PhD Positions in Human-Centered Wearable System Design and Smart Textile

Job Description

The Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering (IDE) at TU Delft invites applications for two fully funded, 4-year PhD positions within the European Defence Fund (EDF) project HARVEST. This project aims to create a lightweight, wearable energy system for users by integrating renewable energy harvesting, advanced electronics, and smart-textile technologies.

As PhD candidates, you will join a multidisciplinary European consortium and contribute to the design, development, and evaluation of wearable energy systems. Your research will take place at the intersection of design, technology, and human–system integration, and will contribute directly to the next generation of soldier system capabilities. Both PhD candidates will be embedded in the Department of Sustainable Design Engineering (SDE) at IDE.

Your Role

You will work independently and collaboratively on research tasks including (but not limited to):

• Investigating user needs and operational contexts of soldier-worn systems.
• Developing the system architecture based on technical and human-centered requirements.
• Conducting experiments and evaluations related to usability, comfort, integration, and system performance.
• Collaborating closely with European partners and contributing to project deliverables.
• Publishing research outcomes in journals and conferences and contributing to project-wide demonstrations.

Each PhD focuses on a different domain. Applicants may apply to one or both positions.

Job Requirements

Profile A – Comfort Wearable System Design (PhD 1)

PhD1 will work on the system architecture and comfort aspects of integrating energy-harvesting modules into soldier-worn garments, examining how requirements, design, ergonomics, and human–system interaction shape comfort, usability, and mission performance. We are looking for candidates with:

• A Master’s degree in Industrial Design Engineering, Human Factors, Ergonomics, or a related design discipline.
• Interest in comfort, wearables, soldier task analysis, and human–system performance.
• Affinity with system architecture, co-design methods, and user-centred design.
• Experience with qualitative and quantitative user research, such as interviews, contextual inquiry, observations, questionnaires, and objective measurements for comfort studies.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to collaborate in multidisciplinary environments.

Profile B – Smart Textiles (PhD 2)

PhD2 will work on the development, testing and integration of energy harvesting systems on and near a soldier. We are looking for candidates with:

• A Master’s degree in Industrial Design Engineering, Electronical or Mechatronics Engineering, Electronics Product Development, or a related field.
• Interest in combining electronics with human-centered design in wearable systems.
• Ability to work with prototyping tools, electronics design, and materials integration.
• Experience with embedded electronics, sensors/actuators, or e-textile integration.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to collaborate in multidisciplinary environments.

When applying, please clearly indicate whether you are applying for PhD 1 (Comfort Wearable System Design), PhD 2 (Smart Textiles), or both. Applications without this indication may not be considered.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)

Delft University of Technology 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

This 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.
• Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from €3059 - €3881 gross per month, from the first year to the fourth year based on a fulltime contract (38 hours), plus 8% holiday allowance and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%.
• 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.

Relocation Support

If you need to relocate to the Netherlands for this job, TU Delft is committed to making your move as smooth as possible. The HR unit, Coming to Delft Service, offers information to help you prepare your relocation and 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.

English Proficiency

Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis.

Knowledge Security

As part of knowledge security, TU Delft conducts a risk assessment during the recruitment of personnel. This is done 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. The processing of personal data in the context of the risk assessment is carried out on the legal basis of the GDPR: performing a public task in the public interest.

Additional Information

If you're interested in learning more, please email Wolf Song at y.song@tudelft.nl