Accessible transport: designed for people with disabilities

Coventry University (CU) is inviting applications from suitably-qualified graduates for four fully-funded PhD studentships

Research shows that poor transport design, whether public or private, can create challenges for disabled people and their ability to make door to door journeys.

In order to overcome some of these barriers, national disability charity Motability, in collaboration with the National Transport Design Centre at Coventry University, are seeking to sponsor four doctoral candidates to undertake research in the area of accessible transport solutions.

This PhD will equip successful candidates to work in a wide array of areas, including the transport sector, where the research and skills gained can be used to advocate positive and inclusive change.

We welcome applications for this unique and exciting opportunity from candidates who have innovative research ideas that can help to provide solutions and make transport more accessible. This could relate to the design of; bus, train, car, or aeroplane or the associated infrastructure, such as the charging of electric vehicles. The research could also look at future transport solutions and emerging technologies that are still to be defined. 

To be eligible you must:-

·      live in the UK

·      be disabled* or evidence a lived experience of disability (i.e. demonstrate direct and frequent interactions with disabled people which has enabled you to develop deep insight into disability)

·      have a minimum of a 2:1 first degree in a relevant discipline/subject area with a minimum 60% mark in the project element or equivalent with a minimum 60% overall module average.

Please read the Research Entry Criteria for more details.

* You’re disabled under the Equality Act 2010 if you have a physical or mental impairment that has a ‘substantial’ and ‘long-term’ negative effect on your ability to do normal daily activities. This might include mental health conditions, cognitive or physical impairments or long-term health conditions, for example cancer, HIV, MS, endometriosis, arthritis, crohn's disease or undiagnosed long-term symptoms https://www.gov.uk/definition-of-disability-under-equality-act-2010 . Statistics show that disabled students are less likely to continue their degrees, graduate with a good degree, and progress onto a highly skilled job or further study, therefore this studentship aims to address this issue.