PhD Position on Circular Timber Structures: Zero-Waste Design and Construction of Structural Systems from Local and Underutilised Wood Sources

Are you interested in timber structures and do you want to contribute to a circular construction industry? Join us in the quest for hyperlocal and zero-waste timber concepts.

Delft University of Technology is hiring a doctoral candidate on the topic of "Circular timber structures: zero-waste design and construction of structural systems from local and underutilised wood sources". You will be part of an international and interdisciplinary consortium, working on a Horizon Europe project that investigates climate-smart construction methods using underutilised wood sources like locally harvested hardwood, reclaimed and residual wood.

As a collaborator on the project, you will develop new zero-waste concepts for structural systems and products from local wood sources, with a specific focus on city wood and reclaimed wood components. To do so, you will review current, historic and innovative practices, co-create and elaborate the zero-waste concepts, and perform physical experiments. The co-creation and physical experimentation will happen in the context of a living lab at The Green Village, a field lab for sustainable construction innovation on the TU Delft campus. In this living lab you will collaborate with multiple actors from the timber construction practice. The physical experiments and tests will lead to the fabrication of a 1:1 demonstration. The project will rely on digital innovations and the integration of computational modelling to solve complex matching problems related to the use of dynamic and diverse stocks of wood resources. Throughout the project, you will interact with Architecture and Building Technology students, bridging research and education through design and making activities.

You will be part of the ReStruct Group at the Department of Architectural Engineering + Technology and a member of the research team of dr. Stijn Brancart.

• Masters degree in Building Technology, Architecture, Architectural Engineering, Structural Engineering, or a related field;
• Master thesis should preferably be related to structural design, timber structures or structural reuse;
• Strong technical background and experience with structural design;
• You enjoy performing research, including experimental work. You are independent, self-motivated and eager to learn. You are keen to develop new fundamental knowledge and engineer novel solutions for addressing real-world societal challenges, particularly in the sustainable use of wood;
• Ability to work in a team, to be pro-active and to collaborate with students, researchers and industry partners;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English proven by a minimum band score of 100 in the TOEFL iBT test (with a minimum score of 21 for each section, obtained in a single test) or a minimum band score of 7.0 in the IELTS test (with a minimum score of 6.5 for each section). For more details please check the Graduate Schools Admission Requirements . The employment contract will only start after successful completion of one of these tests;
• Practical experience with working with wood, experience with parametric design and computational modelling and/or experience with 1:1 making is a plus.

Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis. 

Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1,5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2,5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from € 2770 per month in the first year to € 3539 in the fourth year. As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.

For international applicants, TU Delft has the Coming to Delft Service . This service provides information for new international employees to help you prepare the relocation and to settle in the Netherlands. The Coming to Delft Service offers a Dual Career Programme for partners and they organise events to expand your (social) network.

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!

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 from early in the morning until late at night, with four thousand people 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.

For more information about this vacancy, please contact Dr. Stijn Brancart, e-mail: [email protected] .

For information about the application procedure, please contact Julia Kreuwel, HR advisor,
e-mail: [email protected] .

The position will remain open until the 1st of September, 2024 (local Dutch time + 2 hrs). You must apply via the “Apply now” button. Applications via email will not be processed.

Selected candidates will be invited for a first round of interviews in the second half of September.

Your application should include:

• Motivation letter (no more than 600 words) addressing your interests and describing how your experience and plans fit with the position.
• Detailed CV - highlight examples of projects and/or achievements and previous experience that demonstrate skills relevant to the advertised position.
• MSc thesis and, if applicable, one or two notable publications you have authored or projects you have contributed to (please indicate clearly your contribution in case of group work).
• Undergraduate and graduate transcripts.
• Contact information for two references (letters not required at this stage).

Please note:

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
• A pre-Employment screening can be part of the selection procedure.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.