The Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management (TPM) invites applications for a position as assistant professor/associate professor in Urban Energy Transition. The position is established within the department Engineering Systems and Services (ESS), more specifically in the Energy and Industry (E&I) section, where the research on energy system integration, decarbonization of the industry, energy transition and circular economy takes place. The ESS department aims to contribute to the scholarly debate at the highest international level, and is rooted in both engineering and social sciences. It hosts energy system experts, industry (decarbonisation), mobility (passenger as well as freight) and ICT experts (cyber, distributed systems, IT architectures), as well as choice modelling and decision making scholars. This combination of expertise guarantees that the cross-sectoral and socio-technical characteristics of urban energy transition challenges are addressed.

Cities account for more than 70% of global CO2 emissions. In the EU, they are home to 75% of the population, with associated large electricity, heating and mobility networks, while also hosting key industries and other energy-intensive economic activities. Decarbonising these complex urban energy systems is thus urgent, and key to fostering the energy transition at a broader scale; however, it is highly challenging. It requires planning across all energy sectors in an integrated way, deciding between almost infinite feasible combinations of technological and spatial system design options. Moreover, decisions need to be taken under uncertainty: within the urban system itself, different evolutions of user behaviour on heating and mobility are possible, with varying implications for system design. And outside the given system, alternative planning choices in neighbouring cities and regions on energy infrastructure (e.g., hydrogen networks) may restrict or enlarge the urban energy system design space. 
The focus of this position is to contribute to the analysis of the many possible designs of carbon-neutral urban energy systems in light of uncertainty. Next, engaging stakeholders across scales - from city districts to regional bodies - towards the identification of consensus solutions needs to be taken into account. Ideally, this shall require combining different tools and methods - from user-driven energy demand simulation to algorithms for discovering alternative system design options - into a coherent, scale-adaptable framework. In addition, the direct integration of stakeholder perspectives and their involvement in the modelling process is important to ensure that the captured options and trade-offs match real-world needs. Finally, the reusability and adaptability of the research results to other cities is foreseen to accelerate the urban energy transition.
 
The focus is on the following tasks:
- Developing a new research line in the field of Urban Energy Transition;
- Contributing to teaching in the BSc and MSc programmes of the faculty of Technology, Policy and Management;
- Leadership in acquisition of (inter)national research projects;
- Establishing strong collaborations with academic and industrial partners.

We are looking for candidates who:
- Have a proven background in an engineering domain demonstrated by a PhD degree in Energy Engineering or other inter-disciplinary energy-related programmes etc.;
- Have the ability and motivation to establish an own research direction within the area of urban and cross-scale energy transition;
- Have the capability to provide high-quality teaching and student supervision at the university level;
- Have the ability/willingness to initiate and direct research projects obtained by external funding;
- Have experience on system analysis and on the quantification of system design options;
- Have the affinity with energy transition problems across different geographical and temporal scales;
- Have organizational skills to cooperate effectively with staff, other research institutes and industry
- Have excellent communication and soft skills;
- Are open minded and team players
- Appreciate the value added of and wish to contribute to a diverse working environment.

This position is offered as an Academic Career Track position (0.8 – 1.0 FTE). During the Academic Career Track, we expect you to grow towards an Associate Professor position within a maximum of eight years, for which a position will be available. With other Academic Career Track colleagues, you will participate in the Academic Career Track Development programme, where you are offered ample opportunities to develop yourself in the areas of Education, Research, Societal Impact & Innovation, and Leadership & Organisation. You will regularly discuss your development and results with senior staff based on a personalized development and performance criteria agreed upon at the start of your Academic Career Track. You will start with a temporary contract that will be converted to a permanent contract no later than 12 -18 months after a positive evaluation, based on continuous confidence in your development potential and fit in the organisation.

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 as part of the Academic Career Track Development 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.

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 on health insurance and sport memberships, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged and you can work partly from home.

For international applicants, TU Delft has the Coming to Delft Service. This service addresses the needs of new international employees and those of their partners and families. The Coming to Delft Service offers personalised assistance during the preparation of the relocation, finding housing and schools for children (if applicable). In addition, a Dual Career Programme for partners is offered. The Coming to Delft Service will do their best to help you settle in the Netherlands.

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 and 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.