Postdoc researcher Citizen Science as driver of Sustainable Development

Can universities enhance the capacity of local libraries when it comes to Open Science and Citizen Science as drivers of sustainable development, and do you have the background to support this? 

We are inviting applications for a two year Postdoc position in the Department of Urbanism that works in this in close collaboration with the TU Delft Library and the Open Science Programme at TU Delft.

An essential prerequisite for sustainable development is that it unfolds from within and is supported by local communities. That was an important reason for TU Delft to participate in the so-called OPUSH project, funded through the JPI Urban Europe. The OPUSH project aims to make knowledge on sustainable development and transformative action more visible and traceable and empower the local community by granting permanent access to open knowledge ecosystems. Thereby, OPUSH enhances the role and capacity of libraries within Open Science and through Citizen Science as a driver of sustainable development.

The project focuses on the most heterogeneous groups of civil society, particularly the empowerment of marginalized groups, the equal inclusion of all genders, and the inclusion of people regardless of their cultural or social backgrounds and people with different needs to support the development of cities and urban areas. Thus, the project pursues the following approaches:

• Identifying challenges in establishing sustainability-oriented learning settings.
• Developing, testing and evaluating new combined analogue and digital approaches to unfold knowledge co-production on sustainable development.

The project is strategically engaged for the 2030 Agenda based on UN SDGs by empowering people through education and learning and strengthening transformative action in all agendas, programs, and activities of the urban network shaping new urban innovation ecosystems and providing environmental and social justice for all.

You will participate in the work on Citizen Social Science experimentation, participatory processes and toolbox development and conceptual exploration.

The candidate has:

• A recent PhD degree in urban design, urban planning or spatial planning, preferably with a focus on citizen science, citizen participation and/or public engagement.
• A proven interest in interactions with citizens in science and/or design.
• The ability to participate in a consortium.
• Scientific skills, as demonstrated by previous research projects.
• Communication, networking, and collaboration skills, as demonstrated by other activities.
• Excellent Master study results.

Because you will be working with citizens, knowledge of the Dutch language is preferred.

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 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 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.

Department of Urbanism
The Department of Urbanism is one of the four departments at the TU Delft Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment. The Department of Urbanism considers urbanism as a planning and design-oriented activity focused on the (re)making of better urban environments. The Department of Urbanism is a world leading knowledge hub for innovative urban and landscape design and research which is strongly rooted in the Delft Approach to design. This approach is research based and explicitly inter- and transdisciplinary. The mission of the department is to advance, share and apply knowledge on how to adapt the built environment to societal and environmental changes and how to apply design, planning and engineering interventions to better satisfy human needs, and to achieve fairer, healthier, and more resilient urban landscapes.

For more information about this vacancy, please contact Dr.ir. Frank van der Hoeven,
via e-mail: [email protected] (only per mail).

For more information about the selection procedure, please contact Mrs Manon de Gier, HR assistant,
via email: [email protected] .

The position will remain open until November 21, 2022 (local Dutch time: UTC time + 2hrs).
You must apply via the "Apply now" button. Applications via e-mail will not be processed.

Candidates are expected to submit:

• A letter of application.
• A detailed CV, including Master grades and link to PhD thesis.
• One or two short research proposals (each maximum 1 A4).
• The names and contact details of three references.

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

Can universities enhance the capacity of local libraries when it comes to Open Science and Citizen Science as drivers of sustainable development, and do you have the background to support this? 

We are inviting applications for a two year Postdoc position in the Department of Urbanism that works in this in close collaboration with the TU Delft Library and the Open Science Programme at TU Delft.

An essential prerequisite for sustainable development is that it unfolds from within and is supported by local communities. That was an important reason for TU Delft to participate in the so-called OPUSH project, funded through the JPI Urban Europe. The OPUSH project aims to make knowledge on sustainable development and transformative action more visible and traceable and empower the local community by granting permanent access to open knowledge ecosystems. Thereby, OPUSH enhances the role and capacity of libraries within Open Science and through Citizen Science as a driver of sustainable development.

The project focuses on the most heterogeneous groups of civil society, particularly the empowerment of marginalized groups, the equal inclusion of all genders, and the inclusion of people regardless of their cultural or social backgrounds and people with different needs to support the development of cities and urban areas. Thus, the project pursues the following approaches:

• Identifying challenges in establishing sustainability-oriented learning settings.
• Developing, testing and evaluating new combined analogue and digital approaches to unfold knowledge co-production on sustainable development.

The project is strategically engaged for the 2030 Agenda based on UN SDGs by empowering people through education and learning and strengthening transformative action in all agendas, programs, and activities of the urban network shaping new urban innovation ecosystems and providing environmental and social justice for all.

You will participate in the work on Citizen Social Science experimentation, participatory processes and toolbox development and conceptual exploration.

The candidate has:

• A recent PhD degree in urban design, urban planning or spatial planning, preferably with a focus on citizen science, citizen participation and/or public engagement.
• A proven interest in interactions with citizens in science and/or design.
• The ability to participate in a consortium.
• Scientific skills, as demonstrated by previous research projects.
• Communication, networking, and collaboration skills, as demonstrated by other activities.
• Excellent Master study results.

Because you will be working with citizens, knowledge of the Dutch language is preferred.

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 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 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.

Department of Urbanism
The Department of Urbanism is one of the four departments at the TU Delft Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment. The Department of Urbanism considers urbanism as a planning and design-oriented activity focused on the (re)making of better urban environments. The Department of Urbanism is a world leading knowledge hub for innovative urban and landscape design and research which is strongly rooted in the Delft Approach to design. This approach is research based and explicitly inter- and transdisciplinary. The mission of the department is to advance, share and apply knowledge on how to adapt the built environment to societal and environmental changes and how to apply design, planning and engineering interventions to better satisfy human needs, and to achieve fairer, healthier, and more resilient urban landscapes.

For more information about this vacancy, please contact Dr.ir. Frank van der Hoeven,
via e-mail: [email protected] (only per mail).

For more information about the selection procedure, please contact Mrs Manon de Gier, HR assistant,
via email: [email protected] .

The position will remain open until November 21, 2022 (local Dutch time: UTC time + 2hrs).
You must apply via the "Apply now" button. Applications via e-mail will not be processed.

Candidates are expected to submit:

• A letter of application.
• A detailed CV, including Master grades and link to PhD thesis.
• One or two short research proposals (each maximum 1 A4).
• The names and contact details of three references.

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