Recent large-scale population research showed that healthy lifestyle extends lifetime by six years and delays the onset of chronic diseases by nine years. Multiple interventions are available to help people achieve a healthier lifestyle which are successful in motivating people to initiate a behavioural change (BC) but often fail keep people aboard and maintain their change. The present project investigates and evaluates how design can support motivation for a BC maintenance. To reach this aim we will investigate four strategies of personalisation of motivating incentives: 1) Adapt incentive–type, -quantity, and –moment to BC stage; 2) Introduce personal health feedback as motivator; 3) Personalise incentives to user’s engagement profile; and 4) Change system-initiated incentives into user-initiated incentives.
The Enduring Rewards project will work on three existing behavioural change programs: LekkerFit! (city of Rotterdam), the Box (LUMC) and Benefit (LU). The project will appoint two PhDs (resp. working on LekkerFit!, and the Box) and a postdoc. As a postdoc in this project, you will generate generic long-term motivation design-theory and -guidelines, take part in project management involving stakeholders and PhDs, set up evaluation studies, and set-up utilization and dissemination activities. You will work in an interdisciplinary team of design researchers (TU Delft), psychologists (LU), cardiologists (LUMC), public health researchers (EMC), municipality of Rotterdam, and game design-, and eHealth- companies.

The postdoctoral candidate holds a PhD degree in Design science and/or a related discipline to the project, such as Psychology, Medical Informatics, Human Movement Science, Health, including a clear and demonstrated affinity with human-centred design. The candidate has excellent communication and publication skills, and likes to work in an interdisciplinary context. Furthermore, the candidate has the knowledge and skills to engage the project’s stakeholders at the right moment in the right way to the project’s activities. Experience in working with lifestyle related behavioural change projects is a plus.

Fixed-term contract: 4 years.

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, a discount for health insurance and sport memberships, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged. Coming to Delft Service organizes diverse events for new international employees and their accompanying partners, like Partner Career Workshops and Dutch Culture Workshops. Located on campus are the International Children’s Centre and an international primary school which are subject to availability as well as several bilingual schools in the nearby surrounding. Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities.

Technische Universiteit Delft

Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) is a multifaceted institution offering education and carrying out research in the technical sciences at an internationally recognised level. Education, research and design are strongly oriented towards applicability. TU Delft develops technologies for future generations, focusing on sustainability, safety and economic vitality. At TU Delft you will work in an environment where technical sciences and society converge. TU Delft comprises eight faculties, unique laboratories, research institutes and schools.

Faculty Industrial Design Engineering

The faculty of Industrial Design Engineering is the largest and broadest scientific design institute in the world, with over 2,000 students, 7,000 alumni and 300 staff (researchers and lecturers, including designers from industrial practice). The faculty aims to contribute to a better living environment and respond to social challenges by combining human values and desires with technological feasibility and economic viability. We are excellently placed to do so, as we ground design methods and skills in scientific knowledge from a wide range of disciplines, leading to concrete solutions.

A Postdoc position is offered within the department of Human-Centered Design. The department HCD is recognized as an international leader in design research and was ranked excellent by an international review panel in 2015. Our research and education focusing on topics like design for happiness, prototyping in design thinking, design aesthetics, future interactions, ergonomics and social design. The department also houses the ID-StudioLab, a unique interdisciplinary design research community that facilitates design-driven research and education. We believe that a professional designer needs scientific knowledge and the skills to use systematic methods, techniques and tools. We teach future designers to conceptualize products and services that are understandable and stimulate meaningful experiences. We develop and improve the knowledge and skills that help designers and researchers contribute to relevant societal challenges and to have an impact.