Transforming Canadian Cities: Toward Equitable and Decarbonized Urban Transportation through Electrification, Automation, Shared Use, and Transit-Oriented Development
Funded PhD position at the John Molson School of Business
Last updated: July 18, 2025, 11:19 a.m.
Supervisory details
Supervisor: Thomas Walker
Department: Finance, John Molson School of Business
University: Concordia University, Montreal, Canada
Start date: Flexible (Fall 2025, Winter 2026, Fall 2026)
PhD Fellowship: 35K CAD per year for 4 years
Project overview
This project aims to build a resilient and equitable transportation ecosystem in Canada by integrating electrified, automated, and shared-use transit systems within the framework of Transit-Oriented Development (TOD). Anchored in the Government of Canada’s recent Alto high-speed rail initiative, the research addresses both the opportunities and challenges of large-scale transit electrification.
Role description
- Model mixed-use urban configurations around transit hubs to evaluate energy demand, resident preferences, and sustainability outcomes.
- Analyze energy demand curves and DER (Distributed Energy Resources) models to reduce strain on the electrical grid.
- Integrate energy generation, optimization, and storage systems into TOD simulations to enhance grid resilience and economic viability.
- Assess socio-spatial dynamics and community inclusivity within TODs through synthesis of qualitative and quantitative data.
- Develop and validate an optimization framework that balances energy efficiency, affordability, inclusivity, and livability.
- Conduct stakeholder consultations to test the replicability and real-world feasibility of the framework.
- Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams (urban planning, engineering, finance, social sciences) across project work packages.
- Contribute to the generation of policy-relevant insights, data visualizations, and academic publications.
Research areas
- Sustainability & Climate Change
- Responsible Investing
- Emerging Risk Management
- Banking
- Fintech
- Corporate Governance
- Securities Litigation & Regulation
- Insider Trading
- Institutional Ownership
- Venture Capital
- Master’s degree in sustainability, energy systems, urban studies, finance, or a closely related field.
- Strong analytical skills in energy modeling, simulation, or optimization frameworks (e.g., Python, MATLAB, or energy modeling tools).
- Familiarity with distributed energy resources, smart grids, or urban infrastructure systems is an asset.
- Demonstrated interest in sustainable finance, risk management, or urban equity issues.
- Experience with qualitative data synthesis, stakeholder engagement, or socio-spatial analysis is desirable.
- Excellent communication skills and ability to work across disciplines and with community or government partners.
- Self-motivated and capable of producing high-quality, independent research aligned with sustainability goals.
- Fully funded PhD positions with a competitive annual stipend and additional funding for travel and research activities.
- Opportunity to work on a high-impact, interdisciplinary project at the intersection of energy systems, urban sustainability, and responsible investment.
- Access to cutting-edge resources in energy modeling, sustainability research, and data analytics, supported by leading faculty in sustainability, finance, and governance.
- Close collaboration with government, industry, and community stakeholders, offering real-world insights and networking opportunities.
- Structured mentorship, professional development workshops, and support for publishing in top-tier journals and presenting at international conferences.
- A vibrant and inclusive research environment at Concordia University, located in the heart of Montreal, one of North America’s most livable and innovative cities.
- Active involvement in shaping policy-relevant solutions for decarbonized, equitable urban transformation in Canada and beyond.
Please combine the following documents into a single PDF file.
- Letter of intent strongly aligned with the project and the research domain of the professor
- Academic CV
- Transcripts
- References
- Publications, if any
- Any other documents that might benefit your file
If you are already in Canada, or if you’re a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident, please highlight this in your communications.
Send your PDF file to thomas.walker@concordia.ca with the subject as TOD_Your name_PhD.
Applications will be considered on a rolling basis.
Questions/contact
For all questions, please contact Alisa Makusheva at alisa.makusheva@concordia.ca.
