The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted vulnerabilities within healthcare systems worldwide. The cascading impacts of workforce unavailability, the disruptions of critical supply chains, and the overburdening of emergency services combined with poor coordination and inadequate governance, led to lasting disruptions with severe impacts for society and economy. While this was an example of an acute external shock to the healthcare system, it exposed the realities in the everyday functioning of health systems globally struggling to meet care demands, which could have repercussions for future shocks and/or disasters. Future stressors such as accumulating effects of financial constraints and burned-out workforce could result in worse outcomes.

Following COVID-19, the World Health Organisation (WHO) made policy recommendations for increasing health systems resilience and pointed to the importance of addressing resilience in all aspects of the healthcare system, including transforming ‘obsolete’ practices and re-designing policies, protocols and services. Such system and institutional changes require design methods which take into account the complex multi-stakeholder environment.

We are seeking candidates whose research will focus on analysing and designing methods to make healthcare systems better able to deal with internal and external disruptions, thereby contributing towards the resilience of healthcare systems globally. In line with the faculty’s ethos, we seek candidates that can demonstrate how their research addresses the sociotechnical characteristics of health systems, and/or the associated challenges this may bring. This includes, but is not limited to, the multi-actor environments in which decisions about clinical care take place, the complex policy implications and decisions for delivering care, the ethical implications of health data and privacy, among many others.

Prospective candidates should demonstrate the core methodological contribution they would make to our Policy Analysis section. Areas of methodological expertise of the section’s staff members range from social-constructivist approaches to formal methods to support multi-actor systems analysis and design, such as participatory interventions, co-design methods, problem structuring, serious gaming, monitoring and evaluation, scenarios and visioning, adaptive planning, modelling and simulation, and data analytics.

While some overlap with existing methodologies and tools is welcome, we particularly value new and novel methodological additions to our team. Candidates should explicitly state in their application what anticipated methodological contributions they bring, and how they see themselves fitting within the existing strengths in our team. These can include a range of quantitative, modelling, simulation techniques, or qualitative, participatory methods. Experience or willingness to work with a mixed methods approach is particularly welcome.

Following the new multi-annual strategy 2022-2025, ‘health’ is now a core domain focus for our faculty. The candidate will be joining an existing community of researchers and educators bringing innovative and scientific breakthroughs to solving the complex socio-technical challenges within health systems. Researchers in our faculty work in close collaboration with Erasmus University Rotterdam, Erasmus Medical Centre, Leiden University Medical Centre, as well as joint institutes with Erasmus University such as the Pandemic & Disaster Preparedness Centre. Our ambition is to continue to grow this community by appointing new staff members dedicated to applying their skills to this domain, while also supporting cross-domain knowledge exchange with the rest of the faculty, in areas such as energy, transport, and climate. .

We are looking for someone who has:

• A background in industrial engineering/systems engineering/policy analysis or another relevant methodological master and PhD degree
• Proven research performance in the field of healthcare systems, as demonstrated by the publication track record
• An appreciation of the advantages and disadvantages of diverse qualitative and quantitative methods for analysis and design
• Affinity with the public domain, and ability and interest to cross disciplinary boundaries
• Enthusiasm for and relevant experience in academic teaching and supervision
• A team oriented attitude, and strong communication and collaboration skills
• Excellent command of the English language, both spoken and written
• Command of the Dutch language, or a willingness to learn Dutch

Fixed-term contract: indefinite.

We offer talented academics a clear and attractive career path with the expectation that you will have the potential to grow into a full professor position in the future. If you perform well, the intention is to convert your contract into a permanent one. At the start of your employment, agreements will be made about this based on our performance indicators.

During the selection procedure, it will be determined, depending on your background and experience, whether you are eligible for an assistant professor Tenure track (tudelft.nl) position or an associate professor.

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.

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 TU Delft sets specific standards for the English competency of the teaching staff. The TU Delft offers training to improve English competency. Inspiring, excellent education is our central aim. If you have less than five years of teaching experience and do not yet have your teaching certificate, you get the chance to obtain this within three years.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (salary indication for Assistant Professor: € 3.974 - € 6.181. Salary indication for Associate Professor € 5.506 - € 7.362).

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, a discount for health insurance and sport memberships, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.

Coming to Delft Service and Partner Career Advice can support with advice for you and your accompanying partner about your individual settling needs in the Netherlands. Once arrived you can be supported with individual consults and diverse workshops. Located on Campus are the International Children’s Centre and an international primary school, which are subject to availability as well as several bilingual schools in the nearby surrounding.

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 Technology, Policy and Management

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

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