PhD Position on Circular Area Development within the NWO ACT! Project 1

Are you passionate about spatial planning futures? Join us in shaping how Dutch (port)cities can accelerate the circular transition through cutting-edge research on circular area development.

Job description
We are looking for a highly motivated PhD candidate who will contribute to Work Package 4 of the ACT! project (Accelerating the Circular Transition), a large NWO-funded interdisciplinary programme:

• Universities: TU Delft, Utrecht University, Leiden University, Maastricht University, Wageningen University & Research, Tilburg University, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, Fontys University of Applied Sciences.
• Research institutes: TNO, PBL, Het Groene Brein, AMS Institute.
• Municipalities: Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Tilburg.
• Provinces: South Holland, North Holland, Noord-Brabant.
• Companies and associations: IKEA, Triodos Bank, Brainport Industries, VNO-NCW, BRBS Recycling, Metaalunie, InRetail, CBM, and others.

ACT! investigates how Dutch society can transition to a fully circular future by 2050. In Work Package 4, we engage the dialogue between national visions and practical, regional interventions through case studies.

Your project will focus on circular area developments in the (port)cities of Rotterdam (M4H), Tilburg (tbd), and Amsterdam (Marineterrein). These sites represent different stages in circular transition planning—ranging from early visioning to operational challenges. Your focus will be on circular area development—how spatial planning, infrastructure, and governance can be aligned to enable circular (re)development of (future) areas.

You will:

• Analyse and co-create (future) visions for circular redevelopment in urban areas, in close collaboration with local stakeholders.
• Analyse the material and immaterial relations between the specific areas and its (near) surroundings.
• Identify enablers and barriers for circular area development, including governance, business models, and value chains.
• Collaborate across disciplines with fellow PhDs and postdocs in ACT!, particularly in work packages focused on simulation (WP2) and transitions (WP3).
• Present your work in academic publications, policy briefs, conferences and workshops with public and private stakeholders.

You will be based at TU Delft’s Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment, in the section Urban Development Management, and supervised by Dr. Karel Van den Berghe, Prof. Ellen van Bueren, and Dr. Cees-Jan Pen (Fontys university of applied sciences Eindhoven).

Job requirement
We are seeking a highly motivated and reflective researcher who combines strong analytical skills with an interest in societal engagement.

Essential qualifications:

• A completed MSc degree in a relevant field, such as: spatial planning, urbanism, geography, sustainability science, environmental design, urban studies, or spatial data science.
• Experience or strong interest in stakeholder engagement and participatory methods.
• Strong conceptual and analytical skills, and the ability to translate abstract frameworks into real-world application.
• Excