In this PhD project we will develop novel data-driven and machine-learning-based approaches for monitoring, assessing, and forecasting the evolution of concentration of contaminants (such as microplastics, antibiotics, etc.) in coastal and ocean waters.

This PhD project is part of the Horizon Europe project ONE-BLUE (Integrated approach to assess the levels and impact of contaminants of Emerging concern on BLUE health and biodiversity modulated by climate change drivers). Contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) comprise a large variety of contaminants, including chemicals, microplastics, antibiotics, etc. CECs have been found in marine environments, and the bio-accumulation and bio-magnification of some CECs has been proven. In this context the goal of ONE-BLUE is to develop an integrated system for monitoring CECs in coastal and ocean waters, and assessing and forecasting their impact on marine ecosystems and their biodiversity, including combined effects due to climate change.

In this PhD project we will support the ONE-BLUE objectives and focus on four interacting topics:

• Modelling of CECs, which includes enhancement of existing CEC models with newly collected data within ONE-BLUE, and development of data-driven approaches to obtain up-to-date models for CEC monitoring in marine ecosystems.
• Sensor fusion for CEC parameters, i.e. the development of innovative sensor fusion methods to infer CEC values that are not measured directly and values at places with no or only partial measurements.
• Forecasting of CEC parameters, which includes the development of integrated data-driven and model-based methods for estimating and forecasting CEC data in both space and time based on sparse measurements/data.
• Integrated data-driven and model-based methods for early warning and decision support. Here, we will also use a combination of optimization-based and learning-based approaches, as well as model-based and data-driven approaches.

The PhD student will join our machine learning and optimization team at the Delft Center for Systems and Control (DCSC) of Delft University of Technology. At the DCSC, our mission is to conduct foundational research in systems dynamics and control, involving dynamic modeling, advanced control theory, and optimization with societally important application fields including energy, transportation, and sustainability.

This position is perfect for you if you have an MSc degree in systems and control, applied mathematics, AI, computer science, electrical engineering, or a related field, and a strong background or interest in systems & control and machine learning. You are expected to work on the boundary of several research domains.

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 € 2770 per month in the first year to € 3539 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 a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.

For international applicants, TU Delft has the Coming to Delft Service. This service provides information for new international employees to help you prepare the relocation and to settle in the Netherlands. The Coming to Delft Service offers a Dual Career Programme for partners and they organise events to expand your (social) network.

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 Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering

From chip to ship. From machine to human being. From idea to solution. Driven by a deep-rooted desire to understand our environment and discover its underlying mechanisms, research and education at the 3mE faculty focusses on fundamental understanding, design, production including application and product improvement, materials, processes and (mechanical) systems.

3mE is a dynamic and innovative faculty with high-tech lab facilities and international reach. It’s a large faculty but also versatile, so we can often make unique connections by combining different disciplines. This is reflected in 3mE’s outstanding, state-of-the-art education, which trains students to become responsible and socially engaged engineers and scientists. We translate our knowledge and insights into solutions to societal issues, contributing to a sustainable society and to the development of prosperity and well-being. That is what unites us in pioneering research, inspiring education and (inter)national cooperation.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering. Do you want to experience working at our faculty? These videos will introduce you to some of our researchers and their work.