PhD Position Learning from Ahmedabad: Towards a Building Culture of Material Reuse

How can material reuse practices in Ahmedabad offer new perspectives on sustainable architecture?

Job description

The Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment in Delft University of Technology is looking for a PhD researcher to work on a research project entitled 'Learning from Ahmedabad: towards a building culture of material re-use', supervised by Prof Dr Paul Chan (Delft) Prof Dr Gauri Bharat (Ahmedabad, India) with Dr Eireen Schreurs (Delft) as copromotor.

The PhD project aims to re-orient the discourse on circular building from a primarily technological issue to a more comprehensive cultural discourse. With the European BAUHAUS, it considers the reuse of materials as a promising strategy to reduce carbon emissions and building waste. To broaden the perspective on this approach and enable a mutual exchange of knowledge between Europe and the Global South, the project studies the thriving but little-studied material reuse sector in Ahmedabad, India. Here, informal reuse markets operate as a spatial and cultural nexus between material practices and architectural opportunities, where vernacular meets professional culture and forms a specific spatial 'ecosystem'. The research questions what specific knowledge and attitudes can be discerned in these reuse practices, whithin which material networks they operate, and how they affect the architectural outcome, from the urban scale to the architectural detail. To find out, it will combine process oriented ethnographic techniques with an object oriented architectural research approach. Using local fieldwork in India as a key research method, the development of a visual language that combines ethnographic and architectural analysis will be part of the project.

The project builds on research expertise of the promotors Prof Paul Chan (construction management and knowledge building), Prof Gauri Bharat (vernacular building and material history). The researcher will collaborate with the Material Culture Collective of the Urban Architecture group of Prof. Paul Vermeulen. Comparable research of the group will provide contextualisation and comparison, and collective teaching within their education program will allow student work to be integrated in the discussions. During the Indian fieldwork period, which is estimated to last about one year, the project can draw on knowledge on vernacular building and material history of Prof. Gauri Bharat. Specific attention will be paid to developing visual forms of knowledge production. As a joint effort with the copromotor, a conference and exhibition will be organized in India, where (visual and material) results will be shared and discussed between Indian and European experts. 

The PhD candidate selected for the position will: 

• Conduct transdisciplinary research contributing to the project deliverables and writing a dissertation.
• Be an active member of the research groups of the promotors.
• Attend relevant coursework and other training.
• Join the teaching and research agenda of the Delft Urban Architecture group.
• Contribute to the writing of high-quality, hight-impact publications and an exhibition. 

 
Job requirements

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

• A Master's degree in Architecture with an evident interest in circular design questions.
• Work and/or study experience in India and in Europe (Delft is a preference).
• Experience with fieldwork as a method or a desire to learn it as part of an engaged scholarship. 
• Strong skills in visualisation, critical thinking and writing.
• Excellent oral, visual and written communication skills (in English); see requirements at TUDelft. 
• The ability to work independently, and as part of a team.    

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 € 2872 per month in the first year to € 3670 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 vacancy, please contact Dr. Eireen Schreurs, e-mail: e.p.n.schreurs@tudelft.nl.

For information about the application procedure, please contact Julia Kreuwel, HR advisor, e-mail: recruitment-BK@tudelft.nl.

The interviews will take place on 8 May (online) and the second round in person on 5 June.

We plan to complete the entire selection process by June 2025, and aim for 1 September 2025 as starting date of the PhD project.
 

Application procedure
Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 20 April 2025 via the application button and upload the following documents:

• Detailed CV (max three pages).
• A list of publications.
• Motivation letter. This letter should include an explanation of the motivation for applying and what skills and experience the applicant contribute to the post (one page). 
• The names and contact details of two references (letters not required at this stage).

In addition, applicants should also prepare a research proposal (one page text, one page visualization), outlining your ideas for the research project ‘'Learning from Ahmedabad: Towards a building culture of material reuse'. 

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.