PhD Position in Uncertainty-Based Life-Cycle Modelling for Building Renovation Decision-Making

Challenge: Design building renovations under future uncertainty.

Change: Develop uncertainty-aware life-cycle methods to optimise renovation.
Impact: Enable robust decisions for sustainable buildings.

• Hours per week: 38-40

Job description

Delft University of Technology is hiring a PhD researcher on “Uncertainty-based Life-Cycle Modelling for Building Renovation Decision-Making”. The PhD position is part of the Horizon Europe CLIMABUILD project.

The candidate will develop probabilistic life-cycle modelling methods to support stakeholders in identifying robust and resilient building renovation strategies. The research will address current limitations in renovation planning by integrating lifecycle performance, climate risks, indoor comfort requirements, sustainability objectives and future uncertainties into a unified decision-making framework. The candidate will develop probabilistic modelling and stress-testing approaches, including Monte Carlo simulations and sensitivity analyses, to evaluate renovation strategies under uncertainties related to climate change, energy systems, market conditions, regulations and component lifetimes. The developed methods will support the identification of performance thresholds and robust renovation solutions under changing future conditions. The research outcomes will contribute to an explainable decision-support framework capable of visualizing renovation scenarios and communicating recommendations to stakeholders. Validation will be performed through real-world, multi-climate demonstration cases within the CLIMABUILD project. The candidate will work at the intersection of climate resilience assessment, life-cycle modelling and uncertainty quantification.

The successful candidate will collaborate with three research groups within the Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment: Structures and Materials (restructgroup), Building Design & Technology (architectural-facades-products) and Environmental & Climate Design (climate-energy-circularity). The position is funded for 48 months, with a 4-year period of employment in principle in the form of 2 employment contracts. During this period, the candidate will conduct PhD research and contribute to the broader CLIMABUILD research agenda. The project offers opportunities to collaborate with international industrial and academic partners from related disciplines, including digital technologies, civil engineering, architecture and risk science.

About CLIMABUILD

The project develops a next-generation digital ecosystem for deep renovation by introducing the Sustained Resilience approach, which integrates climate adaptation and long-term sustainability across the building lifecycle. Combining AI-enhanced digital twins, immersive technologies and participatory co-creation, the project enables citizens, practitioners and public authorities to jointly develop and evaluate renovation strategies. Demonstrated across four European countries, CLIMABUILD aims to accelerate building decarbonization while strengthening resilience against multiple climate hazards. This is an EU funded project, named CLIMABUILD, with project number 101326320, within program H2020 / Horizon Europe.

Job requirements

• You have a MSc degree in Building Technology, Civil Engineering, Architectural Engineering, or a related discipline.
• You have building-related knowledge and knowledge of one or more of the following areas: building performance simulation, lifecycle assessment, or climate resilience.
• Knowledge of uncertainty quantification and risk modelling is desirable.
• You have experience with programming and data analysis (e.g., Python).
• You have strong analytical skills and interest in interdisciplinary research.
• You have excellent oral and written communication skills in English proven by a minimum score of 100 in TOEFL or IELTS of 7.0 per sub-skill (writing, reading, listening, speaking).
• You are able to work independently, take initiative and collaborate effectively in a multidisciplinary team.
• You are motivated to develop innovative methods addressing real-world challenges in sustainable and resilient building renovation.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)

Working at TU Delft means contributing to solutions that really make a difference.

At TU Delft, our people make the difference. With their knowledge and curiosity, our staff provide a high-quality education and conduct pioneering research that extends beyond the campus. You will have the opportunity to take the initiative, work with others, and grow as a professional. Working at TU Delft means join an international community of professionals and students.

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 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.

Conditions of employment

An initial 1,5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2,5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from €3059 - €3881 gross per month, from the first year to the fourth year based on a fulltime contract (38 hours), plus 8% holiday allowance and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%.

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, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.

Will you need to relocate to the Netherlands for this job? TU Delft is committed to make your move as smooth as possible! The HR unit, Coming to Delft Service, offers information on their website to help you prepare your relocation. In addition, Coming to Delft Service organises events to help you settle in the Netherlands, and expand your (social) network in Delft. A Dual Career Programme is available, to support your accompanying partner with their job search in the Netherlands.

Additional information

As part of knowledge security, TU Delft conducts a risk assessment during the recruitment of personnel. We do this, among other things, to prevent the unwanted transfer of sensitive knowledge and technology. The assessment is based on information provided by the candidates themselves, such as their motivation letter and CV, and takes place at the final stages of the selection process. When the outcome of the assessment is negative, the candidate will be informed.