Context: Architectural Design Competitions (ADC) play a crucial role in the creation of a safe, fair, sustainable, inclusive and beautiful (built) environment and serve several purposes. This research position is part of the Creative Europe Programme (CREA) research project 'European Platform for Architectural Design Competitions' (ARCH-E), which aims to improve access to European architectural competitions for all and ensuring their quality across borders.

Currently architectural design competitions (ADCs) across Europe are characterised by different regulations, guidelines, procedures, standards, and instruments within each country, about which there is hardly any knowledge and information at transregional or transnational levels. This in practice often contradicts the actual goal of ADC tenders, namely to achieve the realisation of the best possible construction projects and buildings through the greatest possible participation. There is very little to no cross-border information with regards to ADCs within the international professional community that is easily accessible but rather a significant lack of awareness and also misunderstandings amongst those interested due to national, cultural and language-specific differences and peculiarities in terminologies, legal regulations, standards, aims and objectives of the tenders. This leads to the situation that with most ADCs, the transnational participation of architects is extremely low, and it hardly exists when looking at micro companies and solo-entrepreneurs.

The current situation in the field of European ADCs has several negative effects: First, it indirectly excludes many interested architects from participating in ADCs (especially true for small companies). Second, a lack of quality competition in many countries that leads to lowest price award criteria, instead of favourable cost-benefit ratios. And third, the lack of knowledge about the heterogeneity of the different ADCs procedures makes it difficult for policy makers, chambers and professional associations to anchor the central priorities and standards of European economic, employment, social, regional development and environmental policies throughout Europe with the appropriate intensity and quality (e.g., New European Bauhaus/Green Deal, and Baukultur).

Task: You will explore national ADC procedures and standards in all partner countries, their similarities, differences and peculiarities with regards to legislation, culture, terminology, standards, frameworks, awarding criteria. You will join the vibrant research community at the Department of the Built Environment at Eindhoven University of Technology, the Living Cities research programme, and collaborate within the research group of the chair Architectural Design and Engineering (ADE).

Starting date as soon as possible.

• Motivated researcher, with a PhD in architecture, urbanism, sociology, political science, law, or a related domain.
• Strong and demonstratable interest in architecture, the built environment and/or tender processes.
• Ability to conduct high quality academic research, reflected in demonstratable outputs. Strong and demonstratable quantitative and qualitative research skills (desk research, policy analysis, plan/setup/conduct interviews, data analysis)
• A team player who enjoys working in a dynamic, interdisciplinary team.
• Strong managing and organizational skills.
• Excellent (written and verbal) proficiency in English (min. C1 level), and good communication skills.
• Ability to travel within EU to research project partner meetings

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:

• 0,4 to 0,8 FTE employment for 15 months.
• Salary in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, scale 10 (min. € 3.557,- max. € 4.670,-).
• A year-end bonus of 8.3% and annual vacation pay of 8%.
• High-quality training programs on general skills, didactics and topics related to research and valorization.
• 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 TU/e Postdoc Association that helps you to build a stronger and broader academic and personal network, and offers tailored support, training and workshops.
• A Staff Immigration Team is available for international candidates, as are a tax compensation scheme (the 30% facility) and a compensation for moving expenses.