Assistant Professors in Mission-Driven Research on Future-Proof Networks

Introduction
Are you eager to fuel a quantum leap in network mathematics by designing and analyzing Future-Proof Networks that deliver tangible benefits to society? And are you motivated by mission-driven, collaborative research with real-world impact? The Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) is looking for three Assistant Professors as founding faculty members of an ambitious moonshot research initiative on Future-Proof Networks. We are looking for researchers who are fully committed to the mission of Future-Proof Networks - networks that are robust, adaptive and sustainable by design. Successful candidates will be able to translate this mission into clear and actionable research goals and will be motivated to demonstrate and validate Future-Proof Networks concepts in practice, bridging fundamental theory and real-world applications.

Job Description
The Department of Mathematics and Computer Science is in the process of formulating and achieving a moonshot research initiative on Future-Proof Networks. The research questions focus on the mathematical foundations of networks, aiming to enable networked systems that are inherently robust, adaptive, and sustainable by design, with the ultimate goal of delivering meaningful societal impact. The moonshot addresses research questions in the mathematics of networks, focusing on how network structure, dynamics, uncertainty, and scale can be understood and controlled to ensure long‑term performance and resilience. The ambition is to advance fundamental theory while creating direct pathways toward practice and societal relevance. The scientific leadership and intellectual inspiration for this moonshot is provided by Prof. Remco van der Hofstad.

We are looking for researchers who embrace interdisciplinary research within the disciplines of mathematics (statistics, stochastic operations research, probability, analysis, discrete mathematics) and across disciplines (e.g., data science, computer science, and the humanities) to achieve the mission of Future-Proof Networks. We expect successful candidates to contribute actively to the development of a mission-driven research program with clear routes to societal impact. Possible contributions include, but are not limited to:

• Develop foundational design paradigms for Future-Proof Networks that embed robustness, adaptability, and sustainability.
• Ensure theoretical guarantees for network functionality, performance, and resilience under uncertainty and change.
• Advancing the scientific community by providing novel theories, methods, and analytical tools for the study of complex networks.
• Facilitate schools nationally and worldwide to deploy our research-based instruments.

The ideal candidate has a research profile that aligns with Network Mathematics, and has research experience in a multidisciplinary environment, and experience with mission-driven research. You will strengthen the moonshot focus areas, and broaden its capacity in addressing societal problems in network mathematics. You will contribute in an essential way to shaping the focus of the moonshot, as well as performing research targeting the moonshot research questions. You also play a leading role in building a community within the Department around the moonshot research questions on Future-Proof Networks. Candidates with a background in statistics and stochastic operations research are particularly encouraged to apply.

Job Requirements

• PhD in Mathematics, Statistics, or a comparable domain.
• Strong communication skills, across the boundaries of your scientific domain.
• Ability to conduct high quality academic research, reflected in demonstratable outputs.
• Experience in successful interdisciplinary research.
• Experience in conducting research with external non-academic partners.
• Motivation to engage in mission-driven research on Future-Proof Networks, with a focus on delivering targets, providing proof-of-concept, and showcasing results, where experience is beneficial.
• Motivated to teach, contribute to teaching processes, and to develop excellent teaching skills.
• Effective communication and leadership skills, including the ability to (co-) supervise PhD candidates, BSc and MSc thesis students, and leading a research project.
• Strong cooperation skills and ability to work in an interdisciplinary team.
• Effective communication and leadership skills, including coaching and mentoring of students and staff, leading a project or chairing a group.
• Ability to develop and deliver research-oriented education.
• Excellent (written and verbal) proficiency in English.

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:

• Salary in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, scale 11 (min. € 4728,- max € 6433,-).
• A year-end bonus of 8.3% and annual vacation pay of 8%.
• A dedicated mentoring program to help you get to know the university and the Dutch (research) environment.
• A Development Track with the prospect of becoming an Associate Professor. If you have a more senior profile, a tailor-made career proposal will be considered.
• High-quality training programs for academic leadership and teaching.
• 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.
• Partially paid parental leave and an allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs.
• A Staff Immigration Team is available for international candidates, as are a tax compensation scheme (the 30% facility) and partner career support.

