Assistant Professor in Surface Interaction Design and Engineering

Join us at the University of Twente, where cutting-edge research meets real-world impact. We are seeking a visionary Assistant Professor to pioneer new frontiers in Surface Interaction Design and Engineering -a field at the intersection of materials science, mechanical engineering, and human-centered design.

From smart coatings and tactile interfaces to micro-scale tribology and bio-inspired surfaces, your work will help redefine how materials behave, perform, and connect. If you're passionate about pushing boundaries, collaborating across disciplines, and mentoring the next generation of engineers and designers, we want to hear from you.

About the Position
As an Assistant Professor, you will be and integral team member of the vibrant, interdisciplinary Funcitonal Surface Engineering and Design group within the MS3 department of the Faculty of Engineering Technology (https://www.utwente.nl/en/et/ms3/research-chairs/fused). You will help us drive innovation in surface interaction design. Building on the pillars of topology, materials and metrology, your research will span topics such as tribology, adhesion, wettability, micro/nano-engineering, and human-material interfaces. You’ll bridge fundamental science and applied engineering, contributing to solutions that impact industries ranging from healthcare and robotics to aerospace and consumer technology.

You are expected to contribute to and take responsibility for research and teaching development in the following ways:

• Develop your own research identity in surface interaction design and engineering.
• Deliver high-quality research and disseminate the results in high quality international refereed journals and conferences.
• Build relevant and necessary networks to attract external funding (national science foundation, EU, government and industry)
• Teach, inspire and supervise students in the Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Design Engineering programmes at both Bachelor and Master levels.
• Supervise and mentor EngD and PhD researchers.
• Design and deliver engaging courses in English.

We are looking for a candidate who combines scientific excellence with creativity and a collaborative spirit:

• A PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Applied Physics, or a related field.
• A strong publication record in surface interaction-related topics.
• Demonstrated potential to attract research funding.
• Experience with experimental and computational methods.
• Excellent communication skills and a passion for teaching.
• A willingness to obtain the Dutch University Teaching Qualification (UTQ), if not already acquired.
• Fluency in English (Dutch language proficiency is not required initially, but encouraged as a long-term goal).