TU Delft’s department of Sustainable Design Engineering has an opening for a postdoctoral researcher, who will be engaged in the management of four newly awarded research projects, and who will integrate the results from these projects into a set of novel circular design guidelines for industrial designers. The four projects address different technological challenges related to circular product design: recycling and reuse of electronics, recycling through reshaping of wind turbine blades, re-treading of rubber tyres, and dealing with toxic substances in products and materials. PhD researchers will be responsible for a large part of the scientific the work in the projects. You will be responsible for management and scientific integration tasks. These include: representing the department at relevant project meetings, taking on management and communication tasks where necessary, leading knowledge exchange sessions between the PhDs of the projects, co-writing papers with the PhDs (when applicable), integrating the newly acquired knowledge into circular design guidelines and publishing about these. The projects have a wide range of industry and academic partners, including ASML, NXP Semiconductors, KPN, Philips, Drake & Farrell, van Berlo, NPK, Leiden University, Rotterdam School of Management and many others.

- PhD in Industrial Design, Industrial Ecology, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related field; a PhD in sustainable or circular design is a bonus.

- Technological knowledge regarding materials, electronics, and/or recycling technology

- Scientific writing skills

- Project management and good communication skills 

Fixed-term contract: 2 years.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities. 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.

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 as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

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.