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.

You will join the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science (M&CS). With over 140 (assistant, associate and full) professors, almost 250 PhD and EngD students, nearly 3000 students, M&CS is the largest department of the TU/e. By performing top-level fundamental and applied research, and maintaining strong ties with industry, M&CS aims to contribute to science and innovation in and beyond the region.

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.

Information
Do you recognize yourself in this profile and would you like to know more?
Please contact the hiring manager Prof. dr. Remco van der Hofstad, Full professor in Probability, r.w.v.d.hofstad@tue.nl.

Visit our website for more information about the application process. You can also contact Annette van Kamp-Rustenburg, senior recruiter, a.j.v.kamp.rustenburg1@tue.nl.

Curious to hear more about what it is like as a professor at TU/e? Please watch the video.

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

Application
We invite you to submit a complete application. 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 and the contact information of three references. Kindly note that we may reach out to references at any stage of the recruitment process. We recommend notifying your references upon submitting your application.
• Description of your scientific interests and plans, including a specific proposal of a societal network challenge that you would like to work on (1-2 pages).
• Statement of your teaching goals and experience (1-2 pages).

Ensure that you submit all the requested application documents. Please note that incomplete applications may not be considered and could be rejected.

We look forward to receiving your application and will review all submissions after the vacancy’s closing date.

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.

Optical Characterisation of Performance Limits in Materials under Cryogenic Conditions

Job description

This PhD project investigates how aerospace materials deform, degrade and ultimately limit structural performance when exposed to cryogenic temperatures and different strain rate regimes.

This position is part of the Dutch Aviation Systems Analysis Lab (DASAL) project, a collaboration between TU Delft and Royal NLR within the Dutch Luchtvaart in Transitie programme. DASAL develops computational and simulation models to assess the effects of aviation innovations and policy choices on sustainability, economic, and societal impact.

The attention to hydrogen as an alternative fuel for aviation has increased, given its potential to partially or totally replace fossil fuel-based jet fuels. Storing hydrogen requires at least four times as much volume as jet fuel, and in bulkier volumes consisting of cylindrical tanks. It is obvious that hydrogen tanks will have to be, at least partially, placed inside the fuselage, such that their integrity becomes a crucial aspect to guarantee passenger safety. The current state-of-the-art research cannot explain how engineering materials applied in aviation will behave under cryogenic temperatures as low as 20 K (-250 °C), especially when in contact with hydrogen. Furthermore, strain rate effects will have additional influence on the behaviour of these materials, which is not yet characterised in the literature. This project aims to develop and formalise knowledge concerning the deformation mechanisms of materials in cryogenic conditions at various strain rates. Focus will be given to the development of testing methodologies that can accurately observe, detect, and measure deformation and damage under the large temperature gradients that will be present in the testing apparatus. The developed testing methodologies will provide reliable experimental data on material and structural behaviour, which will be used to validate new numerical models and contribute to the certification by analysis of future composite structures. Optical measurement techniques, such as digital image correlation, pattern tracking, high-speed imaging and, where relevant, thermography, will be explored to enable full-field characterisation of deformation, strain localisation and damage evolution under cryogenic and strain-rate-dependent loading conditions.

Preliminary research questions for the PhD project are:

• What measurement techniques can enable the observation of relevant deformation and damage phenomena in experiments under cryogenic conditions?
• How can the constraints imposed by cryogenic testing conditions be rationally overcome to characterise material behaviour reliably?
• What characterises the strain rate dependence of material deformation in cryogenic conditions, from quasi-static to dynamic loading?

In addition to the main project, you may contribute to educational and ongoing research initiatives within the group, leveraging your expertise. You will also have the opportunity to explore and develop your own ideas and research directions.

You will be required to communicate your results both in academic settings, through journal papers and conferences, and towards an industrial audience. In this position, you will be supervised by Dr Andrei Anisimov and Dr Saullo Castro.

