnography, experimenting with large language models to model synthetic informants. MOVEO proposes a scalable Intelligent Framework designed to foster inclusive, efficient and seamless transport infrastructure and mobility services. By harnessing cutting-edge digital technologies, MOVEO aims to break down silos and enhance the interconnection between transport systems and services, aiming to improve asset management, optimize multimodal capacity, and reduce emissions. Crucially MOVEO prioritizes safety, accessibility and inclusiveness within its framework. MOVEO’s innovative approach focus on improving both transport infrastructures and means and is anchored in 5 key pillars: (1) infrastructure assessment and redesign; (2) inspection and monitoring; (3) digitalized mobility; (4) smart logistics; and (5) inclusiveness and accessibility. The project will contribute substantively to pillar 5. You will be based at Department of Technology, Management and Economics. Your workplace will be in the Human-Centred Innovation section at DTU Lyngby Campus. You will be affiliated with the EchoLab and collaborate with DTU Skylab.

The PhD project will be supervised by Brit Ross Winthereik and Anders Kristian Munk.

Qualifications
You must have a two-year master's degree (120 ECTS points) or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a two-year master's degree. 

You must have experience with qualitative methods, preferably ethnographic fieldwork and computational data analysis preferably large language models. You must be prepared to travel to collect ethnographic data for up to a total of 6 months. You must take an interest in cross-disciplinary work, while wanting to situate your research within Science and Technology Studies. 

Approval and Enrolment  
The scholarships for the PhD degree are subject to academic approval, and the candidates will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes at DTU. For information about our enrolment requirements and the general planning of the PhD study programme, please see DTU's rules for the PhD education .

We offer
DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.

Salary and appointment terms 
The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union. 

The period of employment is 3 years. The preferred starting date is 1 August 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here http://www.dtu.dk/english/about/job-and-career/working-at-dtu/career-paths.

Further information 
Further information may be obtained from Brit Ross Winthereik at [email protected]  or+45 6179 3261.

You can read more about DTU Management at www.man.dtu.dk. 

If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark . Furthermore, you have the option of joining our monthly free seminar “PhD relocation to Denmark and startup “Zoom” seminar ” for all questions regarding the practical matters of moving to Denmark and working as a PhD at DTU.

Application procedure   
Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 1 June 2025 (23:59 Danish time) . Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply now", fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file . The file must include:

• A letter motivating the application (cover letter)
• Curriculum vitae 
• Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma (in English) including official description of grading scale
• Support letter from academic supervisor or collaborator (not mandatory )

A piece of your own writing reflecting on the inclusivity challenge regarding public transportation in cities (no more than two pages long) and the potentials of developing computational ethnographic methods to address that challenge. Use of AI Assistants will disqualify the application. 

You may apply prior to ob­tai­ning your master's degree but cannot begin before having received it. 

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply. As DTU works with research in critical technology, which is subject to special rules for security and export control, open-source background checks may be conducted on qualified candidates for the position.

Technology for people
DTU develops technology for people. With our international elite research and study programmes, we are helping to create a better world and to solve the global challenges formulated in the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU in 1829 with a clear mission to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That mission lives on today. DTU has 13,500 students and 6,000 employees. We work in an international atmosphere and have an inclusive, evolving, and informal working environment. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland, and we collaborate with the best universities around the world.