JOB TITLE: Senior Research Associate in Safe and Smart Mobility Levitate: Societal level impacts of connected and autonomous vehicles Fixed-term ...
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Loughborough Design School JOB TITLE: Senior Research Associate in Safe and Smart Mobility Levitate: Societal level impacts of connected and autonomous vehicles (Fixed-term until 30 November 2021) Job Ref: REQ181005 As part of the University’s ongoing commitment to redeployment, please note that this vacancy may be withdrawn at any stage of the recruitment process if a suitable redeployee is identified. School/Department summary Loughborough Design School (LDS) is an internationally renowned school. The School has a strong, internationally recognised research community. We discover and develop new concepts and ideas in areas related to design, ergonomics and human factors. Annually we attract over £4 million in funding from external investors and businesses. This funding helps us undertake a number of research projects which aim to have a real impact on the world around us. Transport Safety Research Group The Transport Safety Research Group strives to improve safety of transport users through research expertise in human factors, engineering, psychology, health sciences, education and social science. The Group involves specialists in a number of key areas of human factors, engineering, medicine and design. A key focus of the research group involves understanding real-world aspects of the transport-users and how this impacts on transport safety and intelligent mobility. The Group has extensive expertise and experience in research methodology and in particular, analysis of safety and injury data. Several members of the group have been involved in investigations of traffic collisions since the 1980’s. The Group comprises of around 20 academic/research staff and PhD students most of whom are conducting applied research across a wide range of transport safety areas including evidence-based policy-making tools, accident causation research, safer infrastructures, advanced vehicle and road-based safety systems and the impact of road user behaviour on safety and mobility. The Group has received several international awards for its research including the 2013 Prince Michael of Kent International Road Safety Award and the 2007 Queens Anniversary Prize. Individual researchers in the Group have also received national and international awards. The Group has substantial experience in national and EU funded projects. Previous projects it has successfully coordinated include the EC-funded projects SafetyCube (H2020), DaCoTA (FP 7), SafetyNet (FP 6) and PENDANT (FP 5). Team members have collectively published over 500 research papers concerning crash analysis, simulation and injury biomechanics. Areas of expertise: 1. New tools to inform global road and vehicle safety policy making at all levels 2. Safety protocols for future autonomous vehicles 3. Road user behaviour studies 4. Safety data analysis and application to new mitigating safety interventions The Levitate Project Levitate is a recently awarded H2020 EU project and is a truly international project involving organisations from ten different countries around the world (i.e. UK, Austria, Spain, Greece, Belgium, the Netherlands, Norway, Australia, China and USA) where Loughborough University, UK is the coordinator and leading partner (Principal Investigator: Professor Pete Thomas, Co-Investigators: Dr Ashleigh Filtness and Prof Mohammed Quddus). This three-year Copyright © Loughborough University. All rights reserved. 1
project aims to develop a wide-ranging evaluation framework to assess the impact of connected and automated
transport (CAT) on all aspects of transport and individual mobility as well as at societal level.
The outcomes of Levitate will include a set of validated methods to measure the impacts of existing technologies
and forecast that of future systems. The methods will be applied to a series of scenarios including those of the
present day to provide a range of impact studies of new and future mobility technologies. Based on the Levitate
approach a new Connected and automated mobility decision support tool will be developed to provide an evidential
basis for future mobility policymaking.
The main aim of the Levitate project is to prepare a new impact assessment framework to enable policymakers to
manage the introduction of connected and automated transport systems, maximise the benefits and utilise the
technologies to achieve societal objectives. Levitate will achieve the aim through the following four key objectives:
1. To incorporate the methods within a new web-based policy support tool to enable city and other
authorities to forecast impacts of CATS on urban areas.
2. To develop a range of forecasting and backcasting scenarios and baseline conditions relating to the
deployment of one or more mobility technologies that will be used as the basis of impact assessments and
forecasts.
3. To establish a multi-disciplinary methodology to assess the short, medium and long-term impacts of
CATS on mobility, safety, environment, society and other impact areas.
