Postdoc Position in AI to detect disaster patterns

Generate insights to better analyse where and how disasters will strike

We are living in an era of crises: fueled by climate change, fragmentation, and geopolitcial conflict, the number of disasters and crises worldwide has been growing. At the same time, there is little known about how hazard events cascade into disasters ,especially for 'outliers' or high impact-low probability (HILP) events. Today there is a plethora of data that allows us to develop new tools and approaches to understand and analyse the patterns that drive disasters.

As a part of the new EU-H2020 funded AGILE project, you will work with an interdisciplinary team on the development of methods and tools to analyse the causes and patterns that drive high-impact and low probability events by:

(1) identifying the relevant events and thresholds for what constitutes a HILP event. Development of a reference framework that captures indicators in terms of  vulnerability (e.g., infrastructure, socio-demographics, topography, exposure) as well as damage incurred and potential triggers (e.g., network parameters such as connectedness) and responses (e.g., financial assistance, policy metrics). Resilience metrics, existing data bases (e.g., by our project partner PDC) and open data bases (e.g., HDX, EM-Dat) will be the reference points to develop the framework. The framework will be tested and co-designed in stakeholder consultations, that you will lead.

(2) Develop a data collection method based on the above indicators (including, for example use of routine data in different contexts from the aformentioned data bases). Importantly, the method will respect responsible data standards, and perform in resource-sparse areas and acknowledge the heterogeneity of data.

(3) Analyse the data to assess and compare different HILP events by using technqiues such as self-organizing maps to identify similar countries or patterns; or principal component analysis to identify vulnerabilities of the underlying systems. Develop visualisations and a dashboard to showcase and explain your analysis, and test the initial protoype in a workshop with users. Together with a software developer, develop and maintain the final dashboard

(4) From your analysis, develop guidelines and guidance on the risks and triggers for outlier events, and support the development of a plan to maintain the platform beyond the end of the project.

This position is embedded at the Faculty of Technology, Policy & Management (TPM) Resilience Lab, TU Delft - see https://www.tudelft.nl/en/tpm/resiliencelab . The candidate will be joining this vibrant and growing community of researchers and educators bringing innovative and scientific breakthroughs to improve societal resilience in complex socio-technical challenges. You will be supervised by Prof. Tina Comes and Dr. Nazli Aydin. This embedding as well as the connection to the AGILE project ensure access to a broad network of partners in research, policy and practice. You may also gain experience in supervising MSc students and engage in teaching. Via our network and tailored mentoring, we will create opportunities for you to develop your career through support for conferences, collaborations and training possibilities. 

You are a highly motivated and enthusiastic researcher with the ambition to conduct high-quality interdisciplinary research that pushes the boundaries of research 

- You have a PhD degree in Data Sciences / Data Analytics, Artificial Intelligence, Software Engineering, or a related field (essential).
- You have experience in data collection and scientific visualisation (dashboard design), using any appropriate method (essential)
- You have knowledge in the field of resilience or crisis / disaster management (desirable)
- You have experience in co-design, and you are validating and testing the tools you develop in stakeholder workshops or interviews (desirable).
- You thrive in a collaborative and multi-disciplinary environment and look forward to interacting with researchers and experts on different domains (essential)
- You have an excellent command of spoken and written English and good communication skills (essential)
- You have excellent study results. Academic writing skills are regarded as assets 

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities. 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, 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 TPM provides an important contribution to solving complex technical-social issues, such as energy transition, mobility, digitalisation, water management and (cyber) security. TPM does this with its excellent education and research at the intersection of technology, society and policy. We combine insights from both engineering and social sciences as well as the humanities. TPM develops robust models and designs, is internationally oriented and has an extensive network of knowledge institutions, companies, social organisations and governments.

Click here  to go to the website of the Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management.

For more information about this vacancy, please contact Prof. Tina Comes ([email protected])     

Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply before 24 June 2023 via the application button and upload: 

• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Motivation letter indicating your research interests and experience
• Diplomas/degrees including a grade transcript of previous education at MSc level
• Names and details of two references who support your application
• Formal evidence on analytical skills (GRE/GMAT) and/or language proficiency, if available
• Proof of academic writing skills by 1-2 research papers.

The first round of interviews will take place in the first week of July.

You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.