Planning for Automated Vehicles Postdoctoral Fellow

Areas of Research:
Automated Vehicles / Zero-Occupancy Vehicles / Emerging Mobility Technologies
First/Last-Mile Solutions / Stakeholder Engagement / Travel Demand Modelling

Position Overview:
The overall objective of this project is to undertake research in support of the development of the City of Toronto’s Automated Vehicles Tactical Plan and upcoming Micromobility Strategy. In particular, the potential impact of zero-occupant automated vehicle operations on roadway congestion, greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions, and parking, among other possible issues, will be explored in detail. To a lesser degree, the project will also involve researching quickly emerging trends and attitudes regarding
automated vehicles and micromobility modes of transportation.

Potential impacts of zero-occupant vehicles operating within the City of Toronto will be explored through a variety of mechanisms, including, but not limited to, the following:
– Consulting and interviewing a representative range of stakeholders to solicit views concerning likely future automated vehicle (AV) scenarios, and, in particular, zero-occupancy vehicles (ZOVs) for the City, the potential benefits and disbenefits associated with these future scenarios, and possible strategies for mitigating identified disbenefits.
– An extensive review of the academic, professional and popular literature will be undertaken to determine the state of understanding concerning ZOV scenarios, impacts and mitigation strategies.
– The City of Toronto’s GTAModel V4 travel demand forecasting system (developed by the University of Toronto’s Travel Model Group) will be assessed for possible minor extensions that would allow it to quantify ZOV and micromobility vehicle-kilometres travelled and associated impacts for some of the scenarios under consideration by the City.

Description of Duties:
The successful candidate will act as project coordinator, design and execute the stakeholder engagement, undertake the literature review, investigate the quantification of possible ZOV impacts and engage in other AV/ZOV research investigations. The PDF will write reports for the City of Toronto documenting research findings. The PDF will attend City of Toronto Committee and Council meetings as required and, in general support City staff in the development of the City’s Automated Vehicles Tactical Plan.

Required Qualifications:
– PhD degree awarded within the past 5 years in a discipline relevant to the project.
– Extensive knowledge of emerging transportation and mobility technologies, in particular automated vehicle adoption; transportation planning, mobility planning, policy and governance.
– Demonstrated experience in transportation quantitative analysis.
– Excellent written and oral communication in English.
– Excellent personal time management, project management and organizational skills.
– Demonstrated capability to work effectively within a multi-disciplinary team environment.

Supervisor:
Prof. Eric J. Miller, UTTRI Director, and Principal Investigator for the project. Prof. Miller is an international leader in travel behaviour research and sustainable transportation planning.

Term:
One year (12 months), commencing January 1, 2021 or as soon as possible thereafter. Potential exists for a one-year renewal, subject to extension of project funding.

Salary: $60,000/ year + conference travel + benefits + 15 days of vacation

Facilities:
The PDF will have office space within UTTRI on the University of Toronto’s St. George campus and have access to the full range of UofT research facilities (library, internet, high-performance computing, etc.). The University of Toronto is a highly ranked global research university that offers postdoctoral fellows the highest levels of opportunity for professional and scholarly training, network development, and the opportunity to engage with stakeholders throughout the Greater Toronto Area and beyond. The
PDF will interact extensively with City of Toronto technical staff, working closely with them on the development of the City’s Automated Vehicles Tactical Plan. The successful candidate will be eligible to apply for additional travel and research supports designated
for UofT PDFs.

Application Instructions
All inquires and application submissions should be sent to the UTTRI Director, Prof. Eric J. Miller (eric.miller@utoronto.ca). A complete submission should consist of a cover letter, a short research statement, a CV, and contact details for two references. Please email materials in a single PDF with the subject line: ZOV PDF Application Last Name-First Name.

Closing date: Screening of applications will commence on November 1, 2021 and continue until the position is filled.
FTE: 1.0 Full-time equivalent
The normal hours of work are 40 hours per week for a full-time postdoctoral fellow recognizing that the needs of the employee’s research and training and the needs of the supervisor’s research program may require flexibility in the performance of the employee’s duties and hours of work.

Employment as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Toronto is covered by the terms of the CUPE 3902 Unit 5 Collective Agreement.
This job is posted in accordance with the CUPE 3902 Unit 5 Collective Agreement.
The University of Toronto is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from racialized persons / persons of colour, women, Indigenous / Aboriginal People of North America, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ persons, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas.