Postdoc Researcher Redesigning Deltas

We are inviting applications for four 3 year Postdoc positions in the Department of Urbanism on the theme Redesigning Deltas (www.redesigningdeltas.org ) and funded by the Sector Plan Design Engineering Sciences. Urbanized delta landscapes are among the most challenging urban regions in the world considering their vulnerability to flooding, rapid urbanization, land subsidence, salinization and, increasingly, changing environmental conditions as a result of climate change. The threat of water comes from flood risks of rivers, rising sea levels, and extreme rainfall. And at the same time draughts during increasingly hot summers provide challenges due to declining groundwater tables that pose a threat to building foundations and ecological systems. Addressing the complexity of urban deltas needs integrated solutions and transformative approaches that create new opportunities for improving the quality of life for all. Based on the Delft Approach to urban and landscape design, the Redesigning Deltas programme will address the current status and future challenges of our deltas, centred on knowledge-based design approaches to jointly identify long-term transformative pathways that guide short-term design interventions to sustainable and socially inclusive and fair deltas. We are seeking job applications from ambitious and motivated early career researchers, who have just finished their PhD, with an interest in the interactions between spatial design, critical design thinking, and cross-disciplinarity studies to come to an approach for questioning, understanding and changing socio-ecological relations shaping delta futures.

If you want to apply for these Postdoc positions, please submit a motivation letter, a detailed CV, contact details of three references, and one or two short research proposals (each maximum 1 A4). The research proposals should address the main challenges for the Redesigning Deltas programme, and contribute to the development of a design discourse and research through design applications. Proposals could address various issues, such as the possible spatial impact of the climate change on long-term intervention and adaptation strategies in the delta. And the extent to which developments and transitions in the area of, for example, energy and climate adaptation will affect each other in the short and long term. Proposals could also address the transition from hard technical solutions to soft solutions for the water safety of the delta. Another topic of interest is the sponge cities approach to store and manage water in urban areas and integrate these solutions in the current built environment, while producing co-benefits in terms of ecosystem services and spatial quality. Proposals are also invited which address issues around social and spatial justice in the design process towards sustainable deltas, and involving citizens in the design process, including people’s experiences, emotions and perceptions towards acceptable design solutions.

Successful candidates will develop their own research programme under the guidance of a senior academic within the Department of Urbanism. They will be asked to contribute to the teaching programmes of the Department for a maximum of 1 day a week, as teaching experience will increase the employability of the candidates. A selection of candidates can be considered for a tenured position as Assistant Professor in the Department at the end of the Postdoc position.