PhD Position Built Environment Scenario Planning with AI Interventions in Transitions

Design and Shape the Future of Work in the Built Environment with AI.

How will AI and digitalisation transform jobs, skills and business opportunities in built environment transitions over the next 5–10 years?

Join FUTURED, a Dutch NWO-funded research programme, and develop scenarios at the intersection of AI-driven digitalisation and the energy transition in the built environment. This PhD explores how AI and digitalisation may transform jobs, skills, and business opportunities in built environment transitions over the next 5–10 years. You will work with researchers, policymakers, and industry partners to map labour-market futures, identify emerging opportunities and risks, and co-create practical scenarios for the workforce.

If you have strong qualitative research skills, a passion for innovation in the built environment, and the drive to turn foresight into action, this PhD may be a strong fit.

FUTURED (Fostering Upskilled Talent for Urban Resilience, Energy Transition, and Digitalisation in the Built Environment) is a Dutch NWO-funded programme examining how the twin transitions of energy transition and digitalisation are reshaping jobs, skills, and labour-market dynamics across the full built-environment lifecycle. Within FUTURED, WP2 develops participatory long- and short-term scenarios, including La Prospective, to provide actionable foresight for policymakers, employers, and education providers, with direct links to workforce capability development, work redesign, and lifelong learning pathways.

This PhD focuses on 5–10 year scenario planning for AI-enabled digitalisation and its interaction with the energy transition, identifying labour-market and business risks and opportunities. The project is closely integrated with WP1 (labour-market evidence), WP2.1 (long-term scenario coherence), WP3 (implications for job redesign, retention, and wellbeing), and WP4 (living-lab validation and co-creation).

Job requirements

Need to have:

• Master’s degree in a relevant field, such as construction management, architecture/engineering management, innovation studies, socio-technical systems, data/AI in the built environment, or public policy/transition studies.
• Business, policy, or social background, with affinity for digitalisation and the built environment, such as BIM, digital twins, automation pipelines, innovation adoption and governance in construction, and especially the work execution of construction activities.
• A doer mentality and openness to a problem-solving approach.
• Strong qualitative research capabilities, including case-study design, interviewing, coding/thematic analysis, and the ability to synthesise evidence into scenarios and actionable practitioner outputs.
• Ability to collaborate in a transdisciplinary consortium and engage stakeholders in co-creation settings such as workshops, validations, and living lab activities.
• Excellent academic writing and communication skills in English and at least B2 level Dutch. Candidates at B1 level who are committed to learning Dutch quickly may also be considered, but should note that the first interview requires a presentation in Dutch.

TU Delft

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.

Faculty Architecture & the Built Environment

The Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment has a leading role in education and research worldwide. Staff and students work 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.

Conditions of employment

Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, structured as two contracts. An initial 1.5-year contract includes an official go/no-go progress assessment within 15 months, followed by an additional 2.5-year contract subject to satisfactory progress and performance requirements.

As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, a monthly work costs contribution, and the possibility of flexible work schedules.

As part of knowledge security, TU Delft conducts a risk assessment during recruitment to help prevent the unwanted transfer of sensitive knowledge and technology. The assessment is based on information provided by candidates, such as their motivation letter and CV, and takes place in the final stages of the selection process. If the outcome is negative, the candidate will be informed. The processing of personal data in this context is carried out on the legal basis of the GDPR: performing a public task in the public interest.