"Research Associate or Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Transportation Engineering"

Job Description:

Te Tari Pūhanga Metarahi me te Taiao | Civil and Environmental Engineering
Located in Ōtautahi | Christchurch, Aotearoa | New Zealand

• Full-time 37.5 hours per week (1.0 FTE)
• Fixed-term position (3 years)
• Start date: April 2026 (negotiable)

Āu Mahi | What You Will Do

As a Research Associate or Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE), you will apply specialist research-related skills in transportation engineering, undertake research-related tasks, contribute towards externally funded projects as well as teaching. The role will require you to collaborate with other researchers, and you may be responsible for other aspects of ongoing and future projects. Your research will focus on areas such as (but not limited to):

• Connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs)
• Traffic control and signal optimisation
• Navigation and routing strategies
• Operations research and network optimisation
• Big data analytics and machine learning

Mōu | Who You Are

To be successful in this role, you will require:

• A PhD degree in the field of transportation engineering, applied mathematics, operation research, computer science, or a closely related field (or close to obtaining one) / or a Master’s degree, if applying for the Research Associate rank.
• A strong background in mathematics and programming (e.g., Python or MATLAB).
• A strong publication track record.
• Excellent analytical and research capabilities, with the ability to conduct innovative and insightful research.
• Excellent written and spoken English communication skill.
• The ability to work independently and collaborative within a research group.
• The ability to supervise and mentor students.
• Excellent ability in research proposals writing and project management.

Mahi Ngātahi | Who You Will Work With

You will be supervised by Dr. Wai Wong (Lecturer in Transportation Engineering) and work within the research group led by him at CEE. The group’s research spans big data analytics, traffic flow theory, connected and autonomous vehicles, traffic control and signal optimisation, evacuation, and intelligent transportation systems. Collaborations with national and international partners, including industry and government agencies, are common. CEE maintains a strong international reputation for high-quality research and teaching, with a collegial environment that supports innovation and excellence.

For more information about our department and team, visit the website.

Ngā Painga o UC | Why UC

Tangata Tū, Tangata Ora - Engaged, Empowered, Making a Difference.

The University of Canterbury is committed to accessible higher education, service to community and the encouragement of talent without barriers of distance, wealth, class, gender or ethnicity. The University explicitly aims to produce graduates and support staff who are engaged with their communities, empowered to act for good and determined to make a difference in the world.

What we offer

• Flexible working arrangements
• Supportive working environment
• Generous annual leave provisions and competitive salary
• Professional development opportunities
• A unique working environment in a beautiful campus with access to UC facilities such as the recreation centre and Staff club at discounted rates plus onsite café’s and eateries, and more

For more information, please visit: http://www.canterbury.ac.nz/joinus

For more information about Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury, please visit www.canterbury.ac.nz

The closing date for this position is: Sunday, 1 February 2026 (midnight, NZ time)*Applications will be reviewed as they are received, interviews and appointment may take place before the close date.*

Pēhea te tono mai | How You Apply

Applications for this position must be submitted on our careers website and should include a cover letter and resume. Please note, we do not accept applications by email, however we are happy to answer your queries in relation to the application process, please forward these to WorkatUC@canterbury.ac.nz

Dependant on qualifications and experience:
Appointable salary for a Research Associate will be, $64,096 - $74,773 (pa)
Appointable salary for a Postdoctoral Fellow will be, $64,096 - $92,000 (pa)

Please note: Candidates who have not yet had their Doctorate formally conferred (this includes those who are still completing their Doctorate or have submitted and are awaiting conferral), will be appointed with the title “Research Associate”, with a corresponding salary on the above Research Associate scale. Upon formal conferral of your Doctorate, the title will be updated to “Postdoctoral Fellow”, and the salary adjusted accordingly to reflect this change.

For further information specifically about the role, please contact: Lecturer Wei Wong, wei.wong@canterbury.ac.nz to discuss the opportunities associated with this position.

For overseas applicants, please visit Immigration New Zealand website, to review the latest health and visa requirements for visiting and working in New Zealand.