Postdoc Integrating Computational Modelling and Remote Sensing to Protect Built Heritage

Challenge: Assess cultural heritage subject to land subsidence

Change: Use computational modelling and remote sensing

Impact: Innovation in heritage protection 

Cultural heritage sites all over the world are increasingly threatened by urbanisation and climate change. Entire historic cities are progressively damaged by sinking coastal land and subsidence at regional scale. Current mitigation measures have limited effect as they are based on local data for single monuments, making it impossible to recognise general relationships between climate change effects and structural degradation mechanisms. 

Due to very recent technical advances, satellite remote sensing, typically used for geophysical investigations of glaciers, earthquakes and volcanoes, has now the potential to provide information on structural deformations. In this project you will use finite element modelling of structures to develop quantitative relations between satellite-based indicators of heritage deformations and a local measure of structural degradation. The project will be conducted in close collaboration with research institutions, industrial stakeholders and governmental organisations. 

To be considered for the position you will have:

• A PhD in a relevant field, i.e. Civil Engineering, Structural or Geotechnical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering;
• A background in computational modelling of structures and/or soil-structure interaction;
• Experience in Finite Element modelling of masonry structures, e.g. Diana/Abaqus.

Female scientists are particularly encouraged to apply.    

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities. You'll be offered a contract in scale 10, with a minimum of € 2.960 and a maximum of € 4.670 gross per month. These figures are based on a full time position. 

There is some flexibility in working hours and the duration of the contract. Working 1.0 fte means we can offer a contract for 7 months, working 0.8 fte means we can offer a contract for 9 months and working 0.5 fte means we can offer a contract for 12 months. 

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

For international applicants we offer the Coming to Delft Service and Partner Career Advice to assist you with your relocation. An International Children's Centre offers childcare and there is an international primary school.

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 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 depletion, urbanisation and the availability of clean water, conducted  in close cooperation with a wide range of research institutions. CEG is convinced that Open Science helps to achieve our goals 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.

For more information about this vacancy, please contact Dr. Giorgia Giardina, Associate Professor, e-mail: [email protected] .

To apply, please add the following documents to your application:

Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply before 15 December 2022 via the application button and upload your motivation and CV. First interviews are being held between the 9th and the 13th of January 2023. 

• 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.
• Acquisition in response to this vacancy is not appreciated.

Challenge: Assess cultural heritage subject to land subsidence

Change: Use computational modelling and remote sensing

Impact: Innovation in heritage protection 

Cultural heritage sites all over the world are increasingly threatened by urbanisation and climate change. Entire historic cities are progressively damaged by sinking coastal land and subsidence at regional scale. Current mitigation measures have limited effect as they are based on local data for single monuments, making it impossible to recognise general relationships between climate change effects and structural degradation mechanisms. 

Due to very recent technical advances, satellite remote sensing, typically used for geophysical investigations of glaciers, earthquakes and volcanoes, has now the potential to provide information on structural deformations. In this project you will use finite element modelling of structures to develop quantitative relations between satellite-based indicators of heritage deformations and a local measure of structural degradation. The project will be conducted in close collaboration with research institutions, industrial stakeholders and governmental organisations. 

To be considered for the position you will have:

• A PhD in a relevant field, i.e. Civil Engineering, Structural or Geotechnical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering;
• A background in computational modelling of structures and/or soil-structure interaction;
• Experience in Finite Element modelling of masonry structures, e.g. Diana/Abaqus.

Female scientists are particularly encouraged to apply.    

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities. You'll be offered a contract in scale 10, with a minimum of € 2.960 and a maximum of € 4.670 gross per month. These figures are based on a full time position. 

There is some flexibility in working hours and the duration of the contract. Working 1.0 fte means we can offer a contract for 7 months, working 0.8 fte means we can offer a contract for 9 months and working 0.5 fte means we can offer a contract for 12 months. 

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

For international applicants we offer the Coming to Delft Service and Partner Career Advice to assist you with your relocation. An International Children's Centre offers childcare and there is an international primary school.

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 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 depletion, urbanisation and the availability of clean water, conducted  in close cooperation with a wide range of research institutions. CEG is convinced that Open Science helps to achieve our goals 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.

For more information about this vacancy, please contact Dr. Giorgia Giardina, Associate Professor, e-mail: [email protected] .

To apply, please add the following documents to your application:

Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply before 15 December 2022 via the application button and upload your motivation and CV. First interviews are being held between the 9th and the 13th of January 2023. 

• 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.
• Acquisition in response to this vacancy is not appreciated.