Postdoc in Nature-Inspired Architectured Concrete

Job description

Concrete is a quasi-brittle material with low tensile strength, so engineers have to rely on steel reinforcement. This comes with a significant environmental cost, as steel production is resource- and carbon-intensive. But nature has already perfected the art of turning brittle minerals into tough materials, like the nacre in seashells, by combining them with soft organic polymers.

In this project, we explore a fundamentally different approach. Using 3D-printed concrete as a scaffold, we aim to guide the growth of a chitinous fungal network through the material. The result would be a new class of living composite materials that are not only structurally resilient but also inherently sustainable, moving us toward a future where infrastructure is grown, not just built.

The project aims to prove the concept of hard/soft concrete composites. Your work will build on research activities already underway in our Materials & Environment section, building up on existing numerical models providing a foundation from which you can build on and contribute your own expertise to shaping the next steps of the research.

As a postdoctoral researcher, you will:

• Use existing computational tools and research foundations to investigate promising concrete architectures.
• Design and perform simple experiments to test and validate the developed architectures.
• Combine modelling and experimental results to understand how architecture influences the mechanical performance of the composites.

You will join the section of Materials & Environment, Department of Materials, Mechanics, Management & Design of TU Delft, at the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences. The section specialises in construction materials, with several ongoing research projects on architectured concrete and concrete metamaterials. This project will be the first in our department focusing on hard/soft composites. Collaborating with leading international researchers in our team, this position offers a strong opportunity to expand your research profile at the intersection of computational modelling, sustainable construction materials, and nature-inspired design.

Job requirements

• You hold a PhD in Civil Engineering, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related engineering discipline, with a proven track record of scientific publishing. Experience with mechanical testing and/or numerical modelling (e.g., Abaqus) is a bonus.
• You can independently plan, execute and communicate your research effectively.
• You have excellent written and spoken English.

Since this is a focused and short research project, it is preferred if the candidate is already in the Netherlands.   

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.

Postdoc in Nature-Inspired Architectured Concrete

Job description

Concrete is a quasi-brittle material with low tensile strength, so engineers have to rely on steel reinforcement. This comes with a significant environmental cost, as steel production is resource- and carbon-intensive. But nature has already perfected the art of turning brittle minerals into tough materials, like the nacre in seashells, by combining them with soft organic polymers.

In this project, we explore a fundamentally different approach. Using 3D-printed concrete as a scaffold, we aim to guide the growth of a chitinous fungal network through the material. The result would be a new class of living composite materials that are not only structurally resilient but also inherently sustainable, moving us toward a future where infrastructure is grown, not just built.

The project aims to prove the concept of hard/soft concrete composites. Your work will build on research activities already underway in our Materials & Environment section, building up on existing numerical models providing a foundation from which you can build on and contribute your own expertise to shaping the next steps of the research.

As a postdoctoral researcher, you will:

• Use existing computational tools and research foundations to investigate promising concrete architectures.
• Design and perform simple experiments to test and validate the developed architectures.
• Combine modelling and experimental results to understand how architecture influences the mechanical performance of the composites.

You will join the section of Materials & Environment, Department of Materials, Mechanics, Management & Design of TU Delft, at the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences. The section specialises in construction materials, with several ongoing research projects on architectured concrete and concrete metamaterials. This project will be the first in our department focusing on hard/soft composites. Collaborating with leading international researchers in our team, this position offers a strong opportunity to expand your research profile at the intersection of computational modelling, sustainable construction materials, and nature-inspired design.

Job requirements

• You hold a PhD in Civil Engineering, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related engineering discipline, with a proven track record of scientific publishing. Experience with mechanical testing and/or numerical modelling (e.g., Abaqus) is a bonus.
• You can independently plan, execute and communicate your research effectively.
• You have excellent written and spoken English.

Since this is a focused and short research project, it is preferred if the candidate is already in the Netherlands.   

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.

Postdoc Position - Conceptualizing Nature Driven Facades

Job description
As hot weather events are increasing, adaptation of existing dwellings is required to protect against unhealthy indoor conditions and mitigate future energy use for cooling. While nature driven measures have the potential to support health and mitigate operational energy, the application, affordability, and acceptance of such measures are limited. As postdoc researcher you will do research on nature driven building skin (façade) solutions for the NWO project Nature 4 homes. This is a 5.5 years project, starting in november 2026 and coordinated by Delft University of Technology.

