Postdoc: Validating a Digital Twin for Evaluating Emission Reduction Strategies for Inland Shipping

Job description

The postdoctoral research is part of the NWO project “PAving THe way towards Zero-Emission and RObust inland shipping (PATH2ZERO)”, which aims to develop breakthrough action perspectives and sustainable business models for all parties in the inland shipping chain, contributing to the transition to emission-free inland shipping. The main objective of the project is the evaluation of zero-emission strategies, the effectiveness of policies and technologies, and the assessment of the consequences of their implementation on the inland shipping system.

One aim of the PATH2ZERO project is to translate research outcomes into practice, so that end users can make better-informed decisions. For this purpose, PATH2ZERO aims to develop a digital twin. The main goal of this data-driven virtual representation of the inland waterway transport system is to assess the efficiency of proposed solutions for emissions reduction in inland waterway transport. Three main aspects are regarded as vital components of the digital twin: the individual vessels, fleet and its operations, and the infrastructure.

As these components require a detailed representation within a large-scale transport system, a meso-scale agent-based approach has been selected as a suitable basis for the digital twin. This enables the assessment of potential interventions, ranging from the application of new technologies to individual vessels to policy measures that are implemented for an entire shipping corridor, or various bunker infrastructure strategies in the network. In addition, the impact of the feasible interventions can be evaluated, ranging from the individual ship level and its emissions to the network level and the aggregated emissions in an entire area, or the impact on the logistics chain.

For validating the digital twin, real-world data sources (AIS data, hydrodynamic data, infrastructure data, etc.) will be used in combination with already existing tools for maritime traffic simulation (e.g., OpenTNSim, which is being developed at TU Delft), energy consumption estimates, and emission algorithms. The relevant processes at the individual vessel level can be modelled in detail, and their performance can be tracked in time and space. Corridor scale effects will be simulated by aggregating the results of multiple vessels that together represent the corridor's traffic.

Three regions will be modelled as areas of interest: the Rotterdam – Basel corridor (an open waterway, that is vulnerable to high and low discharge events), the Rotterdam – Antwerp / Gent corridor (a closed waterway that includes various locks and short-sea shipping), and the larger Port of Rotterdam region (a region that includes both sea-going and inland vessels in an area subject to currents and tides).

While the scope of this research focuses on validating a digital twin using operational data from inland vessels, it is expected to involve close collaboration with project stakeholders and researchers within the project. This collaboration will contribute to the quantitative assessment of emission reduction strategies, paving the way toward zero-emission inland shipping.

Job requirements
We are looking for a candidate with an interdisciplinary track record who is able to integrate engineering, environmental, and social science knowledge into a new framework for zero-emission inland shipping. This position requires outstanding skills in modelling and working with big datasets. In addition, the applicants should have:

• PhD diploma in Transportation, Logistics, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Maritime Engineering, or any other related field.
• Experience with agent-based modelling is essential.
• Experience with big data analytics, Python, and an affinity for acquiring new skills in this area.
• Ability to collaborate with both scientific and industrial partners.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)
Working at TU Delft means contributing to solutions that really make a difference.

For over 180 years, we have been training engineers who make an impact worldwide in companies, government bodies, or as entrepreneurs. Our alumni turn knowledge into concrete solutions for the challenges of today and tomorrow. These challenges are changing rapidly. That is why we focus on themes such as energy, climate, digitalisation, artificial intelligence (AI), and smart mobility every day. Our education and research are directly aligned with what society needs now and in the future.

At TU Delft, our people make the difference. With their knowledge and curiosity, our staff provide a high-quality education and conduct pioneering research that extends beyond the campus. You will have the opportunity to take the initiative, work with others, and grow as a professional. Working at TU Delft means join an international community of professionals and students. Together, we create knowledge, innovations, and solutions that help move the world forward.

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.

Postdoc Bipolar Membrane Development for Acid-Base Flow Battery Systems

Job description

Energy storage is an indispensable factor for bridging the electricity consumption with the intermittent renewable energy supply. Electricity grids face significant challenges in balancing economic growth with sustainability targets. Rapid electrification across industrial, transport, commercial, and residential sectors strains existing grid infrastructure, leading to congestion and transmission bottlenecks. These issues limit the integration of renewable energy. Long-duration energy storage (LDES), that provide 8+ hours of storage, can balance intermittent production and demand, thereby stabilizing the grid, reducing reliance on fossil fuels, and ensuring more effective use of renewable energy. TenneT expects 4.9 GW of large-scale battery storage is required in The Netherlands by 2030, while there was only 0.14 GW installed in 2023. Hence, a rapid scale-up of LDES is needed.