4. To apply the methods and forecast the impact of CATS over the short, medium and long term for a range
of use cases, operational design domains and environments and an extensive range of mobility,
environmental, safety, economic and societal indicators.
Working as part of an international team the Senior Research Associate will lead the development of the impact
assessment methodologies and coordinate the Loughborough contribution to the project by a research team
involving two Research Associates and a Project Administrator across the Loughborough Design School and the
School of Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering. The Senior Research Associate will also directly conduct
data analysis, modelling and simulation of CAVs and policy making relating to the deployment of CAVs. The Senior
Research Associate will be part of a growing team of researchers and will be expected to take line management
responsibility for research and other staff.
The University also conducts a wide range of other research projects and is active in teaching and published
research output. There is now an exciting opportunity to join the University as a Senior Research Associate on the
Levitate project.
Copyright © Loughborough University. All rights reserved. 2Job Description: Senior Research Associate
Job Grade: Specialist and Supporting Academic Garde 7
Job Purpose
To develop and manage research in the area of connected and autonomous vehicles/intelligent mobility and in
particular to manage the Loughborough contribution to the EU H2020 funded Levitate project.
Job Duties
Research
1. To take chief responsibility for the Loughborough contribution to the Levitate project including:
i. the development of impact assessment methodologies by leading the relevant Work
Package and Tasks;
ii. leading the tasks on data analytics (e.g. NDS), simulation and policy making;
iii. project organisation and administration, data management
2. Demonstrate specialist knowledge and understanding of the field of intelligent mobility/CAVs to
develop research ideas and progress research activity.
3. Lead and contribute to the writing of scientific research papers and to publish the outcomes of
research in outlets of international standing.
4. To lead and collaborate in research initiatives with colleagues in the School and across the
University and to contribute to the School’s ongoing research profile.
5. To lead and collaborate research initiatives with colleagues from other UK and international HEI’s
and other relevant bodies.
6. To manage research projects budgets to ensure efficient use of resources.
7. Identify sources of and secure external research funding.
Teaching
• To supervise postgraduate researchers at Masters, Doctoral and Post-Doctoral levels.
• To assist the academic staff at Loughborough with the supervision of undergraduate, MSc and PhD project
work and day-to-day supervision and support of other researchers.
• Where appropriate, to deliver lectures, tutorials and laboratory sessions to students.
General and administrative
• To work effectively with relevant administrative, technical and academic staff in the School and across the
University.
• To engage in training programmes in the University (e.g. through Staff Development) which are consistent
with your needs and aspirations and those of the project team and the host School.
• To carry out specific other duties as may be reasonably requested by the project leaders and that are
commensurate with the nature and grade of the post.
Points to Note
The purpose of this job description is to indicate the general level of duties and responsibility of the post. The
detailed duties may vary from time to time without changing the general character or level of responsibility entailed.
Special Conditions
All staff have a statutory responsibility to take reasonable care of themselves, others and the environment and to
prevent harm by their acts or omissions. All staff are therefore required to adhere to the University’s Health, Safety
and Environmental Policy & Procedures.
All staff should hold a duty and commitment to observing the University’s Equality & Diversity policy and
procedures at all times. Duties must be carried out in accordance with relevant Equality & Diversity legislation and
University policies/procedures.
Successful completion of probation will be dependent on attendance at the University’s mandatory courses which
include Respecting Diversity and, where appropriate, Recruitment and Selection.
Copyright © Loughborough University. All rights reserved. 3Organisational Responsibility Reports to: Prof Pete Thomas Responsible for: Levitate project team members Copyright © Loughborough University. All rights reserved. 4
Person Specification
Your application will be reviewed with respect to meeting the essential and desirable criteria listed below.
Your application will be reviewed against the essential and desirable criteria listed below. Applicants are strongly
advised to explicitly state and evidence how they meet each of the essential (and desirable) criteria in their
application. Stages of assessment are as follows:
1 – Application
2 – Test/Assessment Centre/Presentation
3 – Interview
Essential Criteria
Area Criteria Stage
Experience Background in engineering, computer science or statistics. 1,2,3
Specialist knowledge and understanding of the safe and smart 1,3
mobility discipline or connected and autonomous transport.
