PhD Position in Smart Sensing and Monitoring of Railway Embankment

Job description
Railway embankments form the foundation of the railway system and play a critical role in ensuring the safety, reliability, and resilience of rail transport. As these assets age and are exposed to increasing traffic loads and environmental effects, efficient methods for monitoring their condition become essential. Traditional inspection approaches can be costly, time-consuming, and limited in spatial and temporal coverage. This PhD project addresses these challenges by developing innovative methods to assess railway embankment health through the integration of multiple monitoring technologies, enabling more frequent, scalable, and data-driven asset management.

The project will investigate the integration of Axle Box Acceleration (ABA), Laser Doppler Vibrometry (LDV), and Track Geometry (TG) data to enable indirect and frequent assessments of railway embankment conditions. Using measurement data collected by the CTO monitoring train in the Netherlands, the research will examine the relationships between LDV measurements and existing indicators of track quality derived from ABA and TG data, aiming to establish robust indicators of embankment condition.

To support the interpretation of monitoring data, a physics-based train–track–embankment interaction model will be developed using finite element (FE) and/or multibody dynamics (MBD) approaches. The model will be used to investigate the mechanisms governing vibration responses measured by LDV and to improve the understanding of how embankment condition influences train-induced dynamic behaviour.

Transfer functions linking LDV, ABA, TG, and wayside sensor measurements to embankment responses will be derived and validated using field data. These relationships will provide a framework for translating routinely collected monitoring data into actionable information about embankment health and performance.

As part of the project, you will collaborate closely with railway industry partners, participate in discussions, and receive feedback on the development and implementation of your research. Limited teaching responsibilities are also included in the position.

As a PhD candidate, you will join the Railway Engineering Section within the Department of Engineering Structures at the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences of TU Delft. You will work closely with ProRail, the Dutch railway infrastructure manager, supporting the testing, validation, and practical implementation of your research outcomes. The supervisory team consists of Prof. Zili Li and Prof. Rolf Dollevoet.

The Department of Engineering Structures focuses on the development of resilient, smart and sustainable structures and infrastructures. Our aim is to meet societal demands in transportation, the energy transition and sustainable reuse. Research themes include dynamics of structures, mechanics of materials related to e.g. climate change, modelling and design of railway systems, multi-scale modelling of pavement materials and structures, reuse of materials, structures and parts of structures, assessment methods for structures, smart monitoring techniques, design methods, replacement and renovation of civil infrastructure and development of new materials and maintenance techniques. Our unique Macro Mechanics Laboratory facilities support full-scale testing, monitoring and modelling of structures to facilitate implementation of innovations. The department delivers both groundbreaking research and world-class education for undergraduate and graduate students. As a team, we represent different backgrounds, skills and views. We foster an inclusive culture, as our combined identities, attitudes and ambitions widen our perspective and make up our strengths.     

Job requirements
We are looking for an excellent candidate with the following qualifications, knowledge and skills:

• A master's degree in Civil, Geotechnical, Mechanical, Aerospace Engineering, Applied Mathematics/Mechanics, Computer Science or related areas.
• Demonstrated competences in one or more of these categories: railway/structural engineering, structural dynamics, vibration measurement and analysis, structural health monitoring, data science or related fields.
• Programming skills in one or more scientific computing environments, such as Python, MATLAB, or similar.
• Experience with numerical modelling and simulation, preferably using finite element (FE) and/or multibody dynamics (MBD) approaches.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with academic researchers and industry partners.
• Excellent command of English, both verbal and in writing.

If your native language is not English and you do not hold a degree from an institution in which English is the language of instruction, you must submit proof of English proficiency from either TOEFL (minimum total score of 100) or IELTS (minimum total score of 7.0).

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 in Developing a Digital Health Passport for Railway Tracks on Bridges

Job description
Railway bridges and the tracks they support are critical components of the railway network, directly affecting safety, reliability, and operational performance. As railway infrastructure ages and traffic demands increase, there is a growing need for innovative methods to continuously assess track condition and predict deterioration. This PhD project addresses this challenge by developing a novel “Health Passport” system for railway tracks on bridges, enabling data-driven condition assessment and supporting more efficient maintenance and asset management strategies.