In that light, we started a collaborative project, with universities (TU Delft, UTwente, TU/Eindhoven, HAN) and companies (AQUABATTERY, Elestor, Exergy Storage, RWE, Nobian), to develop batteries for long-duration energy storage. Specifically, this postdoc position focuses on acid-base flow batteries, and more specifically the stack engineering in this system. Acid-base flow batteries are based on dissociating water into acid and base during charging, using bipolar membranes, and recombining acid and base in this membrane to retrieve electrical energy.

We’re looking for an excellent postdoc, with strong membrane development skills, to study development of bipolar membranes for acid-base flow batteries. In close collaboration with researchers at TU/Eindhoven and AQUABATTERY, we'll develop new bipolar membranes with high water dissociation efficiency, low resistance, and high selectivity. You'll develop new materials and new configurations to improve the membrane performance, and you'll analyze the directions for improvement. You'll also study possible other membrane-related aspects and other applications for the same materials. Part of the job is to educate students in courses related to the research.

In case you're interested in working with flow batteries for long-duration energy storage, and not particularly in bipolar membrane development, please feel free to also look at other vacancies posted at the same time in the framework of the REDOX BLEND project.

Job requirements
We’re looking for a candidate with:

• A PhD degree, in chemical engineering or applied chemistry
• Proven experience in working with bipolar membranes
• Proven experience in nanostructures and catalytic membranes
• An excellent publication record
• Pro-active and creative mind-set
• Fluent in English. Speaking Dutch is a plus
• Starting date October 2026

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)
Working at TU Delft means contributing to solutions that really make a difference.

For over 180 years, we have been training engineers who make an impact worldwide in companies, government bodies, or as entrepreneurs. Our alumni turn knowledge into concrete solutions for the challenges of today and tomorrow. These challenges are changing rapidly. That is why we focus on themes such as energy, climate, digitalisation, artificial intelligence (AI), and smart mobility every day. Our education and research are directly aligned with what society needs now and in the future.

At TU Delft, our people make the difference. With their knowledge and curiosity, our staff provide a high-quality education and conduct pioneering research that extends beyond the campus. You will have the opportunity to take the initiative, work with others, and grow as a professional. Working at TU Delft means join an international community of professionals and students. Together, we create knowledge, innovations, and solutions that help move the world forward.

Faculty Applied Sciences
With more than 1,100 employees, including 150 pioneering principal investigators, as well as a population of about 3,600 passionate students, the Faculty of Applied Sciences is an inspiring scientific ecosystem. Focusing on key enabling technologies, such as quantum- and nanotechnology, photonics, biotechnology, synthetic biology and materials for energy storage and conversion, our faculty aims to provide solutions to important problems of the 21st century. To that end, we educate innovative students in broad Bachelor's and specialist Master's programmes with a strong research component. Our scientists conduct ground-breaking fundamental and applied research in the fields of Life and Health Science & Technology, Nanoscience, Chemical Engineering, Radiation Science & Technology, and Engineering Physics. We are also training the next generation of high school teachers.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Applied Sciences.

Postdoc: Validating a Digital Twin for Evaluating Emission Reduction Strategies for Inland Shipping

Job description

The postdoctoral research is part of the NWO project “PAving THe way towards Zero-Emission and RObust inland shipping (PATH2ZERO)”, which aims to develop breakthrough action perspectives and sustainable business models for all parties in the inland shipping chain, contributing to the transition to emission-free inland shipping. The main objective of the project is the evaluation of zero-emission strategies, the effectiveness of policies and technologies, and the assessment of the consequences of their implementation on the inland shipping system.

One aim of the PATH2ZERO project is to translate research outcomes into practice, so that end users can make better-informed decisions. For this purpose, PATH2ZERO aims to develop a digital twin. The main goal of this data-driven virtual representation of the inland waterway transport system is to assess the efficiency of proposed solutions for emissions reduction in inland waterway transport. Three main aspects are regarded as vital components of the digital twin: the individual vessels, fleet and its operations, and the infrastructure.