Significant experience of managing research teams to achieve 1,3
project objectives in an effective manner
Significant experience of undertaking postgraduate research into data 1,3
science, simulation, artificial intelligence, automation, system
engineering, intelligent transport systems and machine learning.
Experience of preparing successful grant applications to e.g. 1
research councils, government, Innovate UK, H2020 and industry.
Experience of presenting research work at international conferences 1,3
and publishing in refereed journals
Experience of managing research grants 1,3
Skills and abilities Ability to undertake the duties and responsibilities of the post, 1,3
especially at the project management level.
Competent in the areas of data analytics, simulation and modelling in 1,2,3
relation to mobility themes.
Excellent programming skills including proven skills in programming 1,3
languages such as Python, MATLAB, C or Java.
Good track record in research publications 1
Ability to identify sources of funding 1,3
Ability to supervise PhD researchers 1,3
Self-motivated with ability to meet deadlines. 3
Excellent written and oral communication skills. 1,3
Ability to work independently and as part of a team. 3
Ability to manage staff including conducting PDR’s. 1,3
Excellent interpersonal and organisational skills. 2,3
Training Demonstrate evidence of continuing professional development and 1
be willing to undertake further training as appropriate and to adopt
new procedures as and when required.
Qualifications PhD in transport or engineering or related field. 1
Other Commitment to observing the University’s Equal Opportunities policy 1,3
at all times.
Copyright © Loughborough University. All rights reserved. 5Willingness to travel. 3
Commitment to maintain confidentiality at all times. 3
Desirable Criteria
Area Criteria Stage
Experience Post-doctoral research experience in Transport or related field 1,3
Experience of working in the areas of CAVs, ITS, traffic 1,3
microsimulation, statistical modelling and AI/machine learning
Authoring original work for academic journal papers, conference 1,3
papers or technical reports.
Experience of developing and implementing a programme of 1,3
research.
Securing research and / or project funds from external / company 1,2,3
sources.
Skills and abilities Advanced level of knowledge of statistical modelling and policy 1,3
making
Fluency in other EU languages 1,3
Ability to develop statistical models with noisy data 1,3
Advanced knowledge on ITS and/or connected vehicles 1,3
Ability to evaluate the impacts of disruptive transport technologies 1,3
Knowledge of data analysis and machine learning. 1,3
Qualifications PhD in Connected and Autonomous Vehicles or Intelligent Transport 1
Systems or Computer Science
Other Willingness to travel nationally and internationally in relation to 3
Levitate and other work requirements
Conditions of Service
The position is for a full time, fixed term until 30 November 2021. Salary will be within Specialist and Supporting
Academic Grade 7, £40,792 to £48,677 per annum at a starting salary to be confirmed on offer of appointment.
Subject to annual pay award.
The appointment will be subject to the University’s normal Terms and Conditions of Employment for Academic and
Related staff details of which can be found here.
The University is committed to enabling staff to maintain a healthy work-home balance and has a number of family-
friendly policies which are available at http://www.lboro.ac.uk/services/hr/a-z/family-leave-policy-and-procedure---
page.html.
We also offer an on-campus nursery with subsidised places, subsidised places at local holiday clubs and a
childcare voucher scheme (further details are available at: http://www.lboro.ac.uk/services/hr/a-z/childcare-
information---page.html
In addition, the University is supportive, wherever possible, of flexible working arrangements.
We also strive to create a culture that supports equality and celebrates diversity throughout the campus. The
University holds a Bronze Athena SWAN award which recognises the importance of support for women at all
stages of their academic career. For further information on Athena SWAN see
http://www.lboro.ac.uk/services/hr/athena-swan/
Copyright © Loughborough University. All rights reserved. 6Applications The closing date for receipt of applications is 7 January 2019. Copyright © Loughborough University. All rights reserved. 7
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