A new position for doctoral studies is available under the supervision of our research team leader Martin Ouředníček. The deadline for applications is 15. 12. 2025!
The changing urbanization and urban processes are increasingly linked to international migration and significantly affect daily mobility within metropolitan areas. A number of traditional urban functions are partially or completely disappearing from the physical space, and thus the localization factors of these functions are also changing. As a result of digitization and the Covid-19 pandemic, work, services, shopping, entertainment, education and leisure activities are decentralized from urban cores and delocalized outside the physical world in the form of home offices, e-jobs, e-services, e-shops, e-learning. Following the theoretical concepts of structuration theory, mobility transition, pacemakers and heterolocalisation, the aim of the dissertation project is to describe and explain how the processes of intensive international migration, especially to large cities, are interrelated with gentrification and subsequent decentralization of the residential function of the urban population (suburbanisation, counter-urbanisation). Changes in migration flows subsequently also affect the relationship between the location of residence, workplace, services and leisure activities and daily activity systems within metropolitan regions shaped by new forms of spatial mobility.
- Title: Interaction between variant forms of spatial mobility within the settlement system
- Department: Department of Social Geography and Regional Development (31-340)
What will be the main focus?
The main focus will be on comparative research of European cities.
What methods are expected to be used?
Methodologically, the dissertation should use
mixed research based on the triangulation of methods of quantitative analysis of traditional statistical data (population census, ongoing migration records), big data (data from mobile operators, GPS, social networks) and case studies in selected European cities.
A PhD candidate would participate in the research project within the consortium of Charles University, Masaryk University and Academy of Science
A Mobile Society: Opportunities and Risks of New Forms of Mobility for Czech Society and Economy.
Requirements for potential doctoral candidates:
- Analytical thinking ability
- Theoretical background in urban social geography
- Teamwork
- Ability to write academic texts
- Skills in the collection, management and analysis of statistical and spatial data
Further information