CardioLab is a collaboration between Philips Design and the TU Delft, supported by The Dutch Heart Foundation. Collaboratively they explore how smart technologies can reduce the burden of cardiovascular diseases. Designer and researchers in the lab will develop product service systems that generate data, to be used for early detection of cardiac diseases and more effective treatments, aiming to provide cardiac patients with a longer and healthier life. At the same time, CardioLab is interested in how designers create these smart product-service systems. Reflections on their approaches will lead to new design methodologies for (industrial) designers.

CardioLab is currently looking for a PhD candidate who is interested in the development of smart products and services that enable shared-decision-making in healthcare.

The intended PhD project will investigate how data flows within and around care pathways can be related to the social well-being of patients, their families and involved care staff. The PhD project builds on previous research that looked at (a) how AI and Natural Language Processing can be used to analyze qualitative data on online patient forums in order to gain a better understanding of care pathways, and (b) how patient experiences with care pathways can be integrally improved by means of co-creative service design methods. The PhD project departs from a fundamental underlying question about new data flows that are generated by smart digital technology and made meaningful through AI. We are interested in how these new data streams can have an impact on the broader social well-being of patients, their families and involved care staff. The PhD project aims to work on this challenge by developing new design competencies -based on new capabilities and methodologies.

The candidate enjoys the scientific challenges of doing research about design in healthcare in a interdisciplinary environment where designers and healthcare researchers work together and contribute to the body of knowledge around shared decision making.

Candidates who would like to apply should meet an interesting cross-section of the following requirements:

- Master or an equivalent program in Design, or a related design discipline;

- Motivated to do high-quality scientific research;

- Affinity with data enabled design, digital innovation and design methodologies;

- Affinity with working in the healthcare domain

- Expertise in and affinity with research-through-design and qualitative research methods.

- Mental flexibility and strong communication skills for collaborating with partners and performing research as researcher in a field setting;

- Proficient in written and spoken English and use of colloquial Dutch is desirable;

- Academic writing skills;

Fixed-term contract: 4 jaar.

TU Delft offers PhD-candidates a 4-year contract, with an official go/no go progress assessment after one year. The PhD student can rely on the intensive supervision and training offered by the M&O Research Group’s leading researchers. Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from € 2434 per month in the first year to € 3111 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 Faculty offers opportunities to attend conferences, to meet other international researchers and to participate in high-quality discussion groups which support writing papers for publication. The prospects for the Faculty's doctoral graduates on the labour market are excellent, both inside and outside the academic world.

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.

The appointment will start no later than February 2022.

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.