PhD Position on Spatial Planning of Industries Strategies and Circular Economy

Are you passionate about spatial planning and industrial strategies? Join us in shaping how additive manufacturing (AM) can help Dutch industry.

PhD Position on Spatial Planning of Industries Strategies and Circular Economy

We are looking for a highly motivated PhD candidate who will contribute to Work Package 3 of the Add-reAM project, a large NWO-funded interdisciplinary programme. The Add-reAM consortium includes:

• Universities: TU Delft, UTwente, TU Eindhoven, Erasmus University Rotterdam, ULeiden, Saxion University of Applied Sciences.
• Research institutes: M2i, NEN.
• Municipalities: Terneuzen.
• Companies and associations: Stichting Repair Cafes, Capgemini, Signify, Ramlab, Allseas, Techniek Nederland, SKF, GKN, MX3D, ProRail, Siemens, Berenschot Group, MKB Twente, UltiMaker, Vanderlande, 3devo, International Institute of Welding, Greenwise Campus, Regional Development Agency Oost NL, InNo Time, Logistics Centre of Excellence of the Royal Netherlands Army, Association FME.

Add-reAM aims to foster a sustainable, circular future where waste is minimized, resources are conserved and consumer needs are met without compromising the planet's health.

While WP1 focuses on the next-generation AM, WP2 designs remanufacturing using AM, and WP3 looks into regulatory, economic, political, environmental, and social innovations.

Your research will analyse AM in the Netherlands within a geopolitical and socioeconomic context. The current geopolitical turmoil is increasingly answered with industrial strategies at EU and NL level, though much is still unclear. A clear ambition is to increase innovation, though after decades of deregulation, no clear industrial strategy, and even the closure of the Ministry of Planning in The Netherlands, a decent understanding, let alone a steering of industry is lacking. Building on earlier research, this PhD project will therefore analyse the structure and dynamics of industrial ecosystems surrounding AM in the Netherlands, examining how firms, institutions, and infrastructures interact to enable—or constrain—the development of a competitive and sustainable AM sector.

The PhD is situated within economic geography and spatial planning, and will use a mixed methods approach wherein quantitative data (e.g. socioeconomic and logistical data) will be combined with qualitative data (e.g. policy documents, interviews, expert sessions) to achieve as complete as possible an analysis of the status-quo. Subsequently, pro-actively and in co-creation, public and private policy recommendations will be formulated to achieve a successful additive manufacturing in Dutch industry.

Case-studies will be defined during the project, in close collaboration with the consortium.

You will:

• Build a database model of different socio-economic and material data in order to have a nodal-relational dataset for the relevant industries.
• Further expand the existing visualisation methodology enabling the combination of topographical and topological data, to visualise the actor-networks.
• Organise interviews and expert sessions to verify and improve the results, in order to eventually produce policy recommendations.
• Collaborate across disciplines with fellow PhDs in Add-reAM.
• Present your work in academic publications, policy briefs, conferences and workshops with public and private stakeholders.

Requirements

Essential qualifications:

• A completed MSc degree in a relevant field, such as: spatial planning, geography, sustainability science, or spatial data science.
• Experience with mixed-methods research.
• Experience or strong interest in stakeholder engagement and participatory methods.
• Strong conceptual and analytical skills, and the ability to translate abstract frameworks into real-world application.
• Excellent communication skills in English (spoken and written).

Preferred qualifications:

• Familiarity with tools/programs such as GIS, Illustrator, R or other spatial analytical or visualisation platforms.
• Basic knowledge of Dutch or willingness to improve it (for stakeholder interaction).
• Experience in interdisciplinary or transdisciplinary collaboration.
• An independent, flexible, and collaborative working style.

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.

Faculty Architecture & the Built Environment

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.

Conditions of employment

Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. 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 €2770 per month in the first year to €3539 in the fourth year. 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.

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.

Additional information

For more information about this vacancy, please contact Dr. Karel Van den Berghe, e-mail: K.B.J.VandenBerghe@tudelft.nl.