The Research Group of Indoor Environment (IE) is specifically focused on people and their health and comfort, influenced by buildings and environmental factors, indoors and outdoors. Key is the assessment and control of the effect of the combination of environmental parameters (thermal quality, sound quality, lighting quality and air quality) on people and the built environment. The staff of the Group IE comprises of 7 PhD candidates and 2 postdocs, supervised by Professor dr. Philomena M. Bluyssen. Research is performed both in the field (offices, schools, dwellings, hospitals) as well as in the SenseLab. The SenseLab comprises of an experience room and four test chambers.

As Postdoc researcher you will be working on the initiation, planning and executing of a research project concerned with the impact of wool carpets on indoor air quality in comparison to other flooring materials. The aim is to acquire scientific insight into the way wool behaves as a filtering system for fine dust and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), and determine the effect of wool on indoor air quality based on lab and field experiments in combination with modelling activities. The research will be performed in close cooperation with Best Wool Carpets B.V., who has proposed several research questions to be answered, for example:

What types of fine dust and VOCs are present in indoor climate, and which ones can be bound to wool?  How does wool work as an air filter? And how effective are

textile floor coverings (natural renewable fibres like wool versus synthetic ones) as air filter compared to hard floor coverings? What is the impact of time on the working of wool as an air filter, and what is the impact of the use of the room such as living, cleaning and ventilation, and how can the impact be influenced positively?

The Postdoc:

• holds a PhD degree from an internationally recognised institution, preferable in the field of (the built) environment, indoor air quality and health.
• has experience with the measurement and assessment of indoor air pollutants, in particular fine dust and VOCs
• Preferably has knowledge of ‘chemical pollutions’ or 'chemical compounds’
• has experience with experimental test set-ups and modelling behaviour of particles.
• has excellent scientific skills, as demonstrated by peer-reviewed publications
• is good at collaborating with and leading others.
• works proactively and independently and has good communication skills.
• has a high level of written and spoken English.
• is highly motivated, ambitious and result-oriented.

Fixed-term contract: 12 months.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities. The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, a discount on health insurance and sport memberships, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.

For international applicants we offer the Coming to Delft Service and Partner Career Advice to assist you with your relocation. An International Children's Centre offers childcare and there is an international primary school. 

Delft University of Technology

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers both in business and in a social context. TU Delft offers 16 Bachelor’s and 32 Master’s programmes to more than 23,000 students. Our scientific staff consists of 3,500 staff members and 2,800 PhD candidates. Together we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment

The Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment has a leading role in education and research worldwide. The driving force behind the faculty’s success is its robust research profile combined with the energy and creativity of its student body and academic community. It is buzzing with energy from early in the morning until late at night, with four thousand people studying, working, designing, conducting research and acquiring and disseminating knowledge. Our faculty has a strong focus on 'design-oriented research’, which has given it a top position in world rankings.

Staff and students are working to improve the built environment with the help of a broad set of disciplines, including architectural design, urban planning, building technology, social sciences, process management, and geo-information science. The faculty works closely with other faculties, universities, private parties, and the public sector, and has an extensive network in the Netherlands as well as internationally.

https://www.tudelft.nl/en/architecture-and-the-built-environment/