The project aims to develop a comprehensive “Health Passport” framework that integrates monitoring data and physics-based modelling for the health assessment of railway tracks on bridges, using Dutch railway infrastructure as a primary case study. The research will begin with the analysis of baseline and historical data collected from wayside sensors installed on selected instrumented railway bridges. Building on these insights, an on-board measurement system (e.g., based on Axle Box Acceleration (ABA) or Laser Doppler Vibrometry (LDV)) will be designed and implemented to collect additional data for incorporation into the Health Passport.

Advanced data analysis techniques, including synchronisation, correlation analysis, feature extraction, and signal processing, will be employed to identify indicators of track and bridge condition. In parallel, physics-based numerical models will be developed to simulate train–track–bridge dynamic interactions and their resulting structural responses. The health condition of railway tracks on bridges will then be characterised through the analysis of vibration responses generated during train passages.

With every train passage, a comprehensive set of dynamic response data will be collected, creating a continuously evolving record of how the railway track–bridge system behaves over time. This living database will form the foundation of the Health Passport, enabling long-term condition monitoring, performance assessment, and early detection of potential deterioration.

As part of the project, you will collaborate closely with railway industry partners, participate in discussions, and receive feedback on the development and implementation of your research. Limited teaching responsibilities are also included in the position.

As a PhD candidate, you will join the Railway Engineering Section within the Department of Engineering Structures at the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences of TU Delft. You will work closely with ProRail, the Dutch railway infrastructure manager, supporting the testing, validation, and practical implementation of your research outcomes. The supervisory team consists of Prof. Rolf Dollevoet (promotor) and Dr. Zhen Yang (co-promotor).
The Department of Engineering Structures focuses on the development of resilient, smart and sustainable structures and infrastructures. Our aim is to meet societal demands in transportation, the energy transition and sustainable reuse. Research themes include dynamics of structures, mechanics of materials related to e.g. climate change, modelling and design of railway systems, multi-scale modelling of pavement materials and structures, reuse of materials, structures and parts of structures, assessment methods for structures, smart monitoring techniques, design methods, replacement and renovation of civil infrastructure and development of new materials and maintenance techniques. Our unique Macro Mechanics Laboratory facilities support full-scale testing, monitoring and modelling of structures to facilitate implementation of innovations. The department delivers both groundbreaking research and world-class education for undergraduate and graduate students. As a team, we represent different backgrounds, skills and views. We foster an inclusive culture, as our combined identities, attitudes and ambitions widen our perspective and make up our strengths.

Job requirements
We are looking for an excellent candidate with the following qualifications, knowledge and skills:

• A master's degree in Civil, Mechanical, Aerospace Engineering, Applied Mathematics/Mechanics, Computer Science or related areas.
• Demonstrated competencies in one or more of these categories: railway/bridge engineering, structural dynamics, vibration analysis, structural health monitoring, data science or related fields.
• Programming skills in one or more scientific computing environments, such as Python, MATLAB, or similar.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with academic researchers and industry partners.
• Excellent command of English, both verbal and in writing.

If your native language is not English and you do not hold a degree from an institution in which English is the language of instruction, you must submit proof of English proficiency from either TOEFL (minimum total score of 100) or IELTS (minimum total score of 7.0).

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.

Full Professor of International Relations

First and foremost, we seek a highly motivated, committed and collaborative candidate to further strengthen our department. As a professor, you will be expected to actively foster collaboration across the groups and contribute to a cohesive, supportive departmental culture in which colleagues feel connected and valued. You will play an important leadership role in the IR group. You must have a convincing and feasible vision on impact and be able to play an active role in enhancing the external visibility of both group and department.

Within the context of the Nijmegen School of Management (NSM) and its multidisciplinary research groups, you will take a leading role in educational and research projects aimed at making impact by explaining and solving contemporary collective action problems. This is part of NSM’s mission to contribute to responsible governance for sustainable societies. You will engage with scholars from economics, environmental studies, human geography, planning, public administration, and business administration.

