The Group of Public Building with the Group of History of Architecture and Urban Planning is inviting applications for one PhD position in the Department of Architecture to explore the theme of developing data driven spatial scenarios for healthy public buildings and environments. This is a research position for 4 years, funded by the Sector Plan Design Engineering Science. You will develop your own research under the guidance of the scientific staff in the groups of Public Building and History of Architecture and Urban Planning.

As stated by the 2030 UN-Habitat Agenda for Sustainable Development with its 17 goals, designers are urgently required to rethink the way architecture and the urban environment can be conceived and built, by taking into consideration not only new paradigms – see the concept of resilience from an economic, social, and environmental viewpoint, but also the usage of new data driven research and design tools as well as more sustainable building methods. In line with the concept of climate justice, sustainable solutions need to include all aspects of health and well-being. Many of contemporary challenges in health are a result of decade-long policies on working and living. It is time to use research-based design as a decisive factor for reducing the spatial and social inequalities that characterize the built environment.

The selected PhD candidate will collect relevant data on the design and construction of healthy buildings, taking a long-term perspective. This data research will facilitate understanding of complex spatial, social and cultural conditions that have deep historical roots and are often embedded in path dependencies. The PhD candidate will develop a scientifically balanced method for improving the quality of the living environment to future use through creative (re)design. They will work closely with the scientific staff to interpret the data needed for a comprehensive assessment of public health as a foundation for data-driven design interventions. Design of environments and spaces based on long-term investigation on health can stimulate the creation of healthy spatial conditions as the foundation for the design disciplines to confront new urgent problems: climate change, increasing inequality, limited access to resources and public health.

In support of the research-by-design method under development by the Group of Public Building and in line with the long-term exploration of the Group of History of Architecture and Urban Planning, the PhD candidate will investigate new spatial and typological articulations – buildings that can act as social catalyst for entire urban areas and that can improve quality of life collectively. In considering design as a decisive factor for reducing the spatial and social inequalities that characterize the built environment, the Groups of Public Building and History of Architecture and Urban Planning at TU Delft aim to implement an educational and research model that embraces cooperation, along with experimentation and digitalization with a focus on health in public buildings and spaces. The successful candidate will also be required to contribute to teaching programs of the Groups.

You have:

• Completed an MSc degree in Architecture, with a focus on Architectural Design;
• Awareness of and interest in long term developments;
• Previous experience in data-driven projects, as well as in coding, scripting, and artificial intelligence, preferably with an awareness of space-based processes;
• Familiarity with spatial data analysis, the use of geographic information systems (e.g. ArcGIS) and 3D modelling (e.g. BIM);
• Familiarity with research by design and data-driven design processes for example with software programs like Rhino, Revit, Grasshopper;
• Excellent Master study results;
• Previous research experience in a transdisciplinary setting;
• Ability to work collaboratively with others (students, faculty, and staff) to create a supportive research and learning environment.

It is nice if you have:

• At least 2 years of experience with working in a design office for architecture and/or urban design.

Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis. For more details please check the Graduate Schools Admission Requirements.

Fixed-term contract: 4 years.

Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1,5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2,5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from € 2541 per month in the first year to € 3247 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 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 Architecture & the Built Environment

The Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment has a leading role in education and research worldwide. The driving force behind the faculty’s success is its robust research profile combined with the energy and creativity of its student body and academic community. It is buzzing with energy from early in the morning until late at night, with four thousand people studying, working, designing, conducting research and acquiring and disseminating knowledge. Our faculty has a strong focus on 'design-oriented research’, which has given it a top position in world rankings.

Staff and students are working to improve the built environment with the help of a broad set of disciplines, including architectural design, urban planning, building technology, social sciences, process management, and geo-information science. The faculty works closely with other faculties, universities, private parties, and the public sector, and has an extensive network in the Netherlands as well as internationally.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Architecture and the Built.