PhD in Design for Scarcity, Extreme Conditions and More-than-Human Cooperation

Introduction
Join TU/e for a PhD on how design research responds to scarcity, extreme conditions, and more-than-human cooperation. You will do justice-oriented, community-centered design research through fieldwork with diverse actors, from cultural and creative sectors to policymakers and informal communities.

Job Description
This PhD position is part of the Horizon Europe project UnEXTRA ("Uncovering a new design competitiveness for European conteXts in TRAnsition"). UnEXTRA studies how design can contribute to a different model of European competitiveness in conditions where resources become scarce, social and physical environments grow more extreme, and collaboration between humans and more-than-humans becomes tighter. UnEXTRA approaches these themes through justice-oriented, community-centered, and more-than-human design research.

This PhD position sits in the methodological and empirical core of UnEXTRA, and will require engaging with a broad range of stakeholders - from policymakers, to design practitioners, informal communities, and more-than-human constituencies.

The PhD student will combine conceptual research, community-centered design, qualitative analysis, co-creation, and design-oriented knowledge curation. This includes attention to uneven representation, more-than-human perspectives, contested priorities, and the ways community input changes design concepts in practice.

The position offers a strong basis for developing into a researcher at the intersection of academia, the creative and cultural sector, and policymaking, with expertise in design research, STS-informed methods, and justice-oriented community-led design.

You will be part of the Making With cluster https://www.tue.nl/en/research/research-groups/making-with within the Department of Industrial Design. You will also work closely with colleagues and partners across the UnEXTRA consortium, including among others the University of Bologna, the Oslo School of Architecture and Design, and Dutch Design Foundation.

Responsibilities

• conduct literature review and conceptual synthesis related to community-centered design, justice-oriented design research, and design under scarcity, extreme conditions, and more-than-human cooperation
• contribute to the methodological framing of the project and to stakeholder mapping, recruitment, and engagement across the consortium
• design, prepare, run, and document stakeholder workshops, interviews, and related participatory processes
• collect, analyze, and interpret qualitative data from local and cross-site activities
• help translate fieldwork findings into community-accountable concept development and knowledge infrastructure
• contribute to consortium outputs, and writing your PhD dissertation
• support teaching activities and student coaching within the department

The final dissertation trajectory will be developed together with the supervisory team. Strong thematic directions include:

• The role of design in conditions of scarcity, extreme change, and tighter more-than-human cooperation.
• Stakeholder and community-centered methods for cross-site design research across policy, civic, and community settings.
• How qualitative fieldwork informs design concepts and European design curricula.

Tentative Timeline

Year 1

• literature review and conceptual framing
• stakeholder mapping and engagement strategy
• development of the methodological approach
• early contribution to consortium deliverables

Year 2

• co-design of fieldwork instruments
• stakeholder workshops, interviews, and comparative qualitative analysis
• co-creation with communities and experts around emerging design concepts

Year 3

• consolidation of cross-site patterns, frictions, and exclusions
• translation of stakeholder findings into design concepts
• synthesis across work packages

Year 4

• consolidation of the knowledge-infrastructure dimension
• final project contributions
• dissertation writing

Job Requirements

• A master's degree in design. We are also open to applicants from other disciplines – for example, the humanities, education, social sciences, engineering, business – as long as the candidate can show a clear affinity with design research through elective courses, work experience, etc.
• A research-oriented attitude and a strong interest in justice-oriented, community-centered design research.
• Experience with qualitative methods such as interviews, workshops, observation, or thematic analysis.
• Ability to move between conceptual work and hands-on empirical design work.
• Interest in collaborating with the creative industry, public-sector actors, informal communities, and interdisciplinary research partners. Previous experience in addressing more-than-human actors is a plus.
• Motivation to develop your teaching skills and coach students.
• Fluent in spoken and written English, at C1 level.
• Additional proficiency in Dutch is helpful for fieldwork in the Netherlands.

Conditions of Employment
A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network. You will work on a beautiful, green campus within walking distance of the central train station. In addition, we offer you:

• Full-time employment for four years, with an intermediate assessment after nine months. You will spend a minimum of 10% of your four-year employment on teaching tasks, with a maximum of 15% per year of your employment.
• Salary and benefits (such as a pension scheme, paid pregnancy and maternity leave, partially paid parental leave) in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, scale P (min. € 3,059 - max. € 3,881 gross per month).
• A year-end bonus of 8.3% and annual vacation pay of 8%.
• High-quality training programs and other support to grow into a self-aware, autonomous scientific researcher. At TU/e we challenge you to take charge of your own learning process.
• An excellent technical infrastructure, on-campus children's day care and sports facilities.
• Unlimited access to the modern on‑campus TU/e Student Sports Center at an exceptionally affordable rate.
• An allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs.
• A Staff Immigration Team and a tax compensation scheme (the 30% facility) for international candidates.