You will contribute primarily to foundational work on conceptualization of nature driven building skin solutions. This comprises exploration of the overall definition of nature-driven building skin characteristics and the composition of a structured database, that includes refining key performance indicators (KPI) and protocols across different academic disciplines. You will contribute to scientific publications, project deliverables, workshops, and interviews in collaboration with the consortium partners.

A key aspect of your role is exploring and bridging academic concepts with professional and societal perspectives, through interviews and co-design workshops. You will collaborate closely with interdisciplinary project partners from academia, society, and industry. The role explicitly focuses on preparing integration of citizen science approaches with (living) lab studies, including data from surveys, physiological and psychological measurements, monitoring of thermal conditions and biodiversity, and modelling.

You will join the section Environmental and Climate Design, department of Architectural Engineering and Technology at the Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment, TU Delft. You will work in close collaboration with researchers from Urbanism, and Materials and Environment (Civil Engineering and Geo Sciences) at TU Delft, and with researchers from TU Eindhoven (Human Technology Interaction), Radboudumc (Integrative Physiology), Wageningen University and Research (Meteorology).

You will have the opportunity to work alongside research, industry, and public-sector partners. Moreover, you will closely work with 4 PhD candidates across the universities involved, who will be hired for this project.

Job requirements

• PhD in building engineering, meteorology, civil engineering, or related fields.
• Demonstrable affinity and interest in the built environment (building scale) and climate change.
• Excellent collaboration skills with academic, scientific, and industrial partners.
• Experience with co-creation, societal aspects,or human perception of built environment.
• Dutch language proficiency is considered a plus.
• Being able to start at December 1, 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 Architecture & the Built Environment
The Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment has a leading role in education and research worldwide. The driving force behind the faculty’s success is its robust research profile combined with the energy and creativity of its student body and academic community. It is buzzing with energy, with four thousand people enthusiastically studying, working, designing, conducting research and acquiring and disseminating knowledge. Our faculty has a strong focus on 'design-oriented research’, which has given it a top position in world rankings.

Staff and students are working to improve the built environment with the help of a broad set of disciplines, including architectural design, urban planning, building technology, social sciences, process management, and geo-information science. The faculty works closely with other faculties, universities, private parties, and the public sector, and has an extensive network in the Netherlands as well as internationally.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment.

Postdoc Position - Conceptualizing Nature Driven Facades

Job description
As hot weather events are increasing, adaptation of existing dwellings is required to protect against unhealthy indoor conditions and mitigate future energy use for cooling. While nature driven measures have the potential to support health and mitigate operational energy, the application, affordability, and acceptance of such measures are limited. As postdoc researcher you will do research on nature driven building skin (façade) solutions for the NWO project Nature 4 homes. This is a 5.5 years project, starting in november 2026 and coordinated by Delft University of Technology.

You will contribute primarily to foundational work on conceptualization of nature driven building skin solutions. This comprises exploration of the overall definition of nature-driven building skin characteristics and the composition of a structured database, that includes refining key performance indicators (KPI) and protocols across different academic disciplines. You will contribute to scientific publications, project deliverables, workshops, and interviews in collaboration with the consortium partners.

A key aspect of your role is exploring and bridging academic concepts with professional and societal perspectives, through interviews and co-design workshops. You will collaborate closely with interdisciplinary project partners from academia, society, and industry. The role explicitly focuses on preparing integration of citizen science approaches with (living) lab studies, including data from surveys, physiological and psychological measurements, monitoring of thermal conditions and biodiversity, and modelling.

You will join the section Environmental and Climate Design, department of Architectural Engineering and Technology at the Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment, TU Delft. You will work in close collaboration with researchers from Urbanism, and Materials and Environment (Civil Engineering and Geo Sciences) at TU Delft, and with researchers from TU Eindhoven (Human Technology Interaction), Radboudumc (Integrative Physiology), Wageningen University and Research (Meteorology).

You will have the opportunity to work alongside research, industry, and public-sector partners. Moreover, you will closely work with 4 PhD candidates across the universities involved, who will be hired for this project.

