PhD Position on Effective Chemical Barriers against Rising Damp

Help shape the future of damp-proofing technology in buildings by joining a cutting-edge PhD project tackling one of the most persistent challenges in the built environment: rising damp.

Job description

Rising damp poses an increasing threat to buildings and their occupants worldwide. In the Netherlands alone, around 150,000 homes are vulnerable to groundwater-related moisture problems, and this number is expected to grow as climate change intensifies.

While chemical damp-proofing treatments are among the most widely used solutions to tackle rising damp, their effectiveness remains inconsistent and poorly understood. Laboratory studies often report promising results, yet field performance frequently falls short.

Key questions remain unanswered: How do damp-proofing products spread through porous building materials? What reactions occur within the pore network? Which factors determine whether a treatment succeeds or fails in practice?

As a PhD researcher in the CHEMBARIDA project, you will tackle these fundamental challenges and contribute to the development of more reliable and effective solutions for protecting buildings against rising damp.

Using a unique multiscale research approach, you will investigate chemical damp-proofing treatments across different scales, studying the behaviour of chemical products within building materials and validating the laboratory findings on real masonry structures. You will develop innovative methods to monitor the spreading and reaction of chemical products, identify the variables that influence product performance, and evaluate their effectiveness under realistic conditions.

A central objective of your work will be the development and validation of a new laboratory testing protocol, capable of reliably assessing damp-proofing products within practical timeframes, an important step forward for both research and industry.

Your research will combine:

• advanced laboratory experimentation
• moisture transport modelling in porous materials
• in-situ testing on masonry structures
• validation across scales, from building material to full-scale constructions

You will join the Architectural Engineering + Technology (AE&T) Department at the Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment, TU Delft, under the supervision of Dr. Barbara Lubelli and Prof. Dr. Ir. Martin Tenpierik.

Part of your experimental work will take place at The Green Village, TU Delft’s living lab for sustainable innovation, where new technologies are tested in realistic environments.

The project is carried out in close collaboration with researchers from the University of Amsterdam, Faculty of Science, providing a highly interdisciplinary research setting that bridges materials science, building physics, and building conservation.

You will have the opportunity to work alongside research, industry, and public-sector partners, including Buildwise, Safeguard Europe, the Central Government Real Estate Agency, and the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands.

You will be part of an international research environment, with access to state-of-the-art research facilities, and you will get ample opportunities for academic growth, conference participation, and scientific publication.

If you are passionate about building materials, moisture transport, experimental research, and creating innovative solutions for a more resilient built environment, this PhD position offers a unique opportunity to make a lasting impact.

Job requirements

We are looking for a motivated candidate who has:

• A Master's degree in Engineering, Materials Science, Building Physics, or a related field.
• A hands-on attitude and demonstrated experience with laboratory work.
• Knowledge of moisture transport modelling in porous materials.
• Experience with experimental techniques for the characterization of building materials.
• Enthusiasm for connecting fundamental research questions with real-world applications.
• Excellent command of written and spoken English (e.g. a TOEFL score of 100 or IELTS of 7.0).
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively in an international, multidisciplinary team.

Preferred qualifications

The following qualifications are considered an advantage:

• (Basic) knowledge of organic chemistry.
• Previous academic research experience, for example through participation in research projects, conference contributions, or scientific publications.

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 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 joining 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 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, in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1.5-year contract includes 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.

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.

TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.