This position is shared by the Optical Metrology for Aerospace (OMA) and Design of Structures research groups, both within the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering at Delft University of Technology. OMA is a young, interdisciplinary and international research group with a focus on optical instrumentation for metrology applications, efficient non-destructive inspection and material characterisation. Design of Structures focuses on design for impact and crashworthiness, and on strength-driven designs that exploit the maximum strength of available materials in post-buckling.

Job requirements
You are a motivated graduate who wants to apply theoretical, experimental and analytical skills to the characterisation of aerospace materials under challenging cryogenic and strain-rate-dependent loading conditions. You are interested in developing reliable experimental methodologies and measurement approaches that can support the safe introduction of hydrogen-based aviation technologies.

You also have:

• A Master’s degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, applied physics, materials science, experimental mechanics, instrumentation, or a related discipline.
• A strong interest in experimental testing, material characterisation and the behaviour of materials under extreme environmental and loading conditions.
• Hands-on experience with experimental setups, measurement systems, optical measurement techniques, mechanical testing, or laboratory instrumentation.
• Experience with digital image correlation, image processing, high-speed imaging, thermography, cryogenic testing, composite materials, numerical modelling, or non-destructive testing is a plus.
• Capacity to work independently and as a team member.
• * Good communication skills and the ability to collaborate with researchers from different disciplines.

The outcomes of this project will be disseminated to the scientific community, industrial stakeholders and a general audience through presentations at national and international conferences, publications in peer-reviewed journals, and project meetings. You will also participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, write scientific articles and prepare a final thesis. Additionally, you may be involved in training and teaching MSc students. Therefore, a good level of English proficiency and social skills are required to work effectively with academic, industrial and project stakeholders. For more details, please check the Graduate Schools Admission Requirements: https://www.tudelft.nl/onderwijs/opleidingen/phd/admission.

TU Delft
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 Aerospace Engineering
The Faculty of Aerospace Engineering at Delft University of Technology is a leading international community where innovation in aerospace meets global challenges. Our support and scientific staff, including PhD candidates, postdocs, and students, largely work together on three main themes: the energy transition, sustainable aerospace, and safety and security, with the aim of tackling climate change and contributing to the independence and security of Europe.

When you join us, you become part of a diverse, collaborative, and forward-thinking environment where your ideas and perspectives are valued. Our work extends beyond the lab—into field labs, innovation hubs, and partnerships with other faculties, research institutes, governments, and industry, both locally and globally.

We are committed to fostering an inclusive and welcoming workplace, assisted by an active Diversity & Inclusion team. This includes tangible support such as funding for extra personnel for family and caregiving responsibilities, mentoring programmes, and initiatives that promote cultural exchange and integration.

You don’t just join our faculty — you join a community where you can thrive, grow, and help shape the future of aerospace.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering.

PhD Position Battery Energy Storage for Multi-functional Traction Grids

Job description

Energy storage for the sake of braking energy recuperation and release will probably never have a solid business case. The often overlooked benefits of energy storage are voltage control and peak shaving when the traction grid has renewables and third-party users (houses, EV chargers, etc.) connected to it. This multi-functional use of a traction grid is an urgent necessity in times of grid congestion. Still, how do we properly size the RES system when it is connected to the DC side and faces a significant generational mismatch? How do the connected EV chargers maximize their consumption of the excess RES and braking energy generation? How can battery energy storage, at the heart of this operation, properly buffer these connected sources and loads, and how can we build a robust state estimator, with the very few available measurements, to still allow it to properly dispatch? Finally, we must design a suitable, wide-input range, wide-output range, multi-port converter to connect the Batteries, EV chargers, RES, and the traction grid together.

This PhD is fully funded by the public transport operator of Amsterdam, the GVB.

