The Transportation Research at McGill (TRAM) research laboratory at McGill University’s School of Urban Planning invites expressions of interest in pursuing doctoral research focussed on public transport planning, operations and/or policies.
Two fully-funded PhD positions are available as part of a research project funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC). Selected PhD students will work under the direction of Prof. Ahmed El-Geneidy as members of the TRAM research group, which brings together faculty, practitioners, and students to conduct practice and policy-ready research on public transport. For more information about the TRAM research group please visit https://tram.mcgill.ca.
Specifically, we are seeking applications from candidates interested in conducting research on the following topics:
1. Public Transport Planning and Operations: Public transport performance metrics (e.g., running time, on time performance, schedule deviation, headway deviation), public transport satisfaction and travel experience.
2. Public Transport Governance and Policy Evaluation: Evaluation of public transport infrastructure projects and their impacts on development and travel behaviour, and/or fare structure and operational costs.
Three years of funding is available based on merits. Qualified students may also be eligible for additional fellowships or awards.
Successful candidates must demonstrate a deep knowledge and interest in public transport planning, operations and/or policy evaluation, and possess a master’s degree in engineering, planning, statistics, data science, geography, economics, public policy, or a related field.
The ideal candidate will possess some of the following skills:
• Experience with statistical modeling and geospatial analysis
• Experience with public transport policy analysis and evaluation
• Proficiency in R, or willing to learn
• Proficiency in GIS, or willing to learn
• Knowledge of Quebec’s public transit ecosystem is an asset
• Peer-reviewed publications is an asset
• Excellent English writing and oral-communication skills
• French language skills are an asset
McGill University is committed to equity and diversity within its community and values academic rigour and excellence. We welcome and encourage applications from racialized persons/visible minorities, women, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, as well as from all qualified candidates with the skills and knowledge to engage productively with diverse communities.
Expressions of Interest Process:
Interested candidates should complete this expression of interest form before 15 November 2025.
Before commencing the form, please ensure you have the following information handy:
- Information about your University degrees (Title, Institution, Graduation Year, GPA)
- A brief list any of any relevant work experience (E.g. Title, Employer/Institution – One or two sentences about relevant experience/methods)
- English language test results, if applicable (e.g. IELTS, TOEFL)
You will need to upload the following two (2) documents as PDF’s (maximum 10MB).
1. A current CV with a maximum 1-Page Cover letter (see details below), combined to a single PDF document.
2. (Unofficial) Academic Transcripts, combined to a single PDF document
Your 1-Page cover letter should briefly outline your research interests, experience and fit with the announced position(s). Specifically, it should include:
- Why are you interested in joining the TRAM lab.
- How your research experience/interests align with the announced position(s).
- Any relevant skills (incl. software and technical) as they apply to the announced position(s).
- Your goals after completing your PhD.
Following a review of expressions of interests, selected candidates will be invited for an interview in November or December 2025. Prospective students must submit their final application through McGill’s online system by January 15, 2026, for a position beginning September 2026.
https://surveys.mcgill.ca/ls3/156813
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