The Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management (TPM) invites applications for a position as Assistant Professor Future industrial systems: transition, materials, energy. The position is established within the department Engineering Systems and Services (ESS), more specifically in the Energy and Industry (E&I) section, where the research on energy system integration, decarbonization of the industry, energy transition and circular economy takes place. The ESS department aims to contribute to the scholarly debate at the highest international level, and is rooted in both engineering and social sciences. It hosts energy system experts, industry (decarbonisation), mobility (passenger as well as freight) and ICT experts (cyber, distributed systems, IT architectures), as well as choice modelling and decision making scholars. This combination of expertise guarantees that the cross-sectoral and socio-technical characteristics of urban energy transition challenges are addressed.

Decarbonization of the industry is imminent, as is the need to reduce raw material usage. The technological options for our future industrial systems include those that aim to reduce waste and close material cycles in order to improve circularity are diverse and have implications across many dimensions: economic, environmental and social. Because industrial systems are part of globally interconnected socio-technical engineering systems, trade-offs between system options to reduce raw material usage may play out elsewhere in place or time. All in all, what future industrial systems are desirable and how to shape the systems in place to get to those future systems, including the contributions to circularity, is unknown. Adopting a systemic view, this research considers industrial ecosystems in their context, considering the interconnectedness of various processes in material and energy flows, and the local, regional and broader perspectives of stakeholders involved. The focus of this position is to contribute to the analysis of the many options that shape future industrial systems. The modelling and analysis methods to address the many trade offs need to be improved. Modelling this requires the systematic representation of material and energy flows in industrial processes including social and environmental aspects and assessing the circularity aspects of a broad set of potential changes against a broad set of criteria. From such analyses, system design patterns may discovered, that form best practices: this may promote a nuanced and effective perspective on implementation of circular principles. By innovating modeling and analysis methods that embed the socio-technical complexities the envisioned research strives to pave the way for a more resilient and socially responsible industrial landscape.

The focus is on the following tasks:

• Developing a new research line in the field of Future industrial systems: transition, materials, energy.
• Contributing to teaching in the BSc and MSc programmes of the faculty of Technology, Policy and Management, e.g. on circularity.
• Leadership in acquisition of (inter)national research projects.
• Establishing strong collaborations with academic and industrial partners.

We are looking for candidates who:

• Have a proven background in an engineering domain demonstrated by a PhD degree in Chemical Technology, Energy (Systems) Engineering, Industrial Ecology, or other relevant inter-disciplinary programmes, etc.
• Have the ability and motivation to establish an own research direction within the area of Future industrial systems: transition, materials, energy.
• Have the capability to provide high-quality teaching and student supervision at the university level.
• Have the ability/willingness to initiate and direct research projects obtained by external funding.
• Have experience on system analysis and on the quantification of system design options.
• Have the affinity with circular economy challenges, with socio-technical systems, modelling and the industry.
• Have organizational skills to cooperate effectively with staff, other research institutes and industry.
• Have excellent communication and soft skills.
• Are open minded and team players.
• Appreciate the value added of and wish to contribute to a diverse working environment.

Please include in your application a motivation letter, research and teaching vision (not more than one page each), a curriculum vitae including your ‘top 3’ of impactful outputs.

Fixed-term contract: 1 year.

This position is offered as an Academic Career Track position (0.8 – 1.0 FTE). During the Academic Career Track, we expect you to grow towards an Associate Professor position within a maximum of eight years, for which a position will be available. With other Academic Career Track colleagues, you will participate in the Academic Career Track Development programme, where you are offered ample opportunities to develop yourself in the areas of Education, Research, Societal Impact & Innovation, and Leadership & Organisation. You will regularly discuss your development and results with senior staff based on a personalized development plan and performance criteria agreed upon at the start of your Academic Career Track. You will start with a temporary contract that will be converted to a permanent contract no later than 12 -18 months after a positive evaluation, based on continuous confidence in your development potential and fit in the organisation.

Assistant Professor
During the Academic Career Track, we expect you to grow towards an Associate Professor position within a maximum of eight years, for which a position will be available. With other Academic Career Track colleagues, you will participate in the Academic Career Track Development programme, where you are offered ample opportunities to develop yourself in the areas of Education, Research, Societal Impact & Innovation, and Leadership & Organisation. You will regularly discuss your development and results with senior staff based on a personalized development and performance criteria agreed upon at the start of your Academic Career Track. You will start with a temporary contract that will be converted to a permanent contract no later than 12 -18 months after a positive evaluation, based on continuous confidence in your development potential and fit in the organisation.

Inspiring, excellent education is our central aim. We expect you to obtain a University Teaching Qualification (UTQ) within three years if you have less than five years of teaching experience. This is provided by the TU Delft UTQ programme as part of the Academic Career Track Development programme.

TU Delft sets high standards for the English competency of the teaching staff. The TU Delft offers training to improve English competency. If you do not speak Dutch, we offer courses to learn the Dutch language within three years.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities. The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged and you can work partly from home.


For international applicants, TU Delft has the Coming to Delft Service. This service addresses the needs of new international employees and those of their partners and families. The Coming to Delft Service offers personalised assistance during the preparation of the relocation, finding housing and schools for children (if applicable). In addition, a Dual Career Programme for partners is offered. The Coming to Delft Service will do their best to help you settle in the Netherlands.

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 Technology, Policy and Management

The Faculty of TPM provides an important contribution to solving complex technical-social issues, such as energy transition, mobility, digitalisation, water management and (cyber) security. TPM does this with its excellent education and research at the intersection of technology, society and policy. We combine insights from both engineering and social sciences as well as the humanities. TPM develops robust models and designs, is internationally oriented and has an extensive network of knowledge institutions, companies, social organisations and governments.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management.