PhD Position Co-Designing Just, Liveable, and Inclusive Urban Futures

Co-design and participation seem to be standard urban practice. But what does this really mean beyond inflated buzzwords? This PhD project will unfold the complex practices of genuine urban co-design.

Job description

Local governments need to collaborate with residents in shaping urban futures that are just, liveable, and inclusive to all living species. On the other hand, citizens start their own initiatives to address local issues. Many contemporary societal challenges, for example the climate crisis, the fast emergence of AI, or the devastating loss of biodiversity, are so-called wicked problems. Such problems are characterised by their dynamic nature, have multiple problem owners, and do not have one straightforward solution. Co-design, the practice of collaborating and making together, is considered as a suitable approach to dealing with wicked problems. As a result, local governments increasingly draw from this practice when engaging with citizens.

However, enabling a genuine collaborative process in true partnership with residents is not easy. Digital technology opens new ways for residents to be engaged, for example through VR, AR, digital twins, and citizen participation apps. This PhD project will explore how residents and local governments through co-design effectively shape just, liveable, and inclusive urban futures.

Within this broader theme, you can define your problem statement. Examples of topics and questions that you may address:

• Purpose of co-design. Co-design can serve multiple purposes in a collaborative process; to create feasible urban designs, to create speculative imaginaries that spark discussion on what kind of future is desirable, or to cross bridges between local actors. With which intention are co-design practices applied? How to translate citizen input to an urban design in a way that their input is recognised? Does the involvement of citizens lead to better urban designs compared to no involvement? And which application of co-design is supportive towards just, liveable, and inclusive urban futures?
• Using digital approaches in co-design. Face-to-face settings (e.g. workshops) are still the default in co-design. Such settings bring challenges: citizens may not feel comfortable speaking up, or they may not be able to spend the required time and effort to take part. On the other hand, digital processes supported by digital twins, AR or VR may also pose a barrier for citizens to participate. The urban designs presented through such tools often look so realistic that residents feel reluctant to contribute. How can tools be applied to cross bridges rather than increase existing barriers? How can digital tools and analogue approaches be combined to engage a variety of resident groups in urban planning? Which tools support meaningful engagement in planning processes? At which stage?
• Inclusion and exclusion. Each collaborative method creates a dynamic of inclusion and exclusion. Some urban stakeholders and groups are structurally overlooked in urban futures. What about the more-than-human inhabitants of our cities (i.e. animals/plants)? How can their stakes be represented in collaborative practices? In what way can we involve those not at the table and safeguard their interests when urban futures are created? Which skills do citizens and urban planners need to successfully co-design together?

You will explore these topics and questions from a Participatory Design perspective and develop a systematic approach to untangle co-design practices in shaping urban futures. You will engage with, draw from, and integrate multiple scientific disciplines, for example human-computer interaction, urban studies, sociology, design, urban planning, and public administration. Through a critical analysis, you will seek new theoretical and conceptual insights into how contemporary urban co-design practices contribute or potentially hinder just, liveable, and inclusive cities. You will apply, evaluate and assess existing toolkits and processes, to create recommendations for local governments and residents on how to effectively shape just urban futures together. 

The successful candidates will join the Urban Studies section at the Department of Urbanism in the Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment. Consisting of a group of highly interdisciplinary scholars, the section studies the interactions between people and their social and built environments, and the effects of urban design on their behaviour.

Job requirements

• A Master's degree in architecture, spatial/urban planning, interaction design, human-computer interaction or another relevant discipline concerned with co-design and participation;
• Relevant knowledge of participatory design, citizen engagement, civic technology, and/or urban design;
• A strong interest or experience with artistical approaches and/or with digital methods such as AR/VR or digital twinning;
• A strong interest in inclusion, representation, and democracy in citizen participation processes and how design can contribute to this;
• Experience with interdisciplinary research and/or transdisciplinary collaboration, e.g. with civil servants or citizen communities in research;
• Very good presentation, writing, communication and networking skills;
• Proficiency in the written and spoken use of the English language, preferably also Dutch.

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.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

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 from early in the morning until late at night, with four thousand people 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.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment.

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 €2901 per month in the first year to €3707 in the fourth year. 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.  

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.  

Additional information

For more information about this position, please contact Dr.ir. Geertje Slingerland via e-mail: G.slingerland@tudelft.nl.  

For more information about the selection procedure, please contact Stephanie Ip via e-mail: recruitment-BK@tudelft.nl.

The interviews for this position are scheduled to take place on Wednesday 17 September and Friday 19 September.

Application procedure

TU Delft creates equal opportunities and encourages, in particular, women to apply. Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 24 August 2025 via the application button and upload the following documents:

• Curriculum Vitae.
• Two-page motivation letter indicating your research interest and experience.
• Diplomas/degrees including a grade transcript of previous education at Bachelor and Master level.
• Contact details of two references with contact information (recommendation letters from them are not required at this stage).

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. For more details please check the Graduate Schools Admission Requirements. 

Please note:

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post. 
• A pre-employment screening can be part of the selection procedure.
• For the final candidates, a knowledge security check will be part of the application procedure. For more information on this check, please consult Chapter 8 of the National Knowledge Security Guidelines. We carry out this check on the basis of legitimate interest.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.