The research in the Department of Electrical Sustainable Energy is inspired by the technical, scientific, and societal challenges originating from the transition towards a more sustainable society and focuses on four areas:

• DC Systems, Energy Conversion and Storage (DCE&S)
• Photovoltaic Materials and Devices (PVMD)
• Intelligent Electrical Power Grids (IEPG)
• High Voltage Technologies (HVT)

The department owns a large ESP Laboratory assembling High Voltage testing, DC Grids testing environment, and large RTDS that is actively used for real-time simulation of future electrical power systems, AC and DC protection and wide-area monitoring and protection. The DC Systems, Energy Conversion and Storage (DCE&S) group is responsible for research and education in the fields of DC systems, high voltage technology, energy storage, electronic power conversion (power electronics), and electromechanics. DC systems is a multidisciplinary field of research, exploring the integration of renewable energy sources and energy storage (electric vehicles) in DC networks and systems and future DC transmission grids. The group is currently active in applications such as Direct Current distribution and transmission grids and microgrids, electrification of mobility (charging of electric vehicles), and renewable generation of electrical energy (such as wind and solar energy). Would you like to know more about the ESE department and the DCE&S group?

Please take a look at the webpage www.tudelft.nl/ewi/ese.

Job requirements
Who are we looking for?

• You have a master's degree in Electrical Engineering or a related engineering discipline from a well-established university.
• An experience with the modeling of one or more among: Batteries, solar PV systems, power flows in DC grids, and EV charging demand.
• A solid background in power electronics and the development of experimental setups.
• Excellent English and programming skills are a requirement. Knowledge of Dutch is an advantage.
• A combination of excellent mathematical and analytical skills.

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 Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science
The Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS) brings together three scientific disciplines. Combined, they reinforce each other and are the driving force behind the technology we all use in our daily lives. Technology such as the electricity grid, which our faculty is helping to make completely sustainable and future-proof. At the same time, we are developing the chips and sensors of the future, whilst also setting the foundations for the software technologies to run on this new generation of equipment – which of course includes AI. Meanwhile we are pushing the limits of applied mathematics, for example mapping out disease processes using single cell data, and using mathematics to simulate gigantic ash plumes after a volcanic eruption. In other words: there is plenty of room at the faculty for ground-breaking research. We educate innovative engineers and have excellent labs and facilities that underline our strong international position. In total, more than 1000 employees and 4,000 students work and study in this innovative environment.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science.

Facultair Informatie Coördinator Industrieel Ontwerpen (FIC)

Functieomschrijving

Als Facultair Informatiecoördinator (FIC) binnen de faculteit Industrieel Ontwerpen (IO) speel je een sleutelrol in datagedreven werken. Je verzamelt, combineert en analyseert data uit diverse bronsystemen en vertaalt deze naar bruikbare managementinformatie. Daarmee ondersteun je de decaan, afdelingsvoorzitters en het facultaire managementteam bij besluitvorming en beleidsontwikkeling op het gebied van onderwijs, onderzoek, HR en financiën.

Je werkt nauw samen met de faculteitssecretaris, die ook je leidinggevende is, om prioriteiten en timing af te stemmen. Daarnaast behandel je informatieverzoeken van verschillende stakeholders binnen en buiten de faculteit. Je schakelt intensief met collega’s van Onderwijs- en Studentzaken, de Graduate School, Contractmanagement, HR en Financiën.

Binnen de TU Delft werk je samen met andere Facultaire Informatiecoördinatoren. In dit interfacultaire netwerk draag je bij aan de ontwikkeling en inrichting van centrale systemen en applicaties. Je adviseert over datastromen, definities en rapportagestructuren, en draagt bij aan uniforme werkwijzen universiteitsbreed. Deze werkzaamheden worden gecoordineerd door de Informatie Manager Faculteiten.

Op basis van jouw analyses adviseer je, gevraagd en ongevraagd, over beleidsvraagstukken. Je ontwikkelt rapportages, onder andere voor inspecties en de voor- en najaarsrapportages, en zorgt dat deze inzichtelijk en relevant zijn. Je maakt hierbij gebruik van tools zoals Tableau en Business Objects.

