The TU Delft Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering, department of Sustainable Design Engineering is seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate to join our research group working on an exciting project on combining life cycle assessment (LCA) and sustainable design. 

You will be part of a large and ambitious European Union funded project to develop next generation zero emission aircraft. The design of this novel aircraft serves as a case study to develop new and improved sustainable design methods for highly complex products such as aircraft. This includes developing and testing new methods for integrating LCA and design, both conceptually and by developing several prototype workflows that can be implemented in software during or after the project. The project will allow you to broadly explore at what points in the aircraft design process it would make most sense to integrate LCA into the design process. In particular, you will be responsible for performing a case study LCA in support of design activities related to hydrogen powered aircraft

Besides a salary and benefits package, as well as the opportunity to work with a team of experts in the field of sustainable design engineering, and leading industrial partners such as Airbus. This is an excellent opportunity to make a significant scientific contribution to the field of sustainable design engineering while also having a real impact on the way products are designed.

• Master’s in Industrial Ecology, Industrial Design, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrable experience with Life Cycle Assessment
• Affinity with design
• Excellent scientific writing and communication skills
• Affinity with aerospace is a bonus

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.

Fixed-term contract: 4 years.

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 € 2541 per month in the first year to € 3247 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 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 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.