Resourcing the low-carbon future is a major societal challenge that needs to be taken into account with a high priority. Based on a report published by World Bank, a low-carbon future will be very mineral intensive. Clean energy technologies need more materials than fossil-fuel-based electricity generation technologies. For instance, the production of minerals, such as graphite, lithium and cobalt, could increase by nearly 500% by 2050, to meet the growing demand for clean energy technologies. This would mean that more resources need to be found and mining operations must operate in a most optimal way to extract more metals with minimum waste and lower costs. Diffusion of digital technologies in mining, i.e. adoption of innovation, plays a big role in this transformation. IoT, as part of this big picture, has the potential to be applied across the whole mining value chain to maximise the resource efficiency, minimise environmental impacts and improve the safety of mines.

The main goal of this PhD project to research and develop an open IoT based platform specifically tailored for the extraction of primary raw materials and the resulting mine waste and also to promote the adoption of IoT by the mining industry.

As part of this research project, the workflow and processes cross the entire mining operation will be analysed. Social aspects of IoT applications will be studied. Smart data management and analysis strategies will be developed.

The selected PhD candidate will become part of Resource Engineering section and will therefore benefit from facilities already available in the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences of TU Delft. This project will also provide the unique opportunity to work with private companies. On top of that, the PhD candidate will also have the opportunity to present her/his work in international venues and interact with the people that are shaping the smart future mining.

Required:

• The applicant must be in possession (or expect to obtain) of Master of Science (MSc) diploma in a relevant field, such as: computer science, software engineering, data science or equivalent with strong programming and data analytics skills.
• Transnational mobility: the applicant must have the ability to relocate to the Netherlands
• Ability to collaborate within an interdisciplinary team
• Aptitude to function both in a team and independently
• Excellent communication skills (oral, written, presentation)
• Capacity to generate new ideas, concepts, and solutions
• Have an excellent command of English. If your mother language is not English and you do not hold a degree from an institution in which English is the language of instruction, you must submit proof of English proficiency from either TOEFL (minimum total score of 100) or IELTS (minimum total score of 7.0). Proof of English language proficiency certificates older than two years are not accepted.

Desirable skills:

• Qualitative or quantitative research methodologies
• Aptitude to help in teaching activities
• Relevant experience in R&D activities/software development is a plus
• Experience in big data processing, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, mining/geoscience and data science is considered to be an advantage

Fixed-term contract: 4 years.

TU Delft offers PhD-candidates a 4-year contract, with an official go/no go progress assessment after one year. Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from € 2.434 per month in the first year to € 3.111 in the fourth year. As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts 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.

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 & 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.