PhD Position "On Thirst and Mirage: Rethinking the Desert"

PhD Position: On Thirst and Mirage – Rethinking the Desert

Job Description

The majority of the Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) regions consist of deserts, which are among the most vulnerable environments on Earth. Deserts occupy roughly one-fifth of the planet's land surface and host around one-sixth of the global population. In scientific classifications, deserts are characterized as hostile environments with low precipitation and rainfall, echoing the Latin term desertūm—perceived negatively as deserted, abandoned, barren, and empty. These representations often justify or obscure the violent [neo-]colonial, extractive, and technocratic practices that have dominated and disrupted the ecological and cultural delicacies of these territories. Aggravated by climate change and forced migrations, this has resulted in the loss of diverse life forms that rely on and sustain deserts, as well as the fading of various forms of literacies connected to these life forms regarding how to coexist with and in deserts.

In such a context, water is the most vital element for life, yet it is preciously scarce or hidden in the deserts. Most water sources in MENA desert regions, whether surface or groundwater, are under growing pressure, violated, conflicted, or completely vanishing.

This call invites applicants to investigate the spatialities and materialities of bodies of water in desert areas affected by [neo-]colonial, extractive, and technocratic operations, or impacted by border regimes, conflicts, and wars. These processes have resulted in ecological disjunction, disembodied resource governance, and heightened political tension among communities and states. The aim is not only to unpack the complexities behind such processes but also to seek alternative ways of living in the deserts by re-centering indigenous life forms and biota.

While a shift towards plural epistemologies and ontologies is urgently needed to relearn and represent the deserts as concepts, entities, processes, and environments, we ask:

1. How could decolonial thinking and indigenous relationalities amongst human and non-human actors afford such shifts in understanding the deserts as multitudes of worlds containing diverse biota, embedded in various ‘cultural imaginaries’ and ‘forms of literacies’?
2. How could the everyday practices associated with indigenous literacies inform us as spatial thinkers to reimagine alternative ways to continue living in the deserts?
3. What methodological and tangible and intangible material sources ought to be taken into account to restitute the water literacies and water bodies in the deserts?
4. What modes of spatial representations and mappings could be considered when engaging with indigenous cosmovisions?

While the architectural discipline may offer valuable insights to such explorations, grounding oneself in relational perspectives and trans-disciplinary border thinking is viewed as crucial. Therefore, applicants are encouraged to merge conceptual frameworks with detailed case studies to highlight the frequently overlooked indigenous water literacies against the intricate context of environmental degradations, infrastructural developments, and political conflicts in the desert areas of the MENA region.

This call is a follow-up to the "On Thirst and Mirage: Rethinking the Desert" symposium (2025) and research project (2023) that has been carried out in the Borders & Territories Group at the Architecture Department at TU Delft.

Requirements

• A Master’s degree in architecture, urban studies, environmental humanities, or related disciplines with spatial thinking.
• Preferably academic research experience at post-Master level.
• Demonstrable affinity with archival sources and field work.
• A creative and independent yet collaborative working attitude.
• Excellent oral and written proficiency in English and local language(s) of suggested case studies.

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. The 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 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, which 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.
• 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, which provides information for new international employees to help you prepare for relocation and to settle in the Netherlands. The Coming to Delft Service offers a Dual Career Programme for partners and organises events to expand your (social) network.

Additional Information

For more information about this vacancy, please contact Dr. Negar Sanaan Bensi, e-mail: N.SanaanBensi@tudelft.nl.

We plan to complete the entire selection procedure by February 2026, and aim for March 2026 as the starting date of the PhD Project.