Post-doctoral in Behavioral Insights for Energy Efficient Mobility - Temporary contract - 24 months

ABOUT TELECOM SUDPARIS

Telecom SudParis is a public graduate school for engineering, which has been recognized on the highest level in the domain of digital technology. The quality of its courses is founded on the scientific excellence of its faculty and on teaching techniques that emphasize project management, innovation and intercultural understanding. Telecom SudParis is part of the Institut Mines-Telecom, the number one group of engineering schools in France, under the supervision of the Minister for Industry. Telecom SudParis with Ecole Polytechnique, ENSTA Paris, ENSAE Paris, ENPC and Telecom Paris are co-founders of the Institut Polytechnique de Paris, an institute of Science and Technology with an international vocation. Vidéo présentation de Télécom SudParis

ABOUT INSTITUT MINES-TELECOM :

The Institut Mines-Télécom (IMT) is a public institution dedicated to higher education and research for innovation in the fields of engineering and digital technology. Always attentive to the needs of the business world, the IMT combines strong academic and scientific legitimacy, close ties with companies and a unique positioning on the major transformations of the 21st century: digital, energy, industrial and educational. Its activities are carried out by the Mines and Télécom Grandes Ecoles under the authority of the Minister for Industry and Electronic Communications, two subsidiaries and associated partners or partners under agreement. ITM is a founding member of the Alliance Industrie du Futur. It has been awarded the Carnot label for the quality of its research partnerships.
Institut Mines-Télécom video presentation

MISSIONS:

This project aims to improve the assessment of transport and environmental policies by evaluating their impacts on energy consumption (fuel and electricity) and GHG emissions from road traffic. The research will focus on two key axes: (i) car-ownership modeling and (ii) mobility behavior heterogeneity. The methodologies developed will complement agent-based transport simulators like MATSim, SimMobility, and METROPOLIS, enabling more detailed policy impact assessments. The project will also evaluate the social equity of policies, ensuring they are both effective and publicly acceptable. The final goal is to develop a tool to evaluate various transport and environmental policies such as public-transit infrastructure expansion and personalized incentives for electric vehicles.

The project is a collaboration between the SAMOVAR laboratory and the LVMT laboratory. Andrea Araldo at SAMOVAR will lead the development of computational methods, including network modeling and design, analysis and optimization of accessibility, while Nicolas Coulombel at LVMT will focus on transportation economics, agent-based simulations, and car-ownership modeling.

ACTIVITIES: 

The post-doctoral researcher will develop methods to improve the evaluation of transport and environmental policies following two axes: 

The first axis will develop a car-ownership model, analyzing household decisions regarding vehicle purchases (how many vehicles to buy and with which characteristics) based on socioeconomic attributes (e.g., income, occupation) and travel needs (e.g., commute time by mode). The model will integrate vehicle fleet evolution trends, including anticipated electric vehicle adoption. By integrating the model with a transport simulator, it will assess how policies affect the predicted future vehicle fleet. A potential application could evaluate how personalized incentives drive electric vehicle adoption and thus GHG emission reduction.

By incorporating detailed vehicle characteristics and emissions data, the model will provide precise energy consumption and GHG emission estimates. Additionally, a lifecycle assessment will capture broader environmental implications of policies.

The second axis will examine how socioeconomic groups react differently to transport policies. For example, lower-income individuals may more easily switch to public transit even when this leads to an increased travel time due to their lower value of time. Conversely, older individuals and people with disabilities may find it challenging to switch, particularly when public-transit itineraries involve long walking distances or inaccessible lines. To capture these heterogeneities, the project will develop advanced econometric estimation and calibration methods, using synthetic populations and travel survey data to refine transport simulation inputs (e.g., values of time, schedule preferences).

The methodologies will be applied to various case studies in the Paris metropolitan area and other French cities. Specific policies to be evaluated include expansion of public-transit infrastructure (e.g., Grand Paris Express or Services express régionaux métropolitains) and personalized incentives for electric vehicle adoption. The project will measure reductions in energy consumption and GHG emissions, while also evaluating the acceptability of the policies by assessing their impact on social equity.

Level of training and / or experience required:

• PhD or Doctorat for less than 3 years

Essential skills, knowledge and experience:

• Experience with econometrics and statistical methods (machine learning).

·    Familiarity with agent-based simulators and synthetic populations.

·    Programming skills.

·    Proficiency in English and French.

Abilities and skills:

Ability to work collaboratively

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

• Application deadline: 29/07/2025

• Nature of the contract: CDD - 24 months

• Category and profession of the position: II - P, Post-doctoral

• To apply, please send us a CV, a cover letter

• Location of the position : Evry-Courcouronnes (France)

• The positions offered for recruitment are open to all with, on request, accommodations for candidates with disabilities

• Working conditions: Teleworking possible, restaurant and cafeteria on site, accessibility by public transport (with employer's participation) or close to main roads, staff association and sports association on campus

• Contact person: Andrea ARALDO – andrea.araldo@telecom-sudparis.eu