This PhD project offers the opportunity to work at the forefront of automated mobility, focusing on how future automated vehicles can safely and efficiently interact with human drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians in everyday traffic. Rather than studying automation in isolation, you will address the real challenge of mixed traffic, where vehicles must balance safety with smooth and predictable behaviour to avoid congestion or confusion.

The research combines traffic modelling, data-driven analysis, and control design, and is closely connected to real-world pilots such as the autonomous bus currently operating in Leuven. You will develop innovative methods to design and evaluate driving strategies that make automated systems better “team players” in traffic, while also investigating how these strategies scale up to network-level impacts.

The project offers a unique opportunity to bridge theory and practice, working with real data and collaborating with stakeholders such as public transport operators and insurers, ensuring your research delivers tangible impact on future mobility systems.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated candidate with a strong analytical mindset and an interest in future mobility systems.

Required qualifications include:

• A master’s degree (with at least distinction) in engineering, computer science, informatics, applied mathematics, or a related field
  
• Strong interest in applying quantitative and mathematical methods to real-world mobility problems
  
• Programming skills (e.g. Python or similar)
  
• Excellent command of English, both written and spoken (sufficient for research and teaching duties)
  

Additional assets:

• Background in traffic flow theory, transport engineering, or control systems
  
• Experience with data analysis, optimisation, or simulation
  
• Interest in automated/connected vehicles and mobility systems

The candidate should be eager to work both independently and collaboratively in an interdisciplinary and international research environment.

• A four-year fully funded doctoral research positions at KU Leuven
  
• 80% research on traffic modelling, control, and automated mobility
• 20% educational tasks (e.g. seminars, workshops, and thesis supervision)
• Opportunities to attend international conferences and collaborate with leading research partners

You will join a dynamic international research group with other PhD students working on quantitative methods such as control and operations research, applied to real-world mobility challenges.
For more information please contact Prof. dr. ir. Claudio Roncoli, mail: claudio.roncoli@kuleuven.be.