Daarnaast denk je actief mee over het verbeteren en herontwerpen van processen rondom data en informatievoorziening. In de eerste maanden ligt de nadruk op het opstellen van beleid en het inrichten van een rapportagecyclus voor de FIC-rol.

Werkomgeving

Je komt terecht in een dynamische academische omgeving waar wordt gewerkt aan maatschappelijke uitdagingen zoals duurzaamheid, gezondheid, mobiliteit en kunstmatige intelligentie. Een omgeving waarin jouw werk direct bijdraagt aan impactvol onderwijs.

Bij TU Delft vinden we een gezonde werk privébalans belangrijk. Daarom bieden we ruimte voor flexibele werktijden en hybride werken. Bij een werkweek van drie dagen kun je in overleg structureel één dag vanuit huis werken.

Functie-eisen

• Je hebt een hbo- of wo-opleiding, bij voorkeur in data-analyse, bedrijfskunde, informatiemanagement of vergelijkbaar.
• Je hebt ervaring met data-analyse en het vertalen van data naar managementinformatie en adviezen.
• Je bent sterk in stakeholdermanagement en schakelt makkelijk met verschillende niveaus in een complexe organisatie.
• Je hebt ervaring met tools zoals Tableau, Business Objects of vergelijkbare visualisatietools.
• Je hebt een analytische, proactieve en gestructureerde werkhouding.
• Je kunt complexe informatie helder en overtuigend communiceren, mondeling en schriftelijk.
• Je hebt affiniteit met een academische omgeving en bestuurlijke verhoudingen.
• Je spreekt en schrijft goed Nederlands en Engels.

TU Delft
De Technische Universiteit Delft heeft een sterk fundament. Als bouwer van de wereldberoemde Nederlandse waterwerken en pionier in biotech is TU Delft een internationale topuniversiteit die wetenschap, engineering en design combineert. TU Delft staat voor onderwijs, onderzoek en innovatie van wereldklasse om uitdagingen op het gebied van energie, klimaat, mobiliteit, gezondheid en digitale maatschappij aan te gaan. Generaties Delftse ingenieurs hebben bewezen ondernemende probleemoplossers te zijn in bedrijfsleven en in sociale context.

Bij TU Delft omarmen we diversiteit als een van onze kernwaarden en zetten we ons actief in om een universiteit te zijn waar jij je thuis voelt en kunt floreren. We hechten veel waarde aan verschillende perspectieven en kwaliteiten, omdat wij geloven dat dit ons werk innovatiever, de TU Delft-gemeenschap levendiger en de wereld rechtvaardiger maakt. Samen bedenken en ontwikkelen we oplossingen die een positieve invloed hebben op wereldwijde schaal. Daarom nodigen we jou uit om te solliciteren. Je sollicitatie krijgt een eerlijke behandeling.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

Faculteit IO (Industrieel Ontwerpen)
Hoe zorgen we ervoor dat de snelheden van menselijke en technologische ontwikkeling gelijke tred houden? Dat is de focus van de faculteit Industrieel Ontwerpen (IO). Delftse ontwerpers zijn een brug tussen technologische innovatie en de behoeftes van mensen, onze maatschappij en organisaties. Zij ontwerpen hiervoor doelbewuste producten, diensten en systemen. IO is leider in ontwerponderzoek, met toepassingen op gebieden als mobiliteit, duurzaamheid en gezondheid, alsook ontwikkeling van ontwerptools en methodes. Een sterk onderzoeksteam van 350 personen en meer dan 2.000 studenten werken samen in onze kenmerkende hal, laboratoria en studio’s. In nauwe samenwerking met de praktijk, de publieke sector en Ngo’s en met oog op de toenemende complexiteit repeteren wij met ons onderzoek en onderwijs mogelijke toekomstscenario’s.

Klik hier om naar de website van faculteit Industrieel Ontwerpen te gaan.