As Professor of International Relations, you will actively take on a leadership role based on your vision on the development of the field of IR and the contribution the IR group aims to make in research, education and impact. A leadership role also implies taking responsibility for your own tasks, supervising students and assisting/supporting colleagues and participating in managerial tasks of the department, faculty and university. In addition, you will contribute to the multidisciplinary research of the Institute for Management Research (IMR) through joint projects with other IMR researchers, and undertake efforts to acquire new research projects and resources.

You will play a vital role in the visibility of your own research and/or education for science and society. You will create and maintain an extensive network with key players inside and outside academia, thus giving it a pivotal role in stimulating the exchange of experience and ideas between science and society. You will play a coaching and facilitating role enabling staff members to make their own impact.

You will be expected to strengthen education in the Department of Political Science in important ways. You will be responsible for courses on international relations at the Bachelor’s and Master’s levels and also take an active role in programme and course development and in initiating interdisciplinary programmes.

You will perform outstanding research on international relations with colleagues from the Department of Political Science, Nijmegen School of Management, Radboud University and other research institutes/partners in the Netherlands and abroad. Within this context, a major task will be to actively forge and sustain collaborations with other research groups within and outside the multidisciplinary setting or IMR to initiate grant proposals and obtain external funding.

A full job description is available here.

Service Engineer

• Je staat in voor de installatie en opstart van industriële machines en zorgt voor de praktische voorbereiding en coördinatie van de werkzaamheden op locatie.
• Je voert de eindcontrole van machines uit voor verzending en controleert of de assemblage, functionaliteit en levering volledig overeenstemmen met de technische specificaties.
• Je bent verantwoordelijk voor onderhouds-, service- en stroingsinterventies bij klanten, zowel nationaal als internationaal en zorgt voor een correcte administratieve opvolging en rapportering.
• Je verzorgt de technische ondersteuning en commerciële begeleiding door het geven van opleidingen, domenstraties en presentaties aan zowel klanten als interne medewerkers.

Medewerker Frontoffice Burgerzaken (3)

Aantal uur: 24-28 uur per week

Salaris: tussen de € 2.875,- en de € 4.065,- (schaal 7)

Contract: 1 jaar met uitzicht op vast dienstverband

“Werk dat ertoe doet. Voor inwoners van Zuidplas, elke dag opnieuw.”

Wanneer inwoners binnenlopen, rekenen ze op duidelijkheid, vriendelijkheid en een snelle oplossing. Of het nu gaat om een paspoort, een verhuizing of een belangrijke gebeurtenis in iemands leven: jij helpt inwoners verder en zorgt dat alles goed wordt geregeld: jij bent het gezicht van onze dienstverlening.

Aan de balie, telefoon en e-mail kan het soms flink druk zijn. Vragen komen tegelijk binnen en situaties kunnen snel veranderen. Dat is precies waar jij in uitblinkt. Je houdt overzicht, werkt zorgvuldig en blijft vriendelijk en professioneel. Ben jij gastvrij, werk je zorgvuldig volgens wet- en regelgeving en blijf je rustig wanneer het tempo omhoog gaat? Dan pas je goed bij ons team. We maken graag kennis met je als Medewerker Frontoffice Burgerzaken bij Zuidplas.

Zuidplas; de gemeente die je laat groeien!
Zuidplas is een dynamische en ambitieuze groeigemeente, bestaande uit de dorpen Moerkapelle, Moordrecht, Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel, Zevenhuizen en het nog nieuw te bouwen vijfde dorp: Cortelande. Door onze ligging tussen de steden Rotterdam en Gouda kun je jezelf wagen aan zowel grootstedelijke als landelijke vraagstukken; een interessant speelveld, zowel politiek als geografisch.

Zuidplas groeit de komende jaren flink in inwonersaantal en daarmee ook in het aantal collega’s. We staan voor uitdagende en ambitieuze opgaven en passen onze werkwijze aan de vragen vanuit de samenleving aan. Dat vraagt om collega’s die passen bij Zuidplas en meegroeien door het maximale uit zichzelf en hun carrière te halen. Onze kernwaarden Verbindend, Open, Energiek en Lef sluiten hierop aan. Kortom; Zuidplas is een organisatie die je uitdaagt en laat groeien!

