Urban Rail Transit - Global Urban Rail Transit 2024 Best PhD Dissertation Award

Qualification Requirements:

Applicants must meet all of the following eligibility requirements:

1. The candidate must be a PhD student or a recently qualified PhD who has produced an exceptional dissertation with significant academic potential.
2. The PhD dissertation must be the candidate's original work, representing their unique contributions to the field of urban rail transit.
3. The PhD dissertation must have been successfully defended within the time range from January 1, 2021, to June 30, 2024.

Required Application Documents:

Applicants are required to submit the following essential documents as part of their comprehensive application package (Application Form (this opens in a new tab)):

1. An executive summary of the PhD dissertation in English, providing an in-depth overview of the research conducted in approximately 3000 words.
2. A recommendation letter from the candidate's PhD supervisor (in English), highly endorsing the candidate for this prestigious award and highlighting his or her exceptional qualities and research contributions.
3. The candidate's comprehensive curriculum vitae (CV), should include a list of publications related to the dissertation, demonstrating the candidate's research results and scholarly engagement.
4. An electronic copy of the PhD dissertation itself, enabling the evaluation committee to thoroughly assess the originality and impact of the research.
5. A scanned copy of the PhD diploma (or a certificate confirming the candidate's status as a PhD student who is either graduating or participating in the graduation thesis defense at a recognized school or research institute), substantiating the candidate's academic achievements.

Selection Criteria:

Applications will be meticulously evaluated based on the following comprehensive criteria:

1. The exceptional quality of the candidate's resume and publications reflects their academic abilities and research achievements.
2. The strong relevance of the candidate's research description to the dynamic field of urban rail transit, emphasizes the impact and significance of his or her research contributions.
3. The exceptional novelty and originality of the PhD dissertation, showcasing the candidate's ability to push the boundaries of knowledge in the field.
4. The strength and significance of the recommendation letter, emphasizing the candidate's exceptional qualities, research potential, and scholarly promise.
5. The anticipated academic potential of the candidate, assessing their future contributions and potential to advance the field of urban rail transit.
6. The overall originality and profound impact of the research conducted by the candidate, highlight his or her ability to drive positive change and progress in the field.

Prizes:

The winner of the Global Urban Rail Transit 2024 Best PhD Dissertation Award will receive a certain amount of monetary prize, along with profound recognition for their exceptional contribution to the advancement of knowledge in the field of urban rail transit. The winner is invited to present his or her work at the Urban Rail Transit Journal Conference, with the registration fee waived. Additionally, the winner may choose to submit an article based on the dissertation to the Journal of Urban Rail Transit (URRT), which will undergo a fast-tracked peer review process.

We warmly invite talented candidates from around the world to seize this exceptional opportunity and submit their remarkable research for consideration. By participating in this award, candidates have the chance to showcase their groundbreaking work and contribute to the global body of knowledge in the captivating realm of urban rail transit.

Introduction of Shi Zhongheng

Shi Zhongheng, editor-in-chief of the Chinese journal of Urban Rapid Rail Transit and honorary editor-in-chief of the English journal of Urban Rapid Transit,  is one of the pioneers in China for being engaged in subway work for more than 60 years. He was elected as a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering in 1999, and edited China's first draft of "Code for Design of Metro". He has been in charge of many significant subway review projects for more than 10 large and medium-sized Chinese cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Nanjing, and Chongqing. He has trained 31 doctors and postdoctoral fellows.