Postgraduate Research Opportunity: Behavioural Interventions for Sustainable Mobility Transition: An Institutional-level Comparison of Public Transport Provision in Lower Saxony and Scotland

Project summary: An exciting opportunity to join a dynamic program of research at University of Strathclyde Business School and Technische Universität Braunschweig. This international collaboration offers expert supervision for a PhD in Marketing. The Doctoral Project will comprise a mixed-method study on advancing sustainable mobility in Scotland and Lower Saxony.

Start date: 1^st October 2025

Duration: 36 months

Funding: Funded

Funding towards: A funded studentship package will cover fees (Home level), stipend (minimum UKRI stipend rate) and doctoral training and career development for 3 years. Additional funding to support research travel can be applied for.

Home fee/international fee
Stipend -UKRI stipend rate for UK students.

Funding details: Fully-funded scholarship for 3 years covers all university tuition fees (at UK level) and an annual tax-free stipend. International students are also eligible to apply, but they will need to find other funding sources to cover the difference between the home and international tuition fees. Exceptional international candidates may be provided funding for this difference. 

Number of places: 1

Number of places extra: There will be a shortlisting and interview process.

RCUK eligibility: No

Eligibility: Candidates should have a strong academic background in a relevant field, with practical experience considered an advantage. If English is not your first language, an IELTS score of 6.5 (or equivalent) is required, with no individual component below 5.5. Proficiency in German would be beneficial but is not essential. Full info and application be found www.strath.ac.uk/studywithus/postgraduateresearchphdopportunities/business/marketing/behaviouralinterventionsforsustainablemobilitytransition/

Study modes eligibility: Full-time

Fee Status:

• Home
• International

Project Details: This fully funded PhD studentship is part of a strategic partnership between Strathclyde Business School and Technische Universität Braunschweig, bringing together expertise to tackle global sustainability challenges. As part of a collaborative doctoral programme, the successful candidate will work alongside PhD researchers at both institutions to investigate how behavioural interventions drive sustainable transformation in mobility systems across Scotland and Lower Saxony. With transportation remaining a major contributor to global carbon emissions, this project aims to develop a theoretical framework to understand how stakeholders respond to sustainable mobility initiatives and identify key drivers of behavioural change.

Through a comparative empirical study, the research will span operational and consumer perspectives, collecting data from both Scotland and Lower Saxony to explore disparities and conduct a comparative analysis.

By contributing theoretical insights on behavioural interventions and sustainability transitions, the project will generate practical recommendations to inform transport providers and policymakers. This is an exciting opportunity to engage in impactful research within an international, interdisciplinary environment, helping shape the future of sustainable transport.

Primary Supervisor: Dr Natalie McDougall

Additional Supervisor/s: Dr Hyoje Kim (University of Strathclyde), Prof. Dr Christof Backhaus (Technische Universität Braunschweig)

Further information: The project will be based at the University of Strathclyde, but with the intention to spend a period of study at Technische Universität Braunschweig, ensuring cross-cultural learning, knowledge exchange, and exposure to different institutional systems. This enhances the international comparative aspects of the research and ensures a multi-level interdisciplinary approach to sustainable mobility research benefitting from qualitative and quantitative insights.

Additionally, the successful student will benefit from opportunity to engage with the University of Strathclyde’s Stephen Young Institute for International Business and its Centre for Doctoral Training in Partnerships for Sustainable Innovation.

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