Reducing noise and heat stress is important to design healthy environments. Both are highly influenced by the urban design of places, streets and buildings. Although noise is everywhere, it is more pressing and omni-present in areas close to airports. Aircraft noise originates from overhead sound sources, so traditional noise barriers are more difficult to implement than near railways or roads. Buildings influence aircraft noise locally, leading to substantial differences in sound levels, depending on one’s location in relation to a building, or in a street.

Factors like the shape, density, materialization and orientation of buildings determine to what extent aircraft noise transmits and resonates. However, heat stress, thermal comfort, and pollution are also affected by these factors. This means that, when chosen carefullly, the design of the built environment can improve urban comfort in multiple directions.

Up to now, the interactions between the built environment, aircraft noise, heat stress and pollution, have mainly been studied numerically. During the coming years, research on the impact of urban design, materials, and landscape interventions, taken to reduce aircraft noise, heat stress and air pollution, is continued around a field lab in Hoofddorp.

We are looking for a junior researcher who is keen to support the interdisciplinary research team, consisting of researchers in the fields of building acoustics and environmental technology. As a junior researcher, you will collaborate with postdocs, and will be responsible for data collection and data analysis. In respect to data collection, computational research, and data analysis, you will assist researchers from both the acoustics and microclimatic teams. This provides you a great opportunity to further develop your academic skills, while staying away from narrowing your scope all too soon. Ideally, you have worked with either sound and/or thermal measurements before. You feel comfortable to use software like Matlab, Phyton and Envi-met, or acoustical software like CATT, and/or to delve into new packages. Also, there is plenty of room to develop your own research, under supervision of your peers , and to use the position as a launch pad for a future academic career or a PhD trajectory.

• MSc in Building Technology, and/or Civil Engineering, Geomatics, or fields related to building/urban engineering and/or data analytics
• Affiliation with acoustics, urban micro-climate, health and urban design
• Acquainted with relevant software such as Matlab/Phython, Envi-Met and Grasshopper
• Fluent in English, understanding and speaking Dutch is an advantage but not key for this job
• Team-oriented and keen to collaborate with fellow researchers
• Experience with measuring, processing, and statistical analysis of large datasets

Fixed-term contract: 2 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.

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