Recent large-scale population research showed that healthy lifestyle extends lifetime by six years and delays the onset of chronic diseases by nine years. Multiple interventions are available to help people achieve a healthier lifestyle. These interventions are successful in motivating people to initiate a behavioural change (BC) but often fail keep people aboard and maintain their behavioural change.

The present project investigates and evaluates how design can support motivation for a BC maintenance. To reach this aim we will investigate four strategies of personalisation of motivating incentives:

1. Adapt incentive–type, -quantity, and –moment to BC stage;
2. Introduce personal health feedback as motivator;
3. Personalise incentives to user’s engagement profile; and
4. Change system-initiated incentives into user-initiated incentives.

The Enduring Rewards project will work on three existing behavioural change programs. One of these programs is the LekkerFit! Program by the city of Rotterdam. This program, started in 2005, aims to motivate children and adolescents in Rotterdam for a healthy lifestyle involving healthy nutrition and physical activity.

The present position will focus on the LekkerFit! program with adolescents as target group. Activities of the PhD function will involve user context studies, user health journeys, iterative rapid-prototype design, cocreative design of personalized incentives, and evaluation and integration of the design demonstrators in the LekkerFit! program.

As a PhD in the Enduring Rewards project you will work in a team of design researchers (TU Delft), public health researchers (ErasmusMC), the municipality of Rotterdam, and game design- and eHealth-companies. Other involved partners in the project are Leiden University and LUMC.

Since the research will be performed in the Dutch context, you need to speak and write Dutch fluently.

The PhD candidate holds a master degree in Design science and/or a related discipline to the project, such as Psychology, Medical Informatics, Human Movement Science, Health, and can show a clear and demonstrated affinity with human-centred design. The candidate has excellent communication and writing skills, is creative, can work in an interdisciplinary practical and theoretical context, and has experience with co-creation. Experience in working with behavioural change projects and the target group, i.e. adolescents (especially in low SES neighbourhoods), is a plus.

Fixed-term contract: 48 maanden.

TU Delft offers PhD-candidates a 4-year contract, with an official go/no go progress assessment after one year. Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from € 2395 per month in the first year to € 3061 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 sport memberships, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged. For international applicants we offer the Coming to Delft Service and Partner Career Advice to assist you with your relocation.

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 and aim to be as inclusive as possible (see our Code of Conduct). Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale.

Challenge. Change. Impact! 

Faculty Industrial Design Engineering

Matching the evolution of people with the speed of the revolution of technology. This is the focus of the Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering (IDE). Delft designers act as a bridge between advances in technology and the needs of people, organisations and society to create products, services and systems with purpose.

IDE is a leader in design research across the application areas of mobility, sustainability and health, as well as its development of design tools and methods. A 350-strong research team and over 2,000 students work together in our inspiring hall, labs and studios.

In close cooperation with industry, the public sector and NGOs we rehearse possible futures in research and education to design for a complex future.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering.