Innovation is crucial to fulfil the potential of industrial biotechnology for sustainable production of fuels, chemicals, materials, food and feed. Similarly, scientific and technological advances in environmental biotechnology are needed to enable novel approaches to water purification, and ‘waste-to-product’ processes thus contributing to a circular economy. Increased fundamental knowledge encompassing enzymes, microorganisms and processes is essential for progress in this field. The Department of Biotechnology covers this research area and, based on new insights, selects, designs and tests new bio-based catalysts, micro-organisms, and processes.

Within the Department of Biotechnology, the Industrial Microbiology section aims to increase fundamental, quantitative understanding of microbial performance in industrial environments and, based on this understanding, to extend and improve applications of microorganisms. Research of the Industrial Microbiology section is based on integration of quantitative physiology (systems biology, laboratory evolution) with molecular techniques (genomics, synthetic biology/metabolic engineering) and cell biology.

We are looking for a new tenure-track assistant professor in Computational Biotechnology. This new colleague will develop and apply cutting-edge mathematical modelling and integrative bioinformatics approaches to study and (re-)design metabolic and regulatory networks in microbial cell factories. The new assistant professor will complement the strong experimental research activities on cell factories carried out at the Industrial Microbiology section. In addition, this new colleague will be encouraged to engage in collaboration with other research groups in the Biotechnology Department and with specialists in Bioinformatics, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning elsewhere on campus. We encourage applications from outstanding young scientists working in any area of Computational biology, including (but not limited to), computational systems biology, mathematical modelling and design of metabolism and other relevant processes in cell factories and integration of multi-omics data. They should have a clear vision on how to develop new research lines on computational approaches to understand and (re)-design performance of individual microbial cell factories and synthetic microbial communities.

A Ph.D. in Computational Biology, Systems Biology, Bioinformatics, Data and Computational Sciences or related fields

A tenure-track position is offered for six years. In the fifth year we’ll decide if you will be offered a permanent faculty position, based on performance indicators agreed upon at the start of the appointment. We expect that you have the potential to grow towards an Associate Professor and/or Full Professor role in the future.

Inspiring, excellent education is our central aim. We expect you to obtain a University Teaching Qualification (UTQ) within three years if you have less than five years of teaching experience. This is provided by the TU Delft UTQ programme.
TU Delft sets high standards for the English competency of the teaching staff. The TU Delft offers training to improve English competency. If you do not speak Dutch, we offer courses to learn the Dutch language within three years.

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 to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context. At TU Delft we embrace diversity and aim to be as inclusive as possible (see our Code of Conduct). Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale.

Challenge. Change. Impact! 

Faculty Applied Sciences

With more than 1,000 employees, including 135 pioneering principal investigators, as well as a population of about 3,400 passionate students, the Faculty of Applied Sciences is an inspiring scientific ecosystem. Focusing on key enabling technologies, such as quantum- and nanotechnology, photonics, biotechnology, synthetic biology and materials for energy storage and conversion, our faculty aims to provide solutions to important problems of the 21st century. To that end, we train students in broad Bachelor's and specialist Master's programmes with a strong research component. Our scientists conduct ground-breaking fundamental and applied research in the fields of Life and Health Science & Technology, Nanoscience, Chemical Engineering, Radiation Science & Technology, and Engineering Physics. We are also training the next generation of high school teachers and science communicators.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Applied Sciences.

Section IMB

The Industrial Microbiology (IMB) section seeks to understand how micro-organisms perform in existing and novel industrial processes and, based on this understanding, to improve microbial performance and design new microbial processes. The Industrial Microbiology section is actively involved in the Delft-Leiden BSc and MSc programmes on Life Science and Technology.