PhD Position in Nature-Inclusive School Renovation with Biobased Materials

Interested in biobased materials and sustainable renovation? This PhD investigates nature-inclusive renovation design for climate resilience and healthier learning environments.

Job description

The Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment at Delft University of Technology is looking for a PhD researcher to work on the NWO-KIC Nature-based Solutions research project entitled "School Greenovation", supervised by Associate Professor Thaleia Konstantinou and Assistant Professor Olga Ioannou.

The project aims to strengthen climate resilience in schools, reduce CO₂ emissions and lower long-term operational costs while ensuring healthier learning environments. It adopts a whole-systems approach, where renovation decisions for school buildings are informed by the dynamic relationships between materials, biodiversity, and child development. The research prioritizes long-term resilience over short-term efficiency.

It considers school buildings as agents of dynamic local ecosystems that:

• integrate flora, fauna, and microbiomes,
• support biodiversity and ecological balance, and
• foster meaningful interactions between children and nature that enhance their connection to the environment and promote environmental stewardship.

The aim of this PhD research is to provide detailed technical and ecological insights to support designers, school boards and associations, construction companies and policymakers in selecting and implementing nature-inclusive, climate-resilient refurbishment strategies in schools. On the one hand, it focuses on increasing the use of circular and biobased materials based on availability, functionality, cost, ecological value, and educational affordances. On the other hand, it develops the necessary knowledge about how these materials can be integrated into school renovations, and which functionalities they can support in building, ecology and education.

Key research activities include:

• mapping state-of-the-art nature-inclusive, climate-resilient approaches and surveying the current state of the demonstrators to assess energy systems and efficiency, vulnerabilities and construction quality, and physical characteristics such as materiality, design, and building envelope performance,
• developing regenerative, nature-inclusive refurbishment strategies for school buildings together with local key stakeholders,
• translating strategies into clear guidelines for sustainable school building renovations inspired by nature and tailoring the guidelines for each demonstrator,
• crafting scaled models and 1:1 scaled prototypes, one per demonstrator,
• contributing to high-quality, high-impact publications and presenting findings at international conferences.

You will be part of a transdisciplinary consortium of more than 15 members and will be involved in real-life experimentation in three school buildings in the Netherlands.

This full-time PhD position lasts four years and leads to a doctoral degree from TU Delft. The candidate will publish scientific articles, participate in international workshops and consortium meetings, and contribute modestly to teaching activities within the faculty.

Job requirements

For this full-time, four-year funded PhD position, we are looking for a highly motivated candidate with:

• an MSc in Building Sciences, such as Architecture, Building Technology, Architectural Engineering, or a closely related field,
• knowledge of biobased design, energy efficiency, and design and construction methods demonstrated through an MSc thesis, publications, or other relevant research,
• a strong interest in circularity, regenerative sustainability, and participatory design processes,
• strong skills in critical thinking and design-based research, as well as an academic attitude in performing research,
• excellent oral, visual communication and academic writing skills in English,
• meeting the English language requirements for admission to the TU Delft Graduate School,
• knowledge of Dutch and/or relevant professional experience in the Netherlands as an advantage, though not required,
• the ability to work independently and as part of a team, and to build collaborative interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary networks.

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 initiative, work with others, and grow as a professional within an international academic 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 through 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 and internationally.