Assistant/Associate Professor in Metals Technology (Joint Position with Ghent University)

This opening is the result of a long-standing intense collaboration between the research group Metal Science and Technology at UGent and the department of Materials Science and Engineering at TU-Delft, which has taken the form of exchanges of academic staff and students between the departments involved since 2005. This opening represents the TU Delft's side of a full time position in which the successful candidate will perform 0.5 FTE at TU Delft and 0.5 FTE at UGent. The two part-time mandates, one at UGent and one at TU-Delft, must be occupied by one and the same person, enhancing the synergy between both institutions. See this link for the UGEnt position: http://tinyurl.com/3rkp7n9z

High-tech material characterisation is situated at the heart of the field of Metals Technology. This includes a broad spectrum of advanced observation techniques including electron microscopy (both SEM and TEM), X-ray diffraction and physical characterisation

techniques. Microstructure observation is not a goal in itself but is part of the investigation of the physical processes at the (sub-)microstructural scale that are responsible for functional material properties, e.g. mechanical properties of advanced steel grades. Equally important is the connection with current evolutions in metal-making processes, such as thermo-mechanical rolling or 3D printing, which allow the microstructure to be designed and created so as to reach the desired application properties. It is therefore not only important that the position is occupied by someone who has a thorough knowledge of experimental material characterization, but who also has an extensive theoretical knowledge of the materials models that form the basis of understanding physical materials processes. This is required also in order to seamlessly link the experimental research to the computational research activities in the relevant departments, e.g. in the field of applied thermodynamics and crystal plasticity when simulating solid-state transformations in metal alloys.

The successful candidate will be part of the microstructure team at MSE, participating in meetings for exchange of research ideas and the proposal of new fields. Most of the current research activities at the microstructure team at MSE concern phase transformations in steels, but also other alloys such as titanium alloys and high-entropy alloys. Both computational and experimental research of the successful candidate will be supported through collaborations with other researchers of the department, such as from the areas of computational design, corrosion and mechanical behaviour.

The educational tasks will include a contribution to the Master programme Materials Science and Engineering in core courses and electives, as well as supervision of Bachelor and Master students in student projects.

The department Materials & Science Engineering (MSE) operates in a Cooperative Principal Investigator (CPI) organisation, which optimises the internal communication and involvement of all personnel in managing the Department. The CPI organisation implies that each principal investigator (member of the scientific staff) has her or his distinct responsibility for a research line within the strategy of the Department and for the corresponding education tasks. This model acknowledges the independence and responsibility of all staff members, since each member of the scientific staff is expected to develop and employ her or his own research line. More experienced staff members have a mentor-like relation with younger colleagues rather than a hierarchical relation. The CPI organisation aims to stimulate interaction throughout the research themes of the Department. The model at MSE is “cooperative” because the scientific staff collectively share the responsibility for finances and strategic choices of the Department.

• A Ph.D. degree in Materials Science and Engineering or a closely related field, like Physics or Chemistry.
• Post-doctoral experience.
• Track record and international recognition in the area of understanding microstructure behaviour and development down to the atomic scale.
• An affinity with the research currently taking place in the departments at Delft and Ghent.
• Vision for strenghening the collaboration and synergy between both departments.
• Skills and enthusiasm to contribute to the educational responsibilities.
• Proven excellent communication skills and open-minded personality.
• Considering that the Deparment of MSE follows a CPI approach in governance, the successful applicant will have a collaborative spirit and will be able to look into the excellence of the Department as a whole in terms of strategy and development.
• Track record in initiating new projects and independently acquiring funding, preferably demonstrated through acquisition of personal grants.
• Excellent cooperation experience with industrial partners and external research institutions. 

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.

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.

The salary for a Academic Career Track (Assistant Professor) position is min. €4.332,- to max. €6.737,- per month gross.

For exceptionally strong and experienced candidates, an Associate Professor position can be considered.

For an Associate Professor position different terms of employment apply. Depending on background and experience, the salary can range from min. € 6.002,-to max. €8.025,- per month gross.

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 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!

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 ME faculty focusses on fundamental understanding, design, production including application and product improvement, materials, processes and (mechanical) systems.

ME 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 ME’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 Engineering. Do you want to experience working at our faculty? These videos will introduce you to some of our researchers and their work.

A pre-employment screening can be part of the selection procedure.