[Geo4All] PostDoc Job offer Heidelberg University – GIScience -Silverways project

[Alexander Zipf]

PostDoc Job advertisement Heidelberg University – GIScience



At the Institute of Geography, GIScience Research Group, Heidelberg 
University the following position is to be filled for a limited period.**

*Position Overview:*

-Starting Date: January – February, 2025

-Duration of the Contract: 30 months

-*Application Deadline: December 6, 2024*(applications received after 
this date may still

be considered until the position is filled)

-Main Location: Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany

-Remuneration is according to TV-L 13 salary scale

**

*Postdoctoral Position in GIScience
for Enhancing Elderly Mobility and Urban Accessibility,
Academic Researcher (**f/m/d)***

__

Are you driven by a desire to improve urban environments and enhance the 
quality of life for

older adults through innovative geographic and routing solutions? Do you 
have a background in

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and urban studies? If you are keen 
to apply your

expertise in a multidisciplinary project that focuses on mobility, 
accessibility, and urban

planning, then Heidelberg University has an exciting opportunity for you.

We are inviting applications for a 30-month postdoctoral position to 
join our GIScience /

Geoinformatics Research Group at the Institute of Geography, Heidelberg 
University. You will

contribute to the "Silver Ways: Integrating a Walkable Routing System 
with a 15-Minute

Neighborhood Index to Enhance Mobility for Older People" project. This 
initiative, co-funded by

HORIZON EU and DLR in Germany, is part of the Driving Urban Transitions 
(DUT) program. It

encompasses a collaborative network spanning Germany, Sweden, and 
Türkiye, which includes

three universities, three municipalities, and a non-profit organization, 
all dedicated to piloting

and implementing urban mobility solutions across diverse landscapes.

In this role, you will contribute to understanding and enhancing walking 
routes and preferences

of older adults in various urban settings. Your work will involve 
collecting and analyzing data on

walking preferences, developing quantitative models to predict route 
choices, implementing a

personalized routing system tailored to the needs of older adults, and 
developing a walkability

index aimed at guiding urban improvements by identifying areas where 
accessibility and

walkability can be most effectively enhanced for older adults.

*Project Overview:*

Active mobility improves health outcomes among older adults. This 
project enhances urban

mobility by integrating the development of an age-friendly 15-minute 
neighbourhood index with

a walkable routing system. Unlike conventional shortest-path methods, 
our approach prioritizes

routes that align with the specific needs and preferences of older 
adults. Initially, we map their

walking routes via travel diaries in diverse urban settings across three 
countries. Detailed route

attributes are then extracted through Geographic Information Systems 
data and street-level

images, analyzed using deep learning techniques. We develop discrete 
choice models to

quantify the impact of these attributes on older adults’ walking 
preferences and use these

models to determine the weighting mechanisms for route optimization 
algorithms. The

generated age-friendly routes are then validated and refined through 
guided city walks for older

adults, during which their feedback is captured via surveys and analyzed 
statistically. The Silver

15-Minute Neighbourhood Index is developed to evaluate the accessibility 
of essential amenities

like healthcare and shopping along these age-friendly routes. In 
partnership with municipal

stakeholders, this index and the walkable routes are used to co-design 
urban planning solutions

that improve accessibility and enhance the quality of life for older adults.

*Your tasks:*

The selected candidate will actively engage in all phases of this 
project, supported by a

consortium of academic and municipal partners.

Key Responsibilities:

-Data Collection and Analysis: Participate in designing and articulating 
travel diaries, and analyze responses from surveys to understand older 
adults' walking preferences.

-GIS and Route Processing: Assist in digitizing walking routes and 
enriching them with GIS- and ML-derived attributes.

-Route Development: Support the generation of alternative walking routes and

contribute to the development of a tailored routing system with our 
development

partners.

-Experimental Design and Implementation: Collaborate in designing and 
conducting

urban walking tours, analyzing outcomes to refine routing algorithms and 
approaches.

-Index Development: Contribute to the development and analysis of the 
Silver 15-

Minute Walkability Index to assess and enhance urban walkability for 
older adults.

*Job Requirements*

*Qualifications / Experience:*

-Education: PhD degree in GIS, Urban Planning, Transport Planning, 
Geography,

Computer Science, Statistics, or a related field.

-Academic interests: An interest in urban studies and human mobility.

-GIS and Spatial Analysis: Proficiency with GIS software and tools for 
data collection,

cleaning, and analysis; familiar with platforms like QGIS.

-Programming Skills: Skills in programming, particularly in Python 
and/or R, for data

analysis, statistical modeling, and automation of data processes.

-Quantitative Research Methods: Foundation in quantitative research 
methodologies,

including survey design, data collection, and statistical analysis.

-Language Proficiency: Fluency in German is essential due to contact 
with local

stakeholders, along with proficiency in English for this role.

-Professional and Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written 
communication

skills, adept at working in an international environment with multiple 
stakeholders,

accountability and independence.


*Desired:*

-Advanced Analytical Techniques: Experience with data science for image 
processing,

network analysis, machine learning, econometric or other relevant 
analytical methods.

-Experience with Routing System: Familiarity with open-source routing 
services using

OpenStreetMap (OSM) data.

-Stakeholder Communication: Experience in communicating with 
stakeholders and

international partners.

*Application Process:*
Interested candidates should submit the following documents to

nir.fulman at uni-heidelberg.de and sven.lautenbach at uni-heidelberg.de 
<mailto:sven.lautenbach at uni-heidelberg.de>.

-Curriculum Vitae (CV)

-Two reference letters

-Certificate/Transcripts with grades

-Cover letter/Personal statement

-Sample of recent research work (published paper or thesis)


Please attach all of the above as a single PDF document.
We are looking forward to your application!*//*

*Benefits:*

-Advanced Technical Skill Development: Gain experience with cutting-edge GIS

technologies, data analysis techniques, and modeling tools.

-International Collaboration and Networking: Work within an 
international consortium,

including academic institutions, municipalities, and non-profits across 
three countries,

providing networking opportunities and fostering long-term professional 
relationships.

-Visibility in High-Impact Projects: Participate in a high-profile, EU 
co-funded project

that offers visibility, contributing to research that directly 
influences urban mobility and

planning policies across multiple nations.

-Conference Participation and Presentation: Possibility to present 
research findings at

international conferences, enhancing your professional profile and 
engaging with leading

experts in urban studies and GIScience.

Heidelberg University is a comprehensive university with a strong focus 
on research and an international outlook. With around 30,000 students 
and 8,400 employees, including numerous top researchers, it is a 
globally respected institution that also has outstanding economic 
significance for the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region.

Detailed information about the GIScience Research Group under 
https://www.geog.uni-heidelberg.de/gis/index_en.html 
<https://www.geog.uni-heidelberg.de/gis/index_en.html>

Heidelberg University stands for equal opportunities and diversity. 
Persons with severe disabilities will be given preference if they are 
equally qualified. Information on job advertisements and the collection 
of personal data is available at www.uni-heidelberg.de/en/job-market 
<http://www.uni-heidelberg.de/en/job-market>.

-- 
GIScience Research Group Heidelberg University
https://uni-heidelberg.de/gis

Heidelberg Institute for Geoinformation Technology (HeiGIT gGmbH)
https://heigit.org 

http://giscienceblog.uni-heidelberg.de   
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=1TAZiPwAAAAJ
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