As these components require a detailed representation within a large-scale transport system, a meso-scale agent-based approach has been selected as a suitable basis for the digital twin. This enables the assessment of potential interventions, ranging from the application of new technologies to individual vessels to policy measures that are implemented for an entire shipping corridor, or various bunker infrastructure strategies in the network. In addition, the impact of the feasible interventions can be evaluated, ranging from the individual ship level and its emissions to the network level and the aggregated emissions in an entire area, or the impact on the logistics chain.

For validating the digital twin, real-world data sources (AIS data, hydrodynamic data, infrastructure data, etc.) will be used in combination with already existing tools for maritime traffic simulation (e.g., OpenTNSim, which is being developed at TU Delft), energy consumption estimates, and emission algorithms. The relevant processes at the individual vessel level can be modelled in detail, and their performance can be tracked in time and space. Corridor scale effects will be simulated by aggregating the results of multiple vessels that together represent the corridor's traffic.

Three regions will be modelled as areas of interest: the Rotterdam – Basel corridor (an open waterway, that is vulnerable to high and low discharge events), the Rotterdam – Antwerp / Gent corridor (a closed waterway that includes various locks and short-sea shipping), and the larger Port of Rotterdam region (a region that includes both sea-going and inland vessels in an area subject to currents and tides).

While the scope of this research focuses on validating a digital twin using operational data from inland vessels, it is expected to involve close collaboration with project stakeholders and researchers within the project. This collaboration will contribute to the quantitative assessment of emission reduction strategies, paving the way toward zero-emission inland shipping.

Job requirements
We are looking for a candidate with an interdisciplinary track record who is able to integrate engineering, environmental, and social science knowledge into a new framework for zero-emission inland shipping. This position requires outstanding skills in modelling and working with big datasets. In addition, the applicants should have:

• PhD diploma in Transportation, Logistics, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Maritime Engineering, or any other related field.
• Experience with agent-based modelling is essential.
• Experience with big data analytics, Python, and an affinity for acquiring new skills in this area.
• Ability to collaborate with both scientific and industrial partners.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)
Working at TU Delft means contributing to solutions that really make a difference.

For over 180 years, we have been training engineers who make an impact worldwide in companies, government bodies, or as entrepreneurs. Our alumni turn knowledge into concrete solutions for the challenges of today and tomorrow. These challenges are changing rapidly. That is why we focus on themes such as energy, climate, digitalisation, artificial intelligence (AI), and smart mobility every day. Our education and research are directly aligned with what society needs now and in the future.

At TU Delft, our people make the difference. With their knowledge and curiosity, our staff provide a high-quality education and conduct pioneering research that extends beyond the campus. You will have the opportunity to take the initiative, work with others, and grow as a professional. Working at TU Delft means join an international community of professionals and students. Together, we create knowledge, innovations, and solutions that help move the world forward.

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.

Postdoc Bipolar Membrane Development for Acid-Base Flow Battery Systems

Job description

Energy storage is an indispensable factor for bridging the electricity consumption with the intermittent renewable energy supply. Electricity grids face significant challenges in balancing economic growth with sustainability targets. Rapid electrification across industrial, transport, commercial, and residential sectors strains existing grid infrastructure, leading to congestion and transmission bottlenecks. These issues limit the integration of renewable energy. Long-duration energy storage (LDES), that provide 8+ hours of storage, can balance intermittent production and demand, thereby stabilizing the grid, reducing reliance on fossil fuels, and ensuring more effective use of renewable energy. TenneT expects 4.9 GW of large-scale battery storage is required in The Netherlands by 2030, while there was only 0.14 GW installed in 2023. Hence, a rapid scale-up of LDES is needed.

In that light, we started a collaborative project, with universities (TU Delft, UTwente, TU/Eindhoven, HAN) and companies (AQUABATTERY, Elestor, Exergy Storage, RWE, Nobian), to develop batteries for long-duration energy storage. Specifically, this postdoc position focuses on acid-base flow batteries, and more specifically the stack engineering in this system. Acid-base flow batteries are based on dissociating water into acid and base during charging, using bipolar membranes, and recombining acid and base in this membrane to retrieve electrical energy.

We’re looking for an excellent postdoc, with strong membrane development skills, to study development of bipolar membranes for acid-base flow batteries. In close collaboration with researchers at TU/Eindhoven and AQUABATTERY, we'll develop new bipolar membranes with high water dissociation efficiency, low resistance, and high selectivity. You'll develop new materials and new configurations to improve the membrane performance, and you'll analyze the directions for improvement. You'll also study possible other membrane-related aspects and other applications for the same materials. Part of the job is to educate students in courses related to the research.

