PhD Position in Inclusive Co-Design Methodology for Accessibility

PhD at TU Delft developing co-design methodologies for accessible AI/XR technologies.

TACIT Project

Around 25% of the Dutch population lives with long-term visual, hearing, or cognitive disabilities and diversities, often facing barriers to participation, equity, and inclusion. The European Accessibility Act (EAA), which mandates that EU service providers ensure digital accessibility by 2025, marks a critical step toward reducing these inequalities. However, technology that is not co-designed with the communities it is intended to serve often fails to address real needs and is not widely adopted. The TACIT project aims to improve access to public services, expedite compliance with the EAA, promote innovation in assistive technology, and encourage broader societal inclusion through equitable, inclusive, and human-centered design.

PhD on Inclusive Co-Design Methodology

We are seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate to join the TACIT project, focusing on accessibility, disability studies, (co-)design methods, and Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). The ideal candidate is passionate about creating socially impactful inclusive co-design methods and eager to collaborate directly with people with disabilities, caregivers, designers, technology developers, and other relevant stakeholders.

Position Overview

In this PhD position, you will contribute to a key work package within TACIT that aims to enable disabled communities to lead AI and XR-enabled technology development in partnership with diverse stakeholders. Your research will focus on co-creating a comprehensive methodology for collaborative design that can be applied to current and future accessibility projects, ensuring that diverse voices are justly included in the design process. Your research will specifically study the work, methods, and experiences of co-designing through hands-on collaboration and real-world case studies.

Note: A related Ph.D. position focusing on understanding inclusivity and participation in co-design activities with disabled communities is available at the University of Amsterdam's Informatics Institute. Applicants may apply for both positions.

What You’ll Do

• Scrutinize existing research methodologies in practice: Examine existing multistakeholder collaborations addressing accessibility challenges using ethnographic research, field studies, and research-through-design.
• Engage directly with communities: Work with disabled communities, technology developers, and other project stakeholders to identify their needs for co-design methods for inclusive AI and XR technologies, and to understand their experiences with these technologies.
• Iterative development and validation of co-design methodologies: Collaborate with disabled communities and other stakeholders to guide the development, testing, and validation of co-design methods, and consolidate insights for best practices and design guidelines.
• Collaborate across the TACIT project: Collaborate with other PhD candidates and researchers working on the project to share insights and learn from its different sub-projects.

The successful PhD candidate will be based at the Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering of TU Delft (Netherlands) and collaborate with all partners in the TACIT project.

Job Requirements

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Design Sciences, Human-Computer Interaction, Disability Studies, Social Sciences or a related field.
• Ability and willingness to work in a multi-disciplinary and multi-stakeholder team including working with people with disabilities.
• Excellent research and design skills
• Proficiency in written and verbal English
• Fluency in Dutch is recommended but not mandatory
• Prior publications and experience in the fields mentioned above are assets but not a requirement

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 of Industrial Design Engineering

Matching the evolution of people with the speed of the revolution of technology is the focus of the Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering (IDE). Delft designers act as a bridge between advances in technology and the needs of people, organisations and society to create products, services and systems with purpose.

IDE is a leader in design research across the application areas of mobility, sustainability and health, as well as its development of design tools and methods. A 350-strong research team and over 2,000 students work together in our inspiring hall, labs and studios. In close cooperation with industry, the public sector and NGOs we rehearse possible futures in research and education to design for a complex future.

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.

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.

Additional Information

For more information about this position or in case of additional questions, please contact Dr. Stella Boess (S.U.Boess@tudelft.nl) and Dr. Himanshu Verma (H.Verma@tudelft.nl).