Our transportation infrastructure is ageing and slowly deteriorates. This degradation starts at the material level. Sensing this change in material behaviour at an early stage is important in order to be able to perform adequate repairs before major structural damage will occur. Preventive maintenance can be fast and easy and will result in limited hindrance for traffic and avoid mayor delays and traffic jams. This will have huge impact for society. Furthermore the lower costs and extension of service life and availability of structures has also economic benefits.

The MHM tenure track focuses on (in situ) monitoring of material performance and development of sensor technologies to detect degradation processes. Furthermore the implementation of sensoring in new construction (3D printing), labelling of materials for better recycling and circularity, integrating components for optimizing energy storage and monitoring and development of new smart materials with an optimized designed lifetime will be part of the focus areas.

Close cooperation with partners in industry and other scientific partners is important. The tenure track includes publishing in peer reviewed journal papers, acquiring funding for research (industry, EU and NWO) and contributing to courses on BSC and especially on MSc level. The exact division between research and education is something we determine going forward.

With your expertise in sensors and our experience with material degradation we can achieve great things together!

Whether you are a postdoc ready for the next step or an Assistant Professor looking for a new challenge, please read on to learn what Delft University of Technology is looking for and has to offer.

We are looking for a colleague who has the dedication to pursue an academic career. You have started a scientific track record and are able to give a firm scientific contribution to the field of material health monitoring .

Through research, personality and teaching qualities you can inspire co-workers and students alike.

You are expected to establish a strong, externally funded research program and are committed to excel in teaching at undergraduate (Dutch or English) as well as graduate level (English). Experience in teaching is considered as an advantage.

Our future colleague has experience within the academic environment and is aware of the importance of inclusiveness and diversity.

Furthermore;

• You hold a master degree in a relevant science or engineering topic (with focus on sensors and monitoring), as well as a PhD
• You have between 2 and 4 years postdoctoral experience in academia or industry in a related field
• Expertise in construction materials for civil engineering applications is a plus
• You like to work in a team, like to work in a cooperative and amicable environment and possess good organizational and communication
• You must be proficient in spoken and written English. International applicants are encouraged to acquire knowledge of the Dutch Language.

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.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities. Assistant Professors are assigned at Scale 11, € 3,746 – € 5,127 gross per month. The starting point is negotiable where by experience and expertise is taken into account. 

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.

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.

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 Civil Engineering and Geosciences

The Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences (CEG) is committed to outstanding international research and education in the field of civil engineering, applied earth sciences, traffic and transport, water technology, and delta technology. Our research feeds into our educational programmes and covers societal challenges such as climate change, energy transition, resource depletion, urbanisation and the availability of clean water, conducted  in close cooperation with a wide range of research institutions. CEG is convinced that Open Science helps to achieve our goals and supports its scientists in integrating Open Science in their research practice. The Faculty of CEG comprises 28 research groups in the following seven departments: Materials Mechanics Management & Design, Engineering Structures, Geoscience and Engineering, Geoscience and Remote Sensing, Transport & Planning, Hydraulic Engineering and Water Management.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences.

The position is located within the department Mechanics, Management & Design (3MD). 3MD focuses on the design, mechanics, materials and management of civil infrastructures and buildings. A multi-scale research approach is followed, starting at micro-scale (materials), to meso-scale (structures) and to macro-scale (infrastructures/systems). The department governs the entire life cycle from develop, design, build, maintain, operate to demolish or reuse. The department has strong competences in modelling and design for both civil infrastructures as well as buildings.

Research of the group Materials & Environment is focused on the development of new construction materials such as self-healing materials, self-sensing materials, auxetic material and manufactured materials (3D printing). The behaviour of the more traditional cement-based materials and materials based on alternative binder systems are also studied with respect to hydratation mechanisms, structure formation and transport properties. The chemical, physical and mechanical properties of these materials are studied with a combination of experimental testing and conceptual and numerical modelling. The durability of materials is analysed with a focus on durability mechanisms and the development of techniques for damage assessment and repair strategies. Furthermore, novel sustainability concepts are investigated and new bio-based building materials and geopolymers have been developed.