Evaluation of mental models of automated driving

One full scholarship is available in the Institute for Transport Studies in 2025/26. This scholarship is open to International and Home fee rated applicants and covers fees, plus maintenance and a research support fund. <br /> <br /> This fully funded PhD place provides an exciting opportunity to pursue postgraduate research in the area of human behaviour modelling and vehicle automation. <br /> <br /> The Institute for Transport Studies invites applications from prospective postgraduate researchers who wish to commence study for a PhD in the academic year 2025/26.

<p paraeid="{51327e28-80c4-405f-8309-f6d8b5c3dcd3}{27}" paraid="460911929">One of the fundamental safety requirements of automated driving systems (ADS) is that humans understand their current roles and responsibilities. Those roles are very likely to vary in a single drive — from manual driver to assisted driver (still responsible for safety), to fallback driver (where the ADS is responsible for safety, but the human has to respond if requested to take over by the ADS), to passenger where the ADS provides its own backup. It is the task of the HMI in the vehicle to provide information on current roles and responsibilities. The need on the human side is for the user to have correct mental models of ADS operation, which in turn will be influenced and supported by the HMI design. </p> <p paraeid="{51327e28-80c4-405f-8309-f6d8b5c3dcd3}{33}" paraid="400430388">The task of this PhD project will be to develop novel methods to assess how alternative HMI designs can support correct mental models in users. A variety of methods can potentially be used, including both subjective methods such as questionnaires and objective behavioural assessment, e.g. do users change their visual attention patterns when they are supposed to. The methods will be developed in a cutting-edge virtual reality driving simulator using mocked-up HMI designs, but will then be validated on prototype and real-world designs. </p> <p paraeid="{51327e28-80c4-405f-8309-f6d8b5c3dcd3}{43}" paraid="590332231">The project offers an exciting opportunity to work in a multidisciplinary environment with real-world impact for the results, including in international regulation on the testing and approval of ADS designs. </p> <p paraeid="{51327e28-80c4-405f-8309-f6d8b5c3dcd3}{53}" paraid="392283027">To be successful in this PhD project, you will need a solid background in psychology or human factors with skills in programming, experimental design and the analysis of experimental data. An interest in human attention, vehicle automation and road safety would be highly desirable.  </p> <p paraeid="{51327e28-80c4-405f-8309-f6d8b5c3dcd3}{53}" paraid="392283027">The PhD scholarship is funded by the EU project CERTAIN, which aims to establish a resilient, human-centric and continuous safety assurance methodology for automated vehicles, and you will be contributing to this project as part of your research. At the Institute for Transport Studies, you will work within the Human Factors & Safety Group, a world-leading research group in the human factors of automation. </p> <p paraeid="{51327e28-80c4-405f-8309-f6d8b5c3dcd3}{53}" paraid="392283027"> </p>

<p>To apply for this project you will need to make a formal application for research degree study through the <a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/research-applying/doc/applying-research-degrees" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">University's website</a>. You will need to create a login ID with a username and PIN.  </p> <ul> <li>For ‘Application type’ please select ‘Research Degrees – Research Postgraduate’.</li> <li>The admission year for this project is 2025/26 Academic Year. </li> <li>You will need to select your ‘Planned Course of Study’ from a drop-down menu. For this project, scroll down and select ‘PhD Institute for Transport Studies Full-time’.</li> <li>The project start date for this project is 1st October 2025, please use this as your Proposed Start Date of Research.</li> <li><strong>Please state clearly in the research information section that the research degree you wish to be considered for is “Evaluation of mental models of automated driving” as well as <a href="https://environment.leeds.ac.uk/transport/staff/922/professor-oliver-carsten">Professor Oliver Carsten</a> as your proposed supervisor.</strong></li> </ul> <p>You will be required to provide a personal statement which outlines your interest in the project you are applying for, why you have chosen it and how your skills map onto the requirements of the project. You will also need to provide the following documents:</p> <ul> <li>certificates and transcripts of any academic qualifications</li> <li>English language qualification certificates, if applicable</li> <li>a copy of your CV</li> <li>visa and immigration documents, if applicable</li> </ul> <p>More information on how to apply is available on our website <a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/research-applying/doc/applying-research-degrees" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">here</a>.</p> <p>If English is not your first language, you must provide evidence that you meet the University's minimum English language requirements (below).</p> <p><em>As an international research-intensive university, we welcome students from all walks of life and from across the world. We foster an inclusive environment where all can flourish and prosper, and we are proud of our strong commitment to student education. Across all Faculties we are dedicated to diversifying our community and we welcome the unique contributions that individuals can bring, and particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to Black, Asian, people who belong to a minority ethnic community, people who identify as LGBT+ and people with disabilities. Applicants will always be selected based on merit and ability.</em></p>

Applicants to research degree programmes should normally have at least a first class or an upper second class British Bachelors Honours degree (or equivalent) in an appropriate discipline. The criteria for entry for some research degrees may be higher, for example, several faculties, also require a Masters degree. Applicants who are uncertain about the requirements for a particular research degree are advised to contact Postgraduate Research Admissions prior to making an application.

The minimum English language entry requirement for research postgraduate research study is an IELTS of 6.0 overall with at least 5.5 in each component (reading, writing, listening and speaking) or equivalent. The test must be dated within two years of the start date of the course in order to be valid. Some schools and faculties have a higher requirement.

<p paraeid="{f58a1e98-618d-49b9-980e-adcaced26b97}{144}" paraid="2013355670"><strong>Information about the Award</strong></p> <ul> <li paraeid="{f58a1e98-618d-49b9-980e-adcaced26b97}{144}" paraid="2013355670">We are offering 1 full-time PhD scholarship in the Institute for Transport Studies for an International or UK candidate, covering tuition fees and a maintenance stipend of £19,980 per year, for three years only, subject to satisfactory progress. The funding also includes research support fund of £3,161. The scholarship is funded by the EU project CERTAIN.</li> </ul> <p paraeid="{f58a1e98-618d-49b9-980e-adcaced26b97}{144}" paraid="2013355670"><strong>Duration of the Award</strong></p> <ul> <li paraeid="{f58a1e98-618d-49b9-980e-adcaced26b97}{144}" paraid="2013355670">Full-time (3 years). The award will be made for one year in the first instance and renewable for a further period of up to two years, subject to satisfactory academic progress.</li> </ul> <p paraeid="{f58a1e98-618d-49b9-980e-adcaced26b97}{144}" paraid="2013355670"><strong>Other Conditions </strong></p> <ul> <li paraeid="{f58a1e98-618d-49b9-980e-adcaced26b97}{144}" paraid="2013355670">Applicants must not have already been awarded or be currently studying for a doctoral degree. </li> <li paraeid="{f58a1e98-618d-49b9-980e-adcaced26b97}{144}" paraid="2013355670">Awards must be taken up by 1st October 2025. </li> <li paraeid="{f58a1e98-618d-49b9-980e-adcaced26b97}{144}" paraid="2013355670">Applicants must live within a reasonable distance of the University of Leeds whilst in receipt of this scholarship. </li> </ul>

<p>For further information please contact the Postgraduate Research Admissions Team by emailing <a href="mailto:ENV-PGR@leeds.ac.uk" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">ENV-PGR@leeds.ac.uk</a> or the primary supervisor Prof. Oliver Carsten <a href="mailto:o.m.j.carsten@its.leeds.ac.uk" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">o.m.j.carsten@its.leeds.ac.uk</a>.  </p>