Postdoc Position Whole Life Cycle Design for Climate-Responsive Buildings

How can buildings become climate-responsive, low-carbon and circular? This research will develop Whole Life Cycle methods to enable buildings and in-between space solutions design.

Delft University of Technology is hiring a Post-doc researcher on “Whole Life Cycle Decision-Support for Climate-Responsive Buildings and In-Between Spaces”. The Post-doc position is part of the Horizon Europe WEAVE project.

• Salary range: €3546 - €5538
• FTE: 0.8-1.0

Job description

As a postdoctoral researcher, you will lead the development of an innovative Whole Life Cycle (WLC) decision-support framework that integrates environmental, circularity, economic, social and resilience indicators to support evidence-based design and planning from the earliest project stages. Moreover, you will develop innovative methodologies that place climate-responsive in-between spaces—such as balconies, loggias, winter gardens, atria and transitional outdoor areas—at the heart of low-carbon, resilient building renovation. You will identify, classify and evaluate in-between space archetypes, assessing their climatic performance, adaptability, buildability, circularity and integration into both new construction and renovation projects. Your research will be validated through demonstrators in different European countries, where you will collaborate with architects, engineers, municipalities and industry partners to assess and refine innovative renovation solutions. Working within the Horizon Europe WEAVE project, you will contribute to practical design methods and digital decision-support tools that accelerate the transition towards climate-resilient, circular and people-centred built environments. Next to the project, the postdoc will support the research group’s research and network activities, such as editorial assistance, project acquisition, and conference organisation.

The successful candidate will be a part of the Architectural Facades and Products research group (architectural-facades-products), within the Building Design & Technology section, in the Architectural Engineering and Technology (AE+T) department of the Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment, TU Delft.

In the past 10 years the AE+T department has positioned itself at the interface of architecture and engineering that underpins excellent structural design. It has a world-leading academic reputation, a high impact in real-world applications and an excellent reputation with national and international employers in architectural engineering. The AE+T department is uniquely placed to grasp the exciting opportunities in this field such as advanced materials, novel methods of construction; powerful computational design tools; the internet of things etc. All of which are rooted in a deep understanding of fundamental principles, strong conceptual design skills and excellent teaching that are a hallmark of TU Delft.

The position is funded for 36 months full time, but it is possible to discuss options for part-time employment and the relative extension of the contract length up to 4 years. During this period, the candidate will lead the project tasks assigned to TU Delft and contribute to the broader WEAVE research agenda.

About WEAVE

WEAVE is a European funded research project that aims at overcoming the siloed approach between building and urban design by developing an early-stage decision-support system for building design that brings building-scale and urban-scale performance metrics into a unified framework. WEAVE places people and communities at the centre of building and urban design, and this will harness community codesign to deliver climate responsive, resilient and circular design strategies towards resilient decarbonization of buildings and precincts. In WEAVE’s approach, indoor and outdoor environments are evaluated together, and the building envelope is conceived as the crucial interface that connects building and urban scales, mediating not only between indoor and outdoor environments, but also between professions and stakeholders, and reciprocally between the outdoor and the indoor.

Job requirements

Our ideal candidate has:

• A PhD degree in architecture, building technology, building engineering, façade engineering, or similar disciplines.
• Affinity with sustainability standards, LCA, and circular economy in the construction sector
• Motivation to develop innovative methods addressing real-world challenges in sustainable and resilient building renovation.
• Experience with research acquisition and project management
• Strong analytical skills and interest in interdisciplinary research
• Ability to work independently, take initiative and collaborate effectively in a multidisciplinary team
• Good planning skills, scientific rigour and attention to detail.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.

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 a 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 join an international community of professionals and students. Together, we create knowledge, innovations, and solutions that help move the world forward.

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, with four thousand people enthusiastically 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

• Duration of contract is temporary for 33 months.
• A job of 32-40 hours per week.
• Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities.
• An excellent pension scheme via the ABP.
• The possibility to compile an individual employment package every year.
• Discount with health insurers on supplemental packages.
• Flexible working week.
• Every year, 232 leave hours (at 38 hours). You can also sell or buy additional leave hours via the individual choice budget.
• Plenty of opportunities for education, training and courses.
• Partially paid parental leave
• Attention for working healthy and energetically with the vitality program.

Will you need to relocate to the Netherlands for this job? TU Delft is committed to make your move as smooth as possible! The HR unit, Coming to Delft Service, offers information on their website to help you prepare your relocation. In addition, Coming to Delft Service organises events to help you settle in the Netherlands, and expand your (social) network in Delft. A Dual Career Programme is available, to support your accompanying partner with their job search in the Netherlands.

As part of knowledge security, TU Delft conducts a risk assessment during the recruitment of personnel. We do this, among other things, to prevent the unwanted transfer of sensitive knowledge and technology. The assessment is based on information provided by the candidates themselves, such as their motivation letter and CV, and takes place at the final stages of the selection process. When the outcome of the assessment is negative, the candidate will be informed.