On our website you can discover even more information about our conditions of employment. Build on your career at TU/e!

About us
We are a leading international university where scientific curiosity meets a hands-on mindset. We work in an open and collaborative way with high-tech industries to tackle complex societal challenges. Our responsible and respectful approach ensures impact — today and in the future. TU/e is home to over 13,000 students and more than 7,000 staff, forming a diverse and vibrant academic community.

Our university is located in Brainport Eindhoven — a world‑leading tech region with more than 7,000 high‑tech companies and strong R&D activity. Known for breakthroughs in AI, photonics, semiconductors and advanced manufacturing, Brainport is a place where technology serves people and society. Learn more about the Brainport region here.

The Department of Industrial Design conducts research on and education in the design of systems with emerging technologies in a social context. We excel at integrating various academic disciplines, including engineering, design, business, and social sciences.

Information
Do you recognize yourself in this profile and would you like to know more? Please contact the hiring manager Gabriele Ferri, g.ferri@tue.nl.

Visit our website for more information about the application process.

Curious to hear more about what it’s like as a PhD candidate at TU/e? Please view the video.

Are you inspired and would like to know more about working at TU/e? Please visit our career page.

"#EUfunded This is an EU funded project, named UnEXTRA, with project number 101286736, within program Horizon Europe."

Application
We invite you to submit a complete application by using the apply button. The application should include a:

• Cover letter in which you describe your motivation and qualifications for the position.
• Curriculum vitae, including a list of your publications, if available and pertinent.

Ensure that you submit all the requested application documents. We give priority to complete applications.

We look forward to receiving your application and will screen it as soon as possible. The vacancy will remain open until the position is filled.

Please note

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
• A pre-employment screening (e.g. knowledge security check) can be part of the selection procedure. For more information on the knowledge security check, please consult the National Knowledge Security Guidelines.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.

Postdoc In-Situ Cryo-ET

Job description

We seek a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to develop and apply integrated workflows for in situ cryogenic electron tomography (cryo-ET). The project will focus on automating cellular targeting and lamella preparation of frozen-hydrated biological specimen on a unique instrument, with the aim of enabling efficient and reproducible structural analysis of molecular complexes in their native cellular environment.

The candidate will establish streamlined and AI-facilitated approaches for identifying regions of interest, guiding site-specific lamella preparation, and acquiring high-quality cryo-ET data. The candidate will apply these workflows to challenging questions in the structural cell biology of the assembly of a unique machinery involed in bacterial motility and cell-autonomous immunity. Working at the intersection of technical development and biological applications, the candidate will also contribute to the development of computational methods for the contextual interpretation of cellular tomograms. The position involves close interaction with other experimentalists and computational researchers who together work towards methodological advances that facilitate biological discovery.

Your home base will be the Jakobi Lab (https://cryoem.tudelft.nl) at TU Delft | Kavli Institute of Nanoscience. We are a multidisciplinary, international and diverse team of scientists with backgrounds ranging from (bio)chemistry and physics to bioinformatics and cell biology. Our drive is to push boundaries in our aim to visualise molecular processes in their native context and at the highest possible resolution. As part of the Department of Bionanoscience and the Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, we enjoy access to state-of-the-art infrastructure for biochemistry, molecular imaging, cryoEM/ET and high-performance computing. We are also committed to world-class education, and you will have the opportunity to contribute by mentoring undergraduate and graduate students. We foster a friendly, collaborative, and non-hierarchical environment where ideas and expertise are openly shared in pursuit of ambitious scientific goals. You will receive strong support and training to further your personal and professional development.

Job requirements
We seek an outstanding structural biologist or (bio)physicist with a strong affinity for working at the intersection of method/instrument development and structural cell biology. The ideal candidate has a genuine interest in advancing fundamental methodology for cryogenic electron tomography and enjoys working closely with experimental and computational researchers to advance our understanding of fundamental biological processes. We are looking for a candidate with intellectual creativity, strong problem-solving skills, and the ability to communicate and collaborate effectively across disciplines.

