Contract researcher smart charging infrastructure

The Université de technologie de Compiègne (UTC) is seeking to recruit a contract researcher to work on smart charging infrastructure, within the research project: “Locating EV Charging Stations in the Age of Electromobility: Between Network Optimisation, Access Ergonomics and the Valorisation of Charging Breaks. The Charging Station, the Detour and the Pause: Towards New Approaches to the Location of Charging Infrastructure” in the laboratory AVENUES (EA 7284), Urban Engineering Department (GU).

Mission

The recruited researcher will develop a research program dedicated to the location of charging infrastructures in a context of transition toward electromobility. The project aims to go beyond traditional approaches based solely on spatial coverage, costs, or technical performance, by integrating the notions of detour, pause, access ergonomics, and the valorization of activities carried out during charging.

Main activities

• Analyze the influence of charging station location on mobility behaviors and users’ travel strategies.

• Study the detours accepted by users and their variations according to transport mode.

• Characterize the different forms of charging, their temporalities, and their effects on spatial practices.

• Develop an approach based on access ergonomics for charging infrastructures.

• Design new location indicators integrating the notions of detour, pause, and accessible amenities.

• Process and analyse spatial and mobility data.

• Produce scientific publications and participate in conferences.

Scientific context

The deployment of charging infrastructure is one of the major challenges of the transition towards electromobility. Existing research on the location of EV charging stations mainly relies on technical, energy-related or economic criteria, such as demand coverage, access to the electricity grid, investment cost optimisation or waiting-time reduction. These approaches generally consider charging as a constraint to be minimised.

However, electric charging fundamentally changes travel conditions. It introduces new trade-offs between mobility, stopping and activity. Users may accept detours to reach a charging station, organise their journeys around charging opportunities and transform charging time into time devoted to other activities.

The optimality of charging infrastructure therefore cannot be reduced to its technical performance or spatial coverage alone.

Building on research on detours, pauses and the optimality of travel, as well as on spatial ergonomics and access ergonomics, this project investigates how the location of charging infrastructure influences mobility behaviour and spatial practices.

The central hypothesis is that the quality of charging infrastructure depends not only on its technical characteristics, but also on its integration into users’ mobility practices.

Scientific references

The theoretical and methodological positioning of the project builds on research addressing distance, detours, pauses, travel optimality, spatial ergonomics and access ergonomics.

Interested candidates are strongly encouraged to consult the following references:

L’Hostis, A. (2014). Le détour, la pause et l’optimalité : Essai sur la distance et ses apports au transport et à l’urbanisme. PhD thesis, Université Paris-Est. ⟨tel-01081570⟩.

Saint-Gérand, T., Propeck-Zimmermann, É., Hached, W., Liziard, S., Medjkane, M., Conesa, A., Piombini, A., & Kahn, R. (2021). “Mobilité durable et mobilisation des ressources : une approche par l’ergonomie.” In H. Reigner & T. Brenac (eds.), Les faux-semblants de la mobilité durable : Risques sociaux et environnementaux, Éditions de la Sorbonne, Mobilités & sociétés. DOI: 10.4000/books.psorbonne.108946. ⟨hal-03463348⟩.

Hachette, M., Propeck-Zimmermann, E., & L’Hostis, A. (2023). “Disposing of Daily Life Resources by Active Modes: Analysis Based on Ergonomics of Access Applied to the Eurometropole de Strasbourg.” In Smart Cities, Springer International Publishing, pp. 205–243, Studies in Energy, Resource and Environmental Economics. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-35664-3_13. ⟨hal-04224822⟩.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Application dates

From 05/10/2026 to 05/11/2026

Type of contract and expected recruitment dates

Fixed-term contract – expected duration of 13 months – to be filled in november - end date of contract no later than 31/03/2028

Gross monthly salary

Depending on funding

Hours

1607 hours/year

Work environment and context

The position will be based at the AVENUES Laboratory (EA 7284) at the Université de technologie de Compiègne.

The laboratory’s research activities address interactions between mobility, territory, energy systems, accessibility and the quality of urban environments.

The project will also benefit from UTC’s scientific and experimental environment, including the STELLA experimental platform, a microgrid dedicated to electric-vehicle charging stations and building power supply.

The recruited researcher will join a research environment involving several faculty members, PhD students, contract researchers and research engineers working on related research topics.

The project is funded by the regional research program EE.4.0 of the CPER.

Experience in studying mobility behaviour and interactions between transport and territory.

Experience in designing and/or conducting user surveys.

Skills

Good knowledge of GIS, spatial analysis methods and user surveys

C1-C2 level written

French (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages)

C1-C2 level written English (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages)

An interest in accessibility, access ergonomics, electromobility and energy transition will be considered an important asset.

Qualifications, training and accreditation

Qualification: Doctorate or PhD

Field of study: transport geography, spatial planning, urban planning, mobility studies, spatial analysis, or a related discipline.