Ideas for thesis topics
Commonly, we expect student to develop their own topics for a thesis, and we are available to brainstorm on potential topics that fit the students interests and skill sets. We also post topics to this page that we feel are interesting for a thesis.
Understanding Telework Adaptation and Travel Behavior
Mentoring: Wei-Chieh Huang
Telework (work from home) was first introduced in the 1960s to reduce traffic congestion and commuting fuel use during energy crises. It gained widespread attention during the COVID-19 pandemic, becoming common in many workplaces—but not universally. Knowing the impacts of telework on travel demand and behavior is essential for designing sustainable transport systems. This thesis aims to explore one or some of the following realms: why and to which extent can individuals adopt telework, how teleworkers organize their daily activity schedule, and what are the impact of telework on travel behavior.
We welcome up to two students to work on similar topics with different research designs and approaches—either quantitative (survey and model estimation) or qualitative (interviews or focus groups). The thesis is expected to begin around September/October 2025. Application process and related references please see here
Equity and profitability in public transportation fare structure
Mentoring: Zhihua Jin
From the old complicated fare structure, MVV introduced a 6-zoned fare scheme for public transportation in 2017. Zone-based fare has been on trend since the 1980s; after London shifted from distance-based fare to zone-based fare, Zurich, Berlin, and many other European cities followed. More than 20 years have passed since most of these cities implemented this fare structure. With the introduction of Deutschland tickets and some MaaS platforms in sight, is it still a comprehensive fare structure in this subscription era? How does spatial equity work now? A contemporary analysis is needed to study the difference between subscription fares and zone fares for passengers as well as operators. (Skills: Python, R or coding skills in other languages)
Exploring the impact of working conditions on time use and life satisfaction
Mentoring: Yangqian Cai
Work is one of the most significant activities in daily life, occupying a substantial portion of our time. The pandemic has led to lasting changes in working conditions (e.g., increased teleworking), which may also influence the time use of other activities. This thesis aims to investigate how the change in working conditions (e.g., reduced commuting time due to teleworking) impacts the time use assignment or other sociological factors (e.g., life satisfaction). The analysis will leverage a longitudinal dataset that tracks the same individuals across multiple years. Solid statistical modeling and coding skills are required for this topic. If you are interested in this or related topics, please email your CV, transcript, and start date to the supervisor.
Modeling rural cycling demand with enhanced behavioral realism
Mentoring: Yangqian Cai
Cycling demand usually receives less attention in large-scale transport models, especially for long-distance cycling trips in rural areas. Meanwhile, the traditional four-step models may not capture the decision-making processes involved in cycling. This thesis aims to 1) enrich cycling-related link attributes from open source data (e.g., OSM, Mapillary); 2) develop a rural cycling demand model using household travel survey; 3) integrate the demand model with simulation tools (e.g., MATSim) to test the impact of different cycling facility improvement plans (optional). Basic knowledge of discrete choice modeling and solid coding skills are required for this topic. If you are interested in this or related topics, please email your CV, transcript, and start date to the supervisor.