Required qualifications:

• You hold a PhD in (bio)physics, structural biology a related field.
• You have demonstrated experience in FIB-SEM workflows and cryogenic electron tomography, including correlative light and electron microscopy.
• You have experience with image analysis, ideally in the context of electron microscopy.
• You have strong computational and programming skills (e.g. Python, Julia),
• You have an interest in, or experience with, machine learning approaches for scientific data analysis.
• You have a strong interest in interdisciplinary research and enjoy collaborating with experimental and computational scientists.
• You communicate clearly and effectively in English, as you will work in an international research environment.

Ideally, you also have:

• Experience with cryo-EM or cryo-ET data analysis, including areas such as tilt series alignment, 2D/3D template matching, or subtomogram averaging.
• Experience with handling, culturing and manipulation bacterial and mammalian cells.
• Familiarity with scientific software and instrument development.
• A track record of peer-reviewed publications demonstrating methodological or computational contributions.

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 in Application of eXtended Reality for Inclusive Automated Vehicle and Road User Interaction

Job description
Automated Vehicles (AVs) are set to transform road travel, promising significant improvements in road safety, accessibility, and transportation equity. However, as autonomous vehicles move closer to widespread deployment a critical question remains largely unanswered: how can AVs interact safely and effectively with vulnerable road users (VRUs), including people with disabilities? Such interactions involve complex human decision-making processes that span behavioral, cognitive, psychological, and physiological dimensions. To date, these dimensions have largely been studied in isolation, leaving their interconnections and their role in real-world AV–VRU interactions poorly understood.

In this Postdoc position you will focus on employing Virtual Reality technologies to better understand this complex interaction process and explore how external Human-Machine Interfaces (eHMIs) can enable safer and more inclusive interactions. You will:

• Develop a theoretical framework for identifying key characteristics of AV–VRU interactions and define design criteria for inclusive eHMIs.
• Develop accessible VR simulators for people with disabilities.
• Conduct VR experiments to collect data and model decision-making processes in AV–VRU interactions.
• Conduct real-world testing to evaluate the effectiveness of inclusive eHMI design.
• Collaborate with fellow researchers, mentor PhD students, and contribute to ongoing projects and the development of the lab.
• Publish in high-impact scientific journals and disseminating findings through conferences and stakeholder workshops.

Your home base will be the Mobility in eXtended Reality Lab in the Department of Transport & Planning within the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences. Our diverse team of researchers, project managers, and professors shares the ambition to create smart, sustainable, and equitable mobility systems. In our 12 collaborative labs we apply advanced technologies such as sensing, data analytics, modelling, and AI to turn scientific research into real-world impact. You’ll join an open, supportive environment that fosters learning and professional growth.

Job requirements

• Hold a PhD degree in a relevant field (e.g., Transportation, Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Science, or a closely related discipline).
• Solid background in XR technologies and skills in developing XR applications using Unity/Unreal game engine.
• Strong and demonstrable experimental skills, including experiment design, setup, execution, and data collection.
• Strong skills in quantitative and qualitative data analysis.
• Strong analytic and programming skills (e.g., Python, C#) with proficiency in statistics.
• Ability to work independently while actively contributing to a collaborative, interdisciplinary research environment.
• Excellent writing and communication skills in English.
• Strong publication record in relevant scientific journals.

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.

PhD Position eXtended Reality for Inclusive Automated Vehicle Interaction

Job description
Automated Vehicles (AVs) are set to transform road travel, promising significant improvements in road safety, accessibility, and transportation equity. However, as autonomous vehicles move closer to widespread deployment a critical question remains largely unanswered: how can AVs interact safely and effectively with vulnerable road users (VRUs), including people with disabilities? Such interactions involve complex human decision-making processes that span behavioral, cognitive, psychological, and physiological dimensions. To date, these dimensions have largely been studied in isolation, leaving their interconnections and their role in real-world AV–VRU interactions poorly understood.

In this PhD role you will focus on employing Virtual Reality technologies to better understand this complex interaction process and explore how external Human-Machine Interfaces (eHMIs) can enable safer and more inclusive interactions.

You will:

• Develop a theoretical framework for identifying key characteristics of AV–VRU interactions and define design criteria for inclusive eHMIs.
• Design accessible VR simulators for people with disabilities.
• Conduct VR experiments to collect data and model decision-making processes in AV–VRU interactions.
• Conduct real-world testing to evaluate the effectiveness of inclusive eHMI design.
• Collaborate closely with other PhD researchers on related projects and relevant topics.
• Publish in high-impact scientific journals and disseminating findings through conferences and stakeholder workshops.