Job requirements

• PhD in building engineering, meteorology, civil engineering, or related fields.
• Demonstrable affinity and interest in the built environment (building scale) and climate change.
• Excellent collaboration skills with academic, scientific, and industrial partners.
• Experience with co-creation, societal aspects,or human perception of built environment.
• Dutch language proficiency is considered a plus.
• Being able to start at December 1, 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 Architecture & the Built Environment
The Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment has a leading role in education and research worldwide. The driving force behind the faculty’s success is its robust research profile combined with the energy and creativity of its student body and academic community. It is buzzing with energy, with four thousand people enthusiastically studying, working, designing, conducting research and acquiring and disseminating knowledge. Our faculty has a strong focus on 'design-oriented research’, which has given it a top position in world rankings.

Staff and students are working to improve the built environment with the help of a broad set of disciplines, including architectural design, urban planning, building technology, social sciences, process management, and geo-information science. The faculty works closely with other faculties, universities, private parties, and the public sector, and has an extensive network in the Netherlands as well as internationally.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment.

PhD Position Control Theory for Self-Designing Digital Twins of Transportation Systems

Job description
On this PhD project you will delve into the growing field of digital twins for infrastructure systems, with a focus on transportation systems. Digital twins are high-fidelity simulations combining principle-based models and black-box/data-driven representations of physical systems. While essential for high-accuracy predictions and counterfactual analysis, they are inherently complex and difficult to analyze due to the lack of standardization and a unified design theory.

This project will tackle this problem from a theoretical angle in three main ways:

• You will develop a framework for the autonomous design of formal mathematical contracts, based on the system description and functional requirements. This will lead to the creation of abstract classes used to describe the digital twin.
• You will then design methods for automatically choosing the right parametrization of controllers to autonomously configure them to the abstract classes, ensuring stability and performance based on the requirements and specifications, e.g. via federated, scenario/sampling-based contract compositions.
• Additionally, you will theorize how to design and verify complex control policies such as MPC and RL.
• Additionally, you will study the effect of interconnecting digital twins of different systems and the effect on their stability.

You will be able to work towards improving our state-of-the-art advanced digital-twin of transportation systems (based on SUMO).

You will work at the Delft Centre of Systems and Control (DCSC) and will be supervised by Carlo Cenedese & Manuel Mazo.

TU Delft is a top tier university and is exceedingly active in the field of Artificial intelligence and Control Systems. The Delft Centre for Systems and Control (DCSC) coordinates the education and research activities in systems and control at Delft University of Technology. The Centre's research mission is to conduct fundamental research in systems dynamics and control, involving dynamic modelling, advanced control theory, optimisation and signal analysis. The research is motivated by advanced technology development in physical imaging systems, robotics and transportation systems. The group actively participates in the Dutch Institute of Systems and Control (DISC).

Job requirements

• An MSc degree in systems and control, applied mathematics, electrical engineering, computer science, or related fields.
• Basic knowledge of control theory and/or machine learning and/or digitl twin technologies (waived if the candidate is particularly skilled on theoretical computer science, optimization, or mobility systems).
• Strong analytical skills and an ability to work at the intersection of several research domains, in particular control theory, computer science, and transportation engineering.
• Good programming skills are expected, in particular Python. Knowledge of other programming lenguages is not mandatory but apprecated.
• Good command of the English language and good communication skills.

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 Mechanical Engineering
From chip to ship. From machine to human being. From idea to solution. Driven by a deep-rooted desire to understand our environment and discover its underlying mechanisms, research and education at the ME faculty focusses on fundamental understanding, design, production including application and product improvement, materials, processes and (mechanical) systems.

ME is a dynamic and innovative faculty with high-tech lab facilities and international reach. It’s a large faculty but also versatile, so we can often make unique connections by combining different disciplines. This is reflected in ME’s outstanding, state-of-the-art education, which trains students to become responsible and socially engaged engineers and scientists. We translate our knowledge and insights into solutions to societal issues, contributing to a sustainable society and to the development of prosperity and well-being. That is what unites us in pioneering research, inspiring education and (inter)national cooperation.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. Do you want to experience working at our faculty? These videos will introduce you to some of our researchers and their work.