Postdoc Ventilation and Airborne transmission

Challenge: Reduce airborne transmission during pandemics.
Change: Use of a multidisciplinary approach towards improving indoor environments.
Impact: Allow for healthier designs of indoor spaces.

Medio 2022, the Pandemic Prepardeness programme through ventilation (P3Venti) was created to develop knowledge on the role of airborne transmission of viruses and other pathogens, and on the effectiveness of ventilation as mitigation measure. As Postdoc within the group Indoor Environment, you will be working on research line III of the P3Venti programme, which is concerned with the impact of ventilation on airborne transmission, specifically in longterm healthcare facilities. The aim is to study the effect of different ventilation regimes on the infection risk through experimental research in the Experience room of the SenseLab in combination with modelling activities. The research will be performed in close cooperation with the Adaptive consortium executing the P3Venti programme lead by TNO and the frontrunner project Airborne transmission and ventilation in the PDPC (Pandemic and Disaster Preparedeness Centre), created in 2021 by Erasmus MC, TU Delft and Erasmus University Rotterdam. The aim of this frontrunner project is to develop methods to predict and quantify the airborne transmission potential of viruses, based on model studies, experiments and outbreak research, that may lead to novel and improved mitigation strategies.

The Indoor Environment (IE) group, of which you become part, is specifically focussed on people and their health and comfort, influenced by buildings and environmental factors, indoors and outdoors. Key is the assessment and control of the effect of the combination of environmental parameters (thermal quality, sound quality, lighting quality and air quality) on people and the built environment. The staff of the IE group comprises of 6 PhD candidates (of which one works in the frontrunner project Airborne transmission and ventilation; and 2 work on airborne transmission and ventilation at schools) and 1 Postdoc, supervised by Prof.dr. Philomena M. Bluyssen. Research is performed both in the field (offices, schools, dwellings, hospitals) as well as in the SenseLab. The SenseLab comprises of the Experience room and four test chambers.

The appointment is at least for one year and may be extended by one year depending on the outcomes of the research.

The Postdoc:

• holds a PhD degree from an internationally recognised institution, preferable in the field of mechanical engineering, building physics or related discipline.
• has experience with the measurement and assessment of airflows, air distribution, and indoor air pollutants, in particular(nano) particles, and has affinity with ventilation systems.
• has experience with experimental test set-ups and modelling behaviour of particles.
• has excellent scientific skills, as demonstrated by peer-reviewed publications.
• is good at collaborating with and leading others.
• works proactively and independently and has good communication skills.
• has a high level of written and spoken English.
• is highly motivated, ambitious and result-oriented. 

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.

For more information about this vacancy, please contact prof.dr. Philomena Bluyssen,
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 April 30, 2023 (local Dutch time: UTC time + 2 hrs). You must apply via the "Apply now" button. Applications via e-mail will not be processed.

Are you interested in this vacancy? Please submit:

• A letter of motivation.
• A detailed curriculum vitae.

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.