Design for a circular economy has attracted considerable interest, and is often regarded as pivotal in the transition to a circular economy. The EU Action Plan for the Circular Economy, for instance, states: “better design can make products more durable or easier to repair, upgrade or manufacture”. Design does not operate in a vacuum, however. Well-meant circular design interventions are slowed down by rebound effects, and the efforts to achieve more circular products and services are sometimes negated by technological progress or by unexpected behaviors of stakeholders in the value chain. 

We are looking for a talented candidate who can help us develop the field of ‘circularity assessment’ further. The candidate is asked to combine and develop methods to investigate the impact of a range of circular design strategies on environmental and social sustainability. The work is expected to contribute to the development of more robust and fact-based circular design methods and tools.

We welcome applications from candidates who are eager to develop an independent research line in the field of circularity assessment for design, based on creative, innovative research ideas.

Your research will be executed in close collaboration with our academic and industrial network, and with students in our education programs. Candidates are also expected to contribute to our education activities, including the popular BSc and MSc courses on Design for Sustainability and Circular Product Design. We work with novel and digital education modules for blended education in alignment with the Extension School.

Department
The Design for Sustainability group in the Department of Sustainable Design Engineering pursues ground breaking research in circular and sustainable products, services and systems. We are a rapidly expanding group and have an excellent track record in obtaining internationally funded projects. We have a ‘circular design lab’ where graduate students collaborate with partners from our industry network, and a well-equipped applied lab where we build prototypes and experiment with emerging materials and technologies.

You have a PhD and teaching experience in industrial design, industrial ecology or another qualifying background.

We furthermore ask for the following qualifications:

• A proven track record in research, and a career that allows successful applications for individual grants such as VENI/VIDI.
• A demonstrable affinity for sustainable/circular design
• Affinity for and experience in teaching and development and supervising of academic education (at the BSc and MSc levels or Phd Students
• Ambition and ability to develop a leading research line.
• Affinity with research at the interface of academia and industry, and with working in multidisciplinary teams.
• Excellent English language skills (writing and presenting);
• a postdoc or the equivalent of at least two years of postdoctoral experience;
• has experience of working in international collaborations.

Fixed-term contract: 6 years.

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 Industrial Design Engineering

Matching the evolution of people with the speed of the revolution of technology. This is the focus of the Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering (IDE). Delft designers act as a bridge between advances in technology and the needs of people, organisations and society to create products, services and systems with purpose.

IDE is a leader in design research across the application areas of mobility, sustainability and health, as well as its development of design tools and methods. A 350-strong research team and over 2,000 students work together in our inspiring hall, labs and studios.

In close cooperation with industry, the public sector and NGOs we rehearse possible futures in research and education to design for a complex future.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering.