PhD Position on Responding to Values and Value Tensions in Transitions in the Built Environment

Want to shape future transitions? Join us in supporting practitioners and policymakers as they navigate real-world, value-based change in the built environment.

Job description
This PhD position is part of the NWO-funded AMBITIONS project, a transdisciplinary consortium in the built environment. Together, we explore how value-driven tools can help practitioners and policymakers navigate value tensions that arise at the intersection of multiple transitions. One of the aims of the project is to develop a systemic view of values and maps the values and value relationships (conflicts and complementarities) within and between public values articulated in the transitions relevant to the built environment with an emphasis on the energy transition, the transition to a circular economy and the preventive public health transition.

As part of you research, you will carry out the following research activities:

• Develop a conceptual framework that helps to explicate how policymakers can respond to values and values relationships found at the regional and local level with respect to transitions in the built environment;
• Empirically apply this framework and carry out interviews with key stakeholders in and outside the consortium;
• Do a comparative analysis of policy responses to public values and value conflicts in various transitions in the built environment to identify best practices. The results will be laid down in a policy brief for policymakers.

Your research will be part of Work Package 1 of the AMBTIONS projects. This WP focuses on the national, policy-making level of transitions whereas other WPs focus more on the regional and local level. WP 1 aims to understand 1) how values are systematically connected to each other, and 2) how policy makers can identify and respond to public values and value relationships. The focus of your research will be on the second objective. The first objective will be investigated by a postdoc at the Utrecht University (UU). We aim for a close collaboration between TU Delft and UU in WP 1. A description of the AMBITIONS project is available on request.

You will join the section Ethics and Philosophy of Technology at the Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management, You will collaborate with researchers at the TU Delft Faculty of Industrial Engineering, Utrecht University, University of Twente, and Avans Hogeschool. Together, you will be part of an active network of leading researchers in Design for Values, the Built Environment, and Transition Studies.

Job requirements

• You have, or are about to receive, a Master's Degree in (applied) philosophy, Science and Technology Studies (STS), policy sciences, transition studies or another relevant discipline.
• You have demonstrated affinity with, and expertise in philosophy (in case you do not have a degree in philosophy).
• You have affinity with technology and values
• You have good analytical and concpetual skills, and preferably some experience with empirical research
• You are proficient in English.
• You are able to do independent research and have good writing and publication skills.
• You are willing to collaborate also with the non-scientific partners in the consortium and to contribute to societal impact.

You will be supervised by Prof. dr. ir. Ibo van de Poel (Technical University Delft) and dr.ir. Udo Pesch (Technical University Delft)
Your work location is Delft. We expect that you will move to the Netherlands, to the region where the university is located or to a region from which a daily commute is feasible

TU Delft (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 & 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.

Conditions of employment
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 €3059 - €3881 gross per month, from the first year to the fourth year based on a fulltime contract (38 hours), plus 8% holiday allowance and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%.

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.

Will you need to relocate to the Netherlands for this job? TU Delft is committed to make your move as smooth as possible! The HR unit, Coming to Delft Service, offers information on their website to help you prepare your relocation. In addition, Coming to Delft Service organises events to help you settle in the Netherlands, and expand your (social) network in Delft. A Dual Career Programme is available, to support your accompanying partner with their job search in the Netherlands.

We provide excellent mentorship and a stimulating research environment.

We encourage a high degree of responsibility and independence, while collaborating with close colleagues, researchers and other university staff, as well as with other partners within the AMBTIONS consortium.

We offer a four-year fulltime PhD student position, preferably starting in April or May 2025.

Additional information
If you would like more information about this vacancy or the selection procedure, please contact Ibo van de Poel (i.r.vandepoel@tudelft.nl).

Application procedure
Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 8 March 2026 via the application button and upload the following documents:

• CV.
• Motivational letter.
• A writing sample.
• A short proposal about how you would want to carry out the research (1 page).

You can address your application to Ibo van de Poel and Udo Pesch.

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.

Please note:

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
• As part of knowledge security, TU Delft conducts a risk assessment during the recruitment of personnel. We do this, among other things, to prevent the unwanted transfer of sensitive knowledge and technology. The assessment is based on information provided by the candidates themselves, such as their motivation letter and CV, and takes place at the final stages of the selection process. When the outcome of the assessment is negative, the candidate will be informed. The processing of personal data in the context of the risk assessment is carried out on the legal basis of the GDPR: performing a public task in the public interest. You can find more information about this assessment on our website about knowledge security.
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