Your home base will be the Mobility in eXtended Reality Lab in the Department of Transport & Planning within the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences. Our diverse team of researchers, project managers, and professors shares the ambition to create smart, sustainable, and equitable mobility systems. In our 12 collaborative labs we apply advanced technologies such as sensing, data analytics, modelling, and AI to turn scientific research into real-world impact. You’ll join an open, supportive environment that fosters learning and professional growth.

Job requirements

Need to Have:

• Master’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., Human-Computer Interaction, Transportation, Computer Science, or a closely related discipline).
• A solid background and strong interest in VR technologies and skills in developing XR applications using Unity/Unreal game engine.
• Strong and demonstrable experimental skills, including experiment design, experiment setup, conducting experiments, and data collection.
• Strong analytic and programming skills (e.g., Python, C#) with proficiency in statistics.
• Strong skills in qualitative and quantitative analysis.
• Good communication and writing skills in English.

Nice to Have:

• An open-minded personality with a curiosity-driven mindset, positive attitude towards methodological and interdisciplinary research, and willingness to learn from different fields, including transportation, human-computer interaction, and design.
• Prior research and work experience that are relevant to this PhD position is a bonus.

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.

Adviseur (fysieke) veiligheid

Je houdt je bezig met vraagstukken op het gebied van fysieke veiligheid, bedrijfscontinuïteit en crisismanagement. Denk hierbij aan de continuïteit van onderwijs en onderzoek, veilig gebruik van de gebouwen, de bescherming van vitale infrastructuur, demonstraties en maatschappelijke onrust en de voorbereiding op incidenten en crises.

Je wordt onderdeel van het team Safety & Security binnen Campus & Facilities. Dit team is verantwoordelijk voor de Fysieke Veiligheid op de campus en onderdeel van crisismanagement. Je formuleert de kaders rondom de gebouw- en campusveiligheid De plannen en visie die je hierin ontwikkelt, breng je vervolgens in praktijk met concrete resultaten. Hiervoor haak je de juiste betrokkenen aan en houd je oog voor tegengestelde belangen bij de verschillende organisatieonderdelen.

De functie is in ontwikkeling en wordt mede door jouw profiel en ambities vormgegeven. We bepalen gezamenlijk jouw bijdrage aan de forse opgave waaraan we werken: de veiligheid toekomstbestendig inrichten en de weerbaarheid van de organisatie vergroten. Een belangrijke ontwikkeling met impact op het team is de sterk toegenomen aandacht voor veiligheid binnen de organisatie.

Je koppelt je ervaring aan daadkracht. Dit betekent dat je niet alleen werkt vanuit beleid, maar ook met beide benen in de praktijk staat. Je voert dit uit binnen een dynamische omgeving waar beveiligingsrisico’s en organisatieontwikkelingen continu veranderen. Je signaleert de trends en nieuwe ontwikkelingen en borgt en beheert de veiligheidsrisico’s.

Hoe ziet je takenpakket eruit?

• Je bent verantwoordelijk voor de tactische en operationele kaders van gebouw- en campusveiligheid.
• Je adviseert onder andere bestuurders over veiligheidsrisico’s, maatregelen en ontwikkelingen, en vertaalt deze naar concrete verbeteringen.
• Je ontwikkelt en onderhoudt crisis-, nood- en calamiteitenplannen en organiseert audits, evaluaties, oefeningen en verbetertrajecten.
• Je initieert, realiseert of regisseert projecten binnen jouw expertisegebied — van initiatie tot implementatie.
• Je werkt nauw samen met collega’s uit verschillende disciplines en bouwt actief aan een sterk in- en extern veiligheidsnetwerk.
• Je vervult een rol als calamiteitencoördinator en bent op roosterbasis 24/7 bereikbaar bij calamiteiten. Je treedt namens de universiteit op tijdens uitzonderlijke incidenten en crisissituaties, bewaakt de veiligheid en continuïteit van de organisatie en fungeert als lid van het Crisismanagementteam (CMT).
• Dankzij jouw visie op integrale veiligheid met de focus op het fysieke deel ontwikkel je je eigen taakpakket waarmee je de veiligheidsorganisatie naar een hoger niveau tilt.