PhD Position on Experimental Fluid-rock Interaction in Carbonates

Job description

Half of sedimentary formations worldwide consists of limestone, which is highly chemically reactive at all depths where engineering activities take place. Furthermore, water is everywhere in the Earth’s crust, and it impacts every single process studied in geology, from volcanic eruptions to earthquakes, and from groundwater extraction to green energy production. Specifically subsurface engineering activities (geothermal energy, CO2 storage, drinking water production, etc) often involve extraction or injection of fluids in sedimentary rocks, where chemistry is different from pure water. This experimental project investigates how the chemical interaction between different fluids and limestone changes the failure behaviour of limestone rocks, and how we can improve monitoring and predictions of fluid migrations and seismicity using a combination of geophysical and chemical methods. The mechanical data generated in this project will be crucial to properly assess the risk of leakage or induced seismicity, with a specific focus for subsurface engineering projects that advance the energy transition, for example in CO2 storage projects or geothermal energy.

We are looking for someone who takes on the challenge to figure out how different fluid types affect the brittle-ductile transition in limestone, by:

• Characterizing the brittle-ductile transition in three different limestone types.
• Systematically explore the effect of fluid additives on the failure behaviour under specific conditions.
• Use the data to develop new acoustic monitoring techniques to predict that rock failure is imminent.
• Test the newly designed monitoring techniques on dm-scale samples together with the team.
• Present the work at international conferences and workshops.

The work will be done in the Delft Rock Mechanics lab, with involvement of collaborators based in Strasbourg (Unistra) and Lausanne (EPFL). In Delft, you will be embedded in an enthusiastic team of experimentalists at the PhD and postdoc level, the Rock Deformation team (@RockDefTUD on BlueSky and Instagram). The Rock Deformation team is a dynamic and social core group of ~10 persons. The team has weekly scientific meetings to pick each other’s brains, fuelled by coffee and tea, and several social outings per year. We are part of the Department of Geoscience and Engineering, housed within the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences (https://www.tudelft.nl/en/ceg/), and there is social and scientific contact with researchers from different disciplines. Specifically, there is the potential to liaise with the Geophysics group, but also with interdisciplinary groups of PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers working on the Geothermal theme or in the Subsurface storage.

In Strasbourg, dr. Alexandra Kushnir is an expert in fluid-rock interactions, especially in geothermal energy applications, and prof. Patrick Baud will offer additional expertise in limestone mechanics. At EPFL, prof. Marie Violay is a renowned expert in experimental fluid-rock interactions. The position is offered within the scope of the NWO-funded VIDI project “BRITTLENESS”, with dr. Anne Pluymakers in the lead. Anne is a specialist in fluid-rock interaction in rock mechanics and fault friction experiments, with broad experience on applying this knowledge in geothermal energy and CO2 storage applications. In Delft, dr. Auke Barnhoorn will take the role of promotor. Auke specializes in the link between acoustic monitoring and experimental rock interaction.

Job requirements
We are looking for someone who is excited about lab work, since you would need to perform an extensive experimental campaign, to characterize different limestones under different pressures, temperatures and fluid conditions. It is a transdisciplinary project requiring both physics (mechanics) and chemistry interest. Even if you may not know much about it now, we are looking for someone who loves expanding their horizon scientifically. You have a hands-on attitude with respect to laboratory work, demonstrated by (for example) a love of repairing or building things, enjoyment of practical exercises during studies, etc. Any experience with rock deformation work will be a plus. In your contacts with your colleagues and your project partners you put your communication skills to good use. You enjoy mentoring and interacting with students, while growing your own skills and expertise.

Need-to-have at the time the position starts (summer/autumn 2026):

• An MSc in a relevant subject, preferably Geoscience, Geology or Geotechnical Engineering, though related disciplines, for example (Applied) Physics or (Applied) Chemistry. Curriculum should have included Continuum Mechanics and Thermodynamics.
• Affinity and enthusiasm for laboratory work. Learning on the job will definitely occur, but a practical mindset is prerequisite.
• Programming skills, sufficient to develop data analysis routines (Matlab, Python or equivalent).
• Excellent analytical skills.
• Strong communication skills to interact with supervisors, technical support staff and fellow experimentalists.
• English working proficiency (oral and written).

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.