Wat ga je doen als Medewerker Frontoffice Burgerzaken
Als Medewerker Frontoffice Burgerzaken sta je midden in de dienstverlening aan inwoners. Je helpt inwoners aan de balie, via telefoon, e-mail en het zaaksysteem en zorgt dat hun vragen duidelijk en zorgvuldig worden afgehandeld. Je behandelt aanvragen voor reisdocumenten en rijbewijzen, verwerkt verhuizingen en andere mutaties in de BRP en voert werkzaamheden uit voor de burgerlijke stand, zoals aangiften van geboorte, huwelijksmeldingen. Je legt regels en procedures helder uit, signaleert bijzonderheden en werkt nauwkeurig volgens wet- en regelgeving. Tegelijk zorg je dat registraties correct worden verwerkt en dat de kwaliteit van gegevens op orde blijft.

Samen met collega’s werk je aan een goede sfeer en een prettige samenwerking op het Publieksplein. De werkzaamheden van medewerkers Frontoffice Burgerzaken worden volledig op kantoor uitgevoerd.

Wat vragen wij van jou?
Je helpt inwoners graag echt verder en zorgt dat zij met een goed gevoel naar huis gaan. Aan de balie maak jij het verschil. Je werkt zorgvuldig, houdt overzicht wanneer het druk is en legt regels duidelijk en begrijpelijk uit. Samen met collega’s zorg je voor een open en energieke werksfeer en denk je mee over hoe we onze dienstverlening blijven verbeteren.

• Je hebt mbo werk- en denkniveau en ervaring binnen Burgerzaken bij een gemeente.
• Je hebt de vakgerichte B en V-modules Burgerzaken (NLQF-4) afgerond of bent bereid deze te behalen.
• Je hebt ervaring met identiteitsvaststelling en documentherkenning.
• Je bent digitaal vaardig, werkt zelfstandig en nauwkeurig en denkt actief mee over het verbeteren van onze dienstverlening aan de balie.
• Je hebt actuele kennis van de wet- en regelgeving die binnen Burgerzaken van toepassing is.
• Je werkt op kantoor en helpt inwoners aan de balie.

Ons aanbod
Als je komt werken bij Zuidplas ben je verzekerd van goede primaire en secundaire arbeidsvoorwaarden, namelijk:

• Een uitdagende rol in een ambitieuze gemeente waar je werkt in een omgeving die energie geeft en ruimte biedt om het verschil te maken.
• Een salaris tussen de €2.875,- en de €4.065,- bruto per maand o.b.v. 36 uur (schaal 7) je wordt ingeschaald naar ervaring;
• Een Individueel Keuze Budget van 17.05% van het bruto jaarsalaris dat je helemaal naar eigen wens kan inzetten. Denk hierbij aan de mogelijkheid van het laten uitbetalen of het kopen van extra vakantiedagen;
• Een goede werk- privébalans en 5 weken vakantie bij een fulltime werkweek zodat je even goed tot rust kunt komen;
• Benieuwd naar al onze arbeidsvoorwaarden? Bekijk deze dan hier: https://werkenbijzuidplas.nl/wat-wij-bieden

Ben jij de collega die we zoeken?
Enthousiast? Wil jij met jouw gastvrijheid en kennis inwoners écht verder helpen? In deze rol werk je midden in de samenleving en sta je inwoners aan de balie te woord bij belangrijke momenten in hun leven. Met jouw service en duidelijke uitleg zorg je voor betrouwbare dienstverlening. Klinkt dit als jouw volgende stap? Dan kijken we uit naar je sollicitatie.

Heb je nog vragen over de functie of over de sollicitatieprocedure, neem dan contact op met Soo Na Poiesz, clustermanager Publieksplein. Vragen over de sollicitatieprocedure kun je stellen aan Sandhia, Corporate Recruiter. Beiden zijn bereikbaar via 0180 - 330 300.

Bijzonderheden:
Een ontwikkelassessment kan onderdeel uitmaken van deze sollicitatieprocedure zodat wij goed kunnen inschatten of jij met onze gemeente mee kunt groeien. Wij vragen altijd referenties op en vragen standaard een VOG aan. Acquisitie naar aanleiding van deze of andere vacatures wordt niet op prijs gesteld.