Postdoc Researcher for Monitoring in-Situ Root Growth in Urban Settings

Challenge: Increasing the number of trees in cities is a viable approach to adapt to the changing climate. Although trees bring many benefits, they also come with challenges. Tree roots, for example, often lead to damaged infrastructure as roads, sewers and foundations.
Impact: Prediction of tree root growth will enable more resilient greening of cities, and therefore reduce the impact of climate change.    

Job description
The ambition of this project is to create a 'digital twin' of the ecosystem services of the urban soil/subsoil in Amsterdam required for optimal tree growth. Ecosystem services include: storing water in the unsaturated zone; draining water via groundwater; sequestering carbon; filtering and breaking down contaminants in groundwater; providing a growth environment for soil and plant roots; providing carrying capacity for infrastructure; providing biological activity for biological soil improvement.

The digital twin aims to be a tool that provides insight into where tree roots grow and what impact these roots have on the local environment. The presence of active tree roots influences water flow, water content and nutrient transport. In addition, as tree roots grow, they apply stresses on infrastructure such as roads, foundations and sewers. This often leads to damages requiring expensive repair measures and often the tree is then removed. The aim of this project is to understand how tree roots grow in the urban context and use these insights to predict how they will damage infrastructure, but also to develop approaches to prevent damage. In the project we aim to develop a numerical model to predict root growth.

Your task as a Postdoc researcher is to develop a measurement and monitoring strategy at a number of sites in Amsterdam to quantify tree root growth from in-situ measurements. This should provide the team with data which can be used as site- specific boundary conditions for running model scenarios, and data which can be used to test the developed models. Measurements will include, for example, water content, and pressure head with local in-situ sensors. In addition we aim to carry out spatially distributed measurements with for example shallow-depth geo-radar.

You will be based at the department of Geoscience & Engineering (GSE) within the faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences in Delft. There will be a close working relationship with the AMS-institute in Amsterdam. Field sites will be provided by the city of Amsterdam.

GSE has an excellent laboratory and field measurement capacity with very experienced support staff for high level geotechnical and geophysical measurement setups.

At TU Delft, we offer a supportive and inclusive working environment that values international collaboration, innovation, and work-life balance. If you’re enthusiastic about combining science, innovation, and societal impact, we’d love to hear from you. Join us in shaping a more sustainable future!

Job requirements
You are an engineer looking to use your analytical and technical skills and innate curiosity to create an impact for a more sustainable urban environment. You also thrive in a complex trans-disciplinary team with many stakeholders.

In addition you have:

• An MSc and PhD in Geosciences, Environmental Science or Engineering, with a focus on Soil Physics, Geotechnical Engineering, or Geophysics;
• You have strong experimental skills and experience with field experiments;
• You have experience with soil physical measurement and monitoring techniques;
• You have experience with shallow depth geophysical measurement techniques;
• You can manage automated high frequency measurements and the resulting data streams;
• You have knowledge of plant physiology;
• You have a driving license valid in the Netherlands; 

As the position requires you to work independently on site in Amsterdam, Dutch proficiency is important as well.    

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 of Civil Engineering and Geosciences
The Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences (CEG) is committed to outstanding international research and education in the field of civil engineering, applied earth sciences, traffic and transport, water technology, and delta technology. Our research feeds into our educational programmes and covers societal challenges such as climate change, energy transition, resource availability, urbanisation and clean water. Our research projects are conducted in close cooperation with a wide range of research institutions. CEG is convinced of the importance of open science and supports its scientists in integrating open science in their research practice. The Faculty of CEG comprises 28 research groups in the following seven departments: Materials Mechanics Management & Design, Engineering Structures, Geoscience and Engineering, Geoscience and Remote Sensing, Transport & Planning, Hydraulic Engineering and Water Management.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences.

Conditions of employment

• Duration of contract is 2 years. Temporary.
• A job of 36-38 hours per week.
• Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities.
• An excellent pension scheme via the ABP.
• The possibility to compile an individual employment package every year.
• Discount with health insurers on supplemental packages.
• Flexible working week.
• Every year, 232 leave hours (at 38 hours). You can also sell or buy additional leave hours via the individual choice budget.
• Plenty of opportunities for education, training and courses.
• Partially paid parental leave
• Attention for working healthy and energetically with the vitality program.

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.

Additional information
For more information about this vacancy, please contact Timo Heimovaara, professor in Geoenvironmental Engineering, e-mail: t.j.heimovaara@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:

• A two-page motivation letter, explaining how your experience matches the requirements for this position.
• Degree transcripts.
• An up-to-date CV.
• Two key publications by you.
• The names and contact information of at least three relevant references. We will not contact references without your consent.  

You can address your application to Timo Heimovaara.

Please note:

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
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