Department of Industrial Design (ID) is one of the nine departments of TU/e and has an internationally leading position because of its core commitment to research through design (RtD) and its strikingly original conceptual work. ID's ambition is to be recognized as one of the top departments in the world that conduct exciting research in the intersection of Design, Technology, Human-Computer Interaction, and Social Sciences and Humanities. In particular, the department aims to inspire and educate a new generation of design engineers who can contribute with their novel designs, their fluency in AI/ML algorithms and data, and their academic critical questioning, to the imminent and complex societal challenges our world is facing nowadays.

The ID education program is competence-centered, self-directed and challenged-based. ID focuses on educating students to design through five different perspectives (called Expertise Areas), through core courses and electives:

• Math, data and computing.
• User and society.
• Technology and realization.
• Business and entrepreneurship.
• Creativity and aesthetics.

Students also learn to make connections between the different perspectives within project groups called squads. In addition, the ID education curriculum encourages and empowers students to take the ownership of their personal and professional development.  Supported by their academic coaches, through ID curriculum and their personal, industrial and research projects, students develop a unique competence of designing and related design approaches individually. Next to self-directed learning and competence development, the educational model of ID is challenge-based. ID students work together on challenging and authentic projects in which multiple perspectives or disciplines are incorporated to solve the challenge (for example by working within interdisciplinary groups) using an entrepreneurial mindset.

At the Industrial Design department we have two research groups: Systemic Change and Future Everyday.

Job description

As an Assistant / Associate Professor you will contribute to the department through both research and education.

Research: Drawing from advances in soft robotics, actuated exoskeletons, shape-changing interfaces, and using construction as a means of generating design knowledge, this position aims to expand our expertise in embedding actuation in interactive artefacts, exploring its affordances and expressions, and lowering the threshold for using actuation as an output modality by the creation of tools and methods to support the design process. Candidates should have a research track record in one of the fields above and be specifically interested to bridge between the technological aspects of these technologies. Such aspects include demonstrating feasibility of novel forms of interactivity, creating platforms to support the realization and prototyping of interactive applications that involve physical actuation. 

This research can be positioned in a variety of societal contexts and application domains, and preferably linking closely to department's existing research in domains such as health and well-being, inclusive design, automotive user interfaces and games.

Education: You will contribute to our educational expertise in Technology & Realization and Math, Data & Computing through courses at bachelor's level in topics related to applied physics and engineering design, conveying and motivating basic concepts through applications in the domain of physical actuation in interactive devices. At a master's level, you will be expected to teach specialized research topics bridging between their specific research interests and the general topics of multi-modal interaction and interactive materiality.

• Motivated researcher, with a PhD in Design, HCI, Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering or other related disciplines.
• Ability to conduct high quality academic research, reflected by demonstratable products.
• Ability to teach, shown by experience or assistance in teaching. Informed vision on teaching and learning in your own discipline.
• Strong cooperation skills and ability to work in an interdisciplinary team.
• Effective communication and leadership skills, including coaching and mentoring of students and staff or leading a project.
• Excellent proficiency (written and verbal) in English. 
• Experience in acquiring grants will strengthen your application.

A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network. You will work on a beautiful, green campus within walking distance of the central train station. In addition, we offer you:

• A Tenure Track of five years with the prospect of becoming Associate Professor. If you have a more senior profile, a tailor-made career proposal will be considered.
• The opportunity to focus your career on education, research, or impact. You can develop your personal ambitions and objections within the strategic objectives of the university.
• Salary in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, scale 11-12 (min. €3.821,- max. €5.943,-) for Assistant Professors and 13-14 for Associate Professors (min. €5.294,- max. €7.079,-).
• A year-end bonus of 8.3% and annual vacation pay of 8%.
• A dedicated mentoring program to help you get to know the university and the Dutch (research) environment.
• High-quality training programs for academic leadership and teaching.
• An excellent technical infrastructure, on-campus children's day care and sports facilities.
• Partially paid parental leave and an allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs.
• A Staff Immigration Team is available for international candidates, as is a tax compensation scheme (the 30% Facility) and Partner Career Support.