In case you're interested in working with flow batteries for long-duration energy storage, and not particularly in bipolar membrane development, please feel free to also look at other vacancies posted at the same time in the framework of the REDOX BLEND project.

Job requirements
We’re looking for a candidate with:

• A PhD degree, in chemical engineering or applied chemistry
• Proven experience in working with bipolar membranes
• Proven experience in nanostructures and catalytic membranes
• An excellent publication record
• Pro-active and creative mind-set
• Fluent in English. Speaking Dutch is a plus
• Starting date October 2026

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)
Working at TU Delft means contributing to solutions that really make a difference.

For over 180 years, we have been training engineers who make an impact worldwide in companies, government bodies, or as entrepreneurs. Our alumni turn knowledge into concrete solutions for the challenges of today and tomorrow. These challenges are changing rapidly. That is why we focus on themes such as energy, climate, digitalisation, artificial intelligence (AI), and smart mobility every day. Our education and research are directly aligned with what society needs now and in the future.

At TU Delft, our people make the difference. With their knowledge and curiosity, our staff provide a high-quality education and conduct pioneering research that extends beyond the campus. You will have the opportunity to take the initiative, work with others, and grow as a professional. Working at TU Delft means join an international community of professionals and students. Together, we create knowledge, innovations, and solutions that help move the world forward.

Faculty Applied Sciences
With more than 1,100 employees, including 150 pioneering principal investigators, as well as a population of about 3,600 passionate students, the Faculty of Applied Sciences is an inspiring scientific ecosystem. Focusing on key enabling technologies, such as quantum- and nanotechnology, photonics, biotechnology, synthetic biology and materials for energy storage and conversion, our faculty aims to provide solutions to important problems of the 21st century. To that end, we educate innovative students in broad Bachelor's and specialist Master's programmes with a strong research component. Our scientists conduct ground-breaking fundamental and applied research in the fields of Life and Health Science & Technology, Nanoscience, Chemical Engineering, Radiation Science & Technology, and Engineering Physics. We are also training the next generation of high school teachers.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Applied Sciences.

Legal Officer Research Projects EWI

Functieomschrijving

De faculteit Elektrotechniek, Wiskunde en Informatica (EWI) brengt drie wetenschappelijke disciplines samen die de technologie van morgen vormgeven. Van duurzame energiesystemen, chips en AI tot geavanceerde wiskundige modellen: onze onderzoekers werken aan baanbrekende innovaties met grote maatschappelijke impact. We beschikken over diverse laboratoria en onderzoeksfaciliteiten. In deze internationaal georiënteerde omgeving werken en studeren ruim 1.000 medewerkers en 4.000 studenten aan onderwijs en onderzoek van topniveau.

Om dit onderzoek te realiseren, wordt intensief samengewerkt met nationale en internationale subsidiegevers, kennisinstellingen en industriële partners. Hierbij worden regelmatig omvangrijke onderzoeksprojecten opgezet, waarvoor heldere contractuele afspraken en een zorgvuldige juridische borging essentieel zijn. Jij speelt hierin als contractmanager een sleutelrol.

Je werkt als Legal Officer Research Projects in een team van Legal Officers en ondersteuning binnen het Contractmanagement Bureau van de faculteit EWI. Een leuk team waarin je veel zelfstandigheid en flexibiliteit krijgt, maar waar we elkaar ook altijd helpen. Prettig samenwerken vinden we erg belangrijk, net als een goede werk-privébalans.

Als Legal Officer binnen onze faculteit ben je het eerste aanspreekpunt voor de onderzoeksleiders bij het juridisch verwerken van nieuwe contracten voor de tweede en derde geldstroom, en draag je zorg voor de behandeling van de juridische vraagstukken. Dat betekent dat je zowel inhoudelijk-juridisch scherp bent en tegelijkertijd als procesbewaker zorgt dat het contract op de juiste manier opgesteld wordt, gebruik makend van de expertise binnen onze organisatie en bij de contractpartij(en).

