PhD Scholarships (2) in Machine Learning, Virtual Reality and Transport Science – DTU Management

Are you excited about developing advanced models and algorithms to better understand and predict human decision-making? Are you interested in integrating behavioural models with machine learning to analyse decision-making using diverse data sources, including physiological process data from immersive virtual reality experiments? Do you want to apply cutting-edge modelling and data collection techniques to tackle real-world challenges in designing future transport and infrastructure systems? If so, we invite you to apply for one of two PhD Scholarships in Machine Learning, Virtual Reality and Transport Science at DTU Management. 

The PhD scholarships are part of the research project IMMERSION: Explaining human decision-making by combining choice and process data, which is funded by a European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant. IMMERSION aims to advance the study of human decision-making by developing innovative methods for combining choice and neurophysiological process data. This entails new models for integrating choice and process data, new statistical inference procedures tailored to such models, and new methods for collecting rich behavioural data in immersive experiments. The project also involves extensive empirical work applying IMMERSION’s methodological innovations to real-world problems with implications for the human-centric design of future transport systems. This includes case studies to explain and predict human decision-making in the contexts of transportation infrastructure development, pedestrian-autonomous vehicle interactions and pedestrian wayfinding.

You will join a dynamic research team led by Associate Professor Rico Krueger, and you will be a member of the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) section within the Division for Transportation Science at the Department of Technology, Management and Economics (DTU Management) at DTU. You will be supervised by Associate Professor Rico Krueger and Professor Francisco Pereira.

Responsibilities and qualifications
The two PhD scholarships are associated with two distinct subprojects:

• In Subproject 1 – Flexible Modelling and Fast Estimation of Choice and Process Data, you will work on developing a new, flexible modelling framework for integrating choice and process data, alongside fast and scalable estimation methods. The goal is to create a new unified modelling and estimation framework that makes it significantly easier to model complex decision-making processes in multi-alternative, multi-attribute situations.
• In Subproject 2 – Effectively combining choice data and process data: Interpretability and information fusion, you will work on developing new methods for effectively integrating choice data with multimodal process data. This will include i) devising new interpretable representations of process data to quantify the absolute and relative importance of different types of process data in explaining and predicting decision-making and ii) developing new approaches for optimising information fusion across different data immersive and non-immersive data collection environments.

In both subprojects, you will:

• Formulate and test new modelling approaches at the interface of machine learning, cognitive psychology, economics and statistics for explaining and predicting human behaviour and decision-making using both choice data and neurophysiological process data,
• Devise and evaluate new estimators for parameter inference in the proposed models using advanced statistical and computational approaches, including Bayesian methods and other simulation-assisted methods,
• Design, implement and conduct immersive virtual reality experiments to study human behaviour and decision-making in the context of future transport and infrastructure systems; specific application areas include transport infrastructure development, pedestrian-autonomous vehicle interactions and pedestrian wayfinding,
• Support data collection efforts involving the use of immersive virtual reality technologies and neurophysiological sensors (e.g. to gather biomarker, neuroimaging and eye-tracking data),
• Write academic papers aimed at high-impact journals,
• Participate in international conferences and workshops,
• Collaborate with other team members and our international research partners.                             

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. Specifically, we seek applicants with a master's degree in transportation engineering, mathematics, statistics, computer science or a related discipline.

In addition, you should meet the following requirements:

• Excellent quantitative, analytical and computational skills.
• Knowledge of Bayesian machine learning, deep learning and statistical learning.
• Experience in statistical modelling and data analysis; ideally experience with quantitative models of human decision-making such as discrete choice models, sequential sampling models or similar.
• Interest in leveraging insights into human decision-making to tackle real-world challenges in transport and infrastructure systems; ideally, experience in the analysis and design of human-centric transport systems.
• Interest in using immersive virtual reality and neurophysiological sensors to collect rich behavioural data; prior experience in immersive virtual reality is not mandatory.
• Proficiency in a programming language such as Python, Julia or R for data analysis and model development and algorithm implementations.
• Strong written and oral communication skills in English.

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 .

Assessment
The review of applications will begin on 16 April 2025.

We offer
DTU is a leading technical university globally recognised 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 characterised 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 starting date is 1 September 2025. An earlier or later start date is possible by mutual agreement. The position is a full-time position.

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 about the positions may be obtained from Associate Professor Rico Krueger ([email protected] ). 

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

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 15 April 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
• Names and contact details of at least two referees

In the field “Please indicate which position(s) you would like to apply for”, please indicate which subproject you are more interested in. Please note that you will be considered for both subprojects regardless of your indicated preference.

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

Incomplete applications will not be considered. 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.

About the department
DTU Management conducts excellent research at the intersection of management, technology and economics. We develop solutions in close cooperation with companies and public authorities. Our research aims at strengthening welfare, productivity and sustainability within the society. A key element is the role of technology and its interaction with industry and individuals. The department offers a wide range of courses and programs at bachelor, master, and PhD levels across DTU's study programs. The department has 200+ employees with around half of staff coming from abroad.

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.