For our participatory, DIZH-funded project, titled « ZuReach: Zurich Urban Reachability & Accessibility Enhancement through Digital Technology » we are hiring a Research Assistant (30–40%) on a fixed-term, 8-month contract. The project is part of the DIZH-funded research project «SISAL: Situation-Aware Individualized Spatial Accessibility Analytics» and continues the work of « ZuriACT: Zurich Accessible CiTy » project, both managed by Dr. Hoda Allahbakhshi. ZuReach will be a collaborative effort involving the University of Zurich, ZHAW, the City of Zurich, and various public and private stakeholders.

In our participatory project, we aim to contribute to the collection and enrichment of sidewalk accessibility information in the city of Zurich - and possibly Winterthur - using web-based digital tools that enable virtual inspections and measurements of accessibility features (e.g., curbs, surfaces, and crosswalks). Our goal is to investigate how accessible these cities are for individuals with mobility impairments or restrictions. Ultimately, we seek to optimize and personalize access to key destinations for people with mobility impairments by leveraging detailed spatial accessibility data. Additionally, we aim to explore how enriched accessibility data can be utilized in real-world applications to benefit these population groups.

• participating in the design, planning, and implementation of data collection protocols, online and paper-based questionnaires, and focus group discussions
• developing materials in German and English (flyers, data collection protocols, project description, participants' consent form, scientific reports, meeting minutes, etc.)
• contributing to participant recruitment and scheduling - Recruit adults from various backgrounds (e.g., the community at large, university students) using several sources (social media, mailing, email, in-person, flyers)
• training and instructing the participants in data collection
• if needed, on-site data collection in the city of Zurich and Winterthur
• doing research on data quality assessment and helping with verifying and analyzing the collected datasets
• if needed, applying AI and digital methods for image processing to extract accessibility features (width, smoothness, etc.)
• collaborating with researchers, public organizations, and other institutions

• A completed bachelor's degree in Geography, GIScience, Computer Science, Data Science, or a related field.
• A strong background in quantitative data analysis, statistical analysis, computational modeling, and programming (e.g., Python, SQL, R) is a prerequisite.
• Knowledge of qualitative study design and data analysis.
• Knowledge of spatial data storage and databases.
• Ideally, the candidate also has experience in machine learning/deep learning, image processing, and spatial data analysis.
• Excellent social skills. Ability to work with diverse groups of people and be helpful, respectful, approachable, and team-oriented.
• Previous experience in interdisciplinary projects is considered an asset.
• Demonstrated high attention to detail. Strong organizational skills.
• Excellent written and spoken German AND English communication skills are mandatory. Knowledge of other Swiss national languages (Italian and French) is a plus.
• A Swiss residency permit is mandatory.

Information on your application