Je vindt het fijn om onze onderzoekers van dienst te zijn en je vraagt door, zodat je op een goede en effectieve manier kunt adviseren. Je bent onder meer betrokken bij overeenkomsten met de EU, de Nederlandse overheid, publieke organisaties en bedrijven. Je ziet erop toe dat deze overeenkomsten goed in elkaar steken, waarbij de aandachtspunten onder andere liggen bij intellectueel eigendom, aansprakelijkheid, toepasselijk recht en publicatie (een ware levensader voor wetenschappers). Zo nodig onderhandel je over de inhoud van dergelijke contracten om deze aan te passen aan de wensen van TU Delft. Verder zijn natuurlijk de subsidievoorwaarden van belang. Jouw werk is af als het dossier juridisch klaar is en voorzien van een tekenadvies wordt voorgelegd om getekend te worden door de decaan. Jou ontgaat niets en je houdt de zaak juridisch en administratief op orde!

Natuurlijk sta je er niet alleen voor: voor het beste resultaat kun je collega’s van verschillende disciplines raadplegen, zoals de juristen van Legal Affairs, de IP- en subsidie-experts of collega’s van (het inkoopteam van) Finance, onze projectcontrollers of collega’s van HR. En natuurlijk de collega Legal Officers van je eigen team en van andere faculteiten.

Functie-eisen
We zijn op zoek naar een nieuwe collega die het leuk vindt om in een academische omgeving te werken. Kom je qua ervaring en persoonlijkheid in de buurt van wat we zoeken, solliciteer dan op deze mooie kans!

• Je hebt wo-niveau in een juridische opleiding.
• Je hebt bij voorkeur ruime ervaring met (internationale) contractonderhandelingen; kennis van en/of ervaring met nationale en Europese subsidieprogramma’s en/of intellectueel eigendom is een pre, of je hebt relevante ervaring waarmee je dit op korte termijn on-the-job kunt leren.
• Je bent leergierig en staat ervoor open de wondere wereld van de universiteit te ontdekken met verschillende belangen en bestuurlijke verhoudingen. Je bent nieuwsgierig naar het wetenschappelijk onderzoek op het gebied van bèta en techniek.
• Je hebt de eerste loopbaanstappen gezet in een functie op juridisch en organisatorisch vlak en staat te popelen je verder te ontwikkelen.
• Je bent stressbestendig en in staat het overzicht te bewaren over verschillende dossiers die tegelijkertijd lopen. Je werkt ook in ad-hoc situaties gestructureerd, kunt goed relativeren en gaat voor concrete resultaten en oplossingen.
• Je bent een prettige en deskundige gesprekspartner met advieskracht en je vindt het leuk om veel verschillende contacten te onderhouden, daarbij oog en gevoel hebbend voor (academische) bestuurlijke verhoudingen.
• Aangezien je komt werken in een internationale omgeving spreek en schrijf je uitstekend Nederlands en Engels.
• Je bent een teamspeler die open staat voor je persoonlijke en de ontwikkeling van je collega’s.

TU Delft
Werken bij TU Delft betekent bijdragen aan oplossingen die er echt toe doen.

Al meer dan 180 jaar leiden we ingenieurs op die wereldwijd impact maken bij bedrijven, overheden of als ondernemer. Onze alumni zetten kennis om in concrete oplossingen voor de uitdagingen van vandaag en morgen. Die uitdagingen veranderen snel. Daarom werken we elke dag aan thema’s zoals energie, klimaat, digitalisering, AI en slimme mobiliteit. Ons onderwijs en onderzoek sluiten direct aan op wat de samenleving nodig heeft, nu en straks.

Bij TU Delft maken mensen het verschil. Met hun kennis en nieuwsgierigheid zorgen zij voor sterk onderwijs, vernieuwend onderzoek en innovaties die verder komen dan de campus. Je krijgt de ruimte om initiatief te nemen, samen te werken en jezelf te ontwikkelen. Wie bij TU Delft werkt, sluit zich aan bij een internationale community van professionals en studenten. Samen bouwen we aan kennis, innovatie en oplossingen die de wereld vooruithelpen.

Universiteitsdienst – Legal Service
Je komt te werken bij de directie Legal Services. Samen met twaalf andere directies maken wij deel uit van de Universiteitsdienst. Legal Services (ca. 57 fte) helpt TU Delft om de accountability op het vlak van Legal, Risk & Compliance te borgen. Dat doen we op verschillende manieren. We geven strategisch advies en bieden brede operationele ondersteuning op juridisch en veiligheidsgebied aan het College van Bestuur, de faculteiten en de directies. Onze directie bestaat uit drie afdelingen: Legal Affairs, Legal Office Research Projects en Integrale Veiligheid en wordt ondersteund door een secretariaatsbureau.