Opportunities

Geospatial RA (Feb 2026-)

This role supports a project that examines congestion and transport scenarios through spatial data processing, mapping, and analytical workflows. It suits someone who enjoys working with spatial datasets, building reproducible pipelines, and helping translate geospatial evidence into clear insights.

For more, please read the details below and contact me.

Role purpose

The assistant will handle geospatial data preparation, cleaning, transformation, and visualisation to support simulation and policy analysis. This includes organising multiple datasets, ensuring consistent projections, and producing maps and spatial summaries that feed directly into scenario evaluation.

Key tasks

  • Import, clean, and harmonise spatial datasets from various sources.
  • Reproject, clip, merge, and validate geospatial layers to create analysis-ready files.
  • Generate exploratory spatial statistics such as density surfaces, distance measures, and accessibility indicators.
  • Produce clear maps, figures, and spatial summaries that support congestion or transport scenario evaluation.
  • Document geospatial workflows to ensure reproducibility and clarity.

Eligibility

  • Must be a currently enrolled University of Auckland student.
  • Postgraduate students are preferred.
  • Senior undergraduate students with strong geospatial or coding experience are welcome to enquire.

Preferred capabilities

Experience with GIS tools such as QGIS, ArcGIS Pro, R (sf, tmap, momepy) or Python (geopandas, rasterio, osmnx) is helpful. An interest in transport, urban analytics, or environmental data strengthens the fit. A willingness to learn new tools and methods is essential.

Hours and arrangement

The role offers up to 100 hours at NZD 28.5 per hour. The workload is flexible and can be distributed across the semester.

Reporting

Weekly or fortnightly meetings will be used to check progress, refine data needs, and confirm analytical priorities.

Contract period

Work can begin once mutually agreed and continue across the semester until the allocated hours are completed.

Reporting

Weekly or fortnightly check-ins will be used to refine tasks, review outputs, and adjust modelling priorities.

Contract period

February 2026 as soon as mutually agreed and will continue through the semester until the allocated hours are completed.

Research Assistant: Agent-Based Modeller (Game Theory and Transport Simulation)

This position supports a research programme that integrates game theory and agent-based modelling to understand how travellers adjust their behaviour under different congestion or tolling scenarios. The role is designed for a current University of Auckland student, ideally at Honours or Masters level, who will work on this project throughout the academic year. Exceptional senior undergraduates may enquire.

Project timeline

The project is scheduled to begin around April 2026, aligning well with Honours and Masters research timetables. The position will run for more than eight months, allowing the assistant to integrate the modelling work into their degree.

Role purpose

The assistant will contribute to the development of a behavioural simulation framework grounded in strategic interaction and equilibrium concepts. The model examines how travellers choose routes, timings, or modes when facing varying policy regimes, and how these decisions collectively shape system-level congestion patterns. The role focuses on designing, testing, and documenting a meso-scale agent-based model that incorporates elements of game theory, such as best-response dynamics and equilibrium-seeking behaviour.

Key tasks

  • Build and maintain components of an agent-based model that captures individual decision rules, payoffs, and strategic interactions.
  • Implement game-theoretic mechanisms including iterative best response, payoff updates, and equilibrium search procedures.
  • Integrate real-world transport data to inform behavioural assumptions, calibration, and scenario design.
  • Run experimental simulations across different tolling or congestion policy settings.
  • Analyse emergent patterns, sensitivity behaviours, and feedback effects.
  • Create visual summaries, figures, and short analytical notes for collaborative meetings and funding milestones.
  • Maintain reproducible, well-documented code and workflow logs.

Preferred capabilities

Experience with Python, R, NetLogo, or similar modelling environments is helpful. Interest in game theory, behavioural modelling, transport systems, or computational social science strengthens the fit. Curiosity and willingness to experiment are essential, and guidance will be provided throughout.

Eligibility

  • Must be a currently enrolled University of Auckland student.
  • Strong preference for Honours or Masters students whose research can align with the project.
  • Motivated senior undergraduates with modelling or mathematical experience are welcome to enquire.

Duration and arrangement

The role spans eight months or longer, beginning around April 2026. Hours can be arranged flexibly across the academic year to accommodate coursework or research requirements.

Reporting

Regular meetings (weekly or fortnightly) will be used to review progress, refine game-theoretic assumptions, and set goals for simulation development and analysis.

Contract period

Work begins around April 2026 and continues across the academic year until the funding lasts.