Postdoc Position Design for Sustainability for Circular Hospitals

Do you have an interest in healthcare, circular economy, and sustainable design methods? Then we are looking for you!

Job description

Given the current climate and resource crises, there is an urgent need for a more circular approach to material use in the healthcare sector. In hospitals across the Netherlands (and many other countries), the value chain primarily follows a linear model, where single-use disposable products are procured, used, and disposed of, requiring significant amounts of energy and raw materials. Examples of disposable products include gloves, syringes, infusion bags, catheters, video laryngoscopes, robotic surgery consumables, sensors, and cables. Many of these items are packaged in multiple layers of plastic. As most hospital waste is incinerated, the value of the materials is irretrievably lost. Our central research question is: How can hospitals transition from single-use medical consumables to a more circular system?

At TU Delft, within the Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering, we are actively involved in several circular design research projects in the healthcare sector. These include the NWO ESCH-R (Evidence-based Strategies to Create Circular Hospitals: Applying the 10-Rs Framework to Healthcare) project, the EU DICE (Digital Health in the Circular Economy) project, and the Convergence ZEE (Zero Emission Endoscopy) project. In collaboration with societal and industrial partners, our interdisciplinary team is developing circular, safe, and scalable strategies, all aimed at accelerating the transition to more circular hospitals.

We aim to further strengthen our leadership in the research field of Design for Sustainability and the Circular Economy in the Healthcare Sector by developing specific circular design tools, methods, guidelines, and educational materials. To this end, we are seeking a highly motivated Postdoc to research and develop circular design methods for practical application (in the healthcare sector and medtech industry) as well as for educational purposes. The candidate will work in an exciting interdisciplinary environment, collaborating with experts in healthcare, design, and sustainability through the ESCH-R, DICE, and ZEE projects. They will also engage with two Living Labs at Erasmus Medical Center and University Medical Center Utrecht.

Vacancy

We invite applications for a fully funded Postdoctoral Researcher to contribute to our pioneering research on Circular Design within the healthcare sector. The Postdoc will be based in the Design for Sustainability section at the Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering, Delft University of Technology. Your research findings are expected to be published in academic journals and shared through popular articles, reports, and design manuals. You will also be involved in organizing and participating in meetings, co-creation sessions, workshops, and attending international conferences and national seminars. Additionally, candidates are expected to contribute to our educational activities, including the well-regarded BSc and MSc courses in Design for Sustainability and Circular Product Design.

The Postdoc will be responsible for, among other tasks:

• Analyzing the circular design strategies applied in the ESCH-R, DICE, and ZEE projects.
• Developing Circular Design methods and guidelines for application in the healthcare sector and the med-tech industry.
• Writing scientific publications.
• Developing educational materials for BSc and MSc (Industrial) Design Engineering courses.

Job requirements

• You hold (or are close to finishing) a PhD degree in Industrial Design Engineering, Biomechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering or closely related discipline.
• You have a strong affinity with interdisciplinary research and working with academics as well as key stakeholders in the field, preferably in the healthcare sector.
• You have affinity and preferably experience with Design for Sustainability, Medical Device Design, Circular Economy, Co-creation and Human Centered Design.
• You have good social, communication and organization skills to work effectively in a university, healthcare and industry setting.
• Your verbal and written communication skills are excellent, your proficiency in English is good and knowledge of Dutch language is an advantage.
• You have the ability to work in a multidisciplinary team, and navigating and managing complex, multi-stakeholder settings involving technology experts, industrial partners, and other societal stakeholders.
• You are a team player who wants to contribute to the sustainable transition of the healthcare sector.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)

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!

Faculty Industrial Design Engineering

Matching the evolution of people with the speed of the revolution of technology. This is the focus of the Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering (IDE). Delft designers act as a bridge between advances in technology and the needs of people, organisations and society to create products, services and systems with purpose.

IDE is a leader in design research across the application areas of mobility, sustainability and health, as well as its development of design tools and methods. A 350-strong research team and over 2,000 students work together in our inspiring hall, labs and studios.

In close cooperation with industry, the public sector and NGOs we rehearse possible futures in research and education to design for a complex future.

Conditions of employment

• Duration of contract is 2 years.
• A job of 36-40 hours per week.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities. The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.

For international applicants, TU Delft has the Coming to Delft Service. This service provides information for new international employees to help you prepare the relocation and to settle in the Netherlands. The Coming to Delft Service offers a Dual Career Programme for partners and they organise events to expand your (social) network.