Future cities require resilient, inclusive and affordable housing, but, at present, the housing system in the Netherlands is in crisis. Challenges posed by climate change as well as societal changes such as aging, social inequality, household fragmentation are exacerbated by financialization, the inability to rethink collective responsibilities and scale innovative solutions. Are you passionate about researching and rethinking cities and urban living? Then this post-doc offers a challenge to develop cutting edge research while working in close collaboration as part of a regional ecosystem, in a program focused on future proof housing and building.

The TU/e Department of the Built Environment is one of the key drivers behind the newly created Urban Development Initiative (UDI) in the Brainport region Eindhoven. In UDI we have three Research Programs, of which the Future Proof Housing and Building Research Program blends technical, design and social sciences to answer pressing questions for the future of urban living, including how do we want to live together now and in the future, what is the role of new living concepts in the housing system, how can we bridge the gap between present ways of living in cities and aspirations for more sustainable and inclusive futures. The UDI Future Proof Housing and Building Program connects regional players working in a set of pilot locations toward sustainable and inclusive urban communities.

For the UDI Future Proof Housing and Building Research Program we are looking for an outstanding postdoctoral researcher with expertise combining excellent quantitative (including modelling and data analytics) and spatial research skills, with an affinity for working in close collaboration with local communities in participatory processes.

Within the Future Proof Housing and Building Program, you are expected to:

• Design and conduct empirical research in the region/nationally leading to both theoretical development in housing/urban studies and applications in municipal planning and housing practice;
• Bring the perspective of a quantitative social scientist to a team consisting of a qualitative social scientist, an architect, a structural engineer, and a computational designer;
• Enthusiastically engage in co-creation activities in pilot locations, including working with residents and community groups, local networks, small and larger industry partners, housing associations, the municipalities of Eindhoven and Helmond;
• Publish and (co-)author papers for leading scientific journals and conferences;
• Assist the research group with writing funding applications;
• Assist the research group in supervising graduate students;
• Be a collaborative and independent researcher who is forward thinking and creative.

The UDI Future Proof Housing and Building Program works in close collaboration with municipalities and companies in the Brainport Region on urban development and building challenges at various scales from buildings to neighbourhoods, cities, and the region.

It builds on the experiences of these community-based innovation ecosystems to:

1. Drive socio-technical innovation for the future of urban living, including new flexible and adaptive housing/living concepts, circular, parametric, computational design, and building innovations.
2. Scale up learning experiences and drive sustainable transformation.

Founders of the UDI are City of Eindhoven, City of Helmond, TU/e, Brainport Development and the Fraunhofer Research Institute. UDI aims to address urban challenges by focusing the innovation agenda on the existing and potential urban problems to develop a systemic urban planning approach that integrates different sectoral approaches.

We are looking for a candidate who meets the following requirements:

• A PhD degree in urban  geography, urban planning, building sciences, urban/housing economics, or related disciplines;
• Excellent quantitative and spatial statistical analysis skills;
• Prior research experience in one or more of these fields: housing aspirations/pathways/preferences, quality of life research,  forecasting and neighbourhood scenario planning, multi scalar spatial statistical analysis, GIS mapping;
• Ability to develop and test situated models for neighborhood development including both quantitative and qualitative indicators of housing aspirations;
• Affinity for participatory processes/value sensitive design and field research;
• Demonstrated interest in collaborating with non-academic (industry, municipal, community) partners in real-life field-lab settings;
• Excellent scientific skills, as demonstrated by peer-reviewed publications;
• Excellent communication skills and competence in written and spoken English. Value open science such as open data and reproduceable research;
• Team player who enjoys working in multidisciplinary teams.

• A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university with the possibility to present your work at international conferences;
• A full-time employment for 2 years;
• You will have free access to high-quality training programs on general skills, didactics and topics related to research and valorization;
• A gross monthly salary and benefits in accordance with the Collective Labor Agreement for Dutch Universities.
• Additionally, an annual holiday allowance of 8% of the yearly salary, plus a year-end allowance of 8.3% of the annual salary;
• A broad package of fringe benefits (including an excellent technical infrastructure, moving expenses, and savings schemes);
• Family-friendly initiatives are in place, such as an international spouse program, and excellent on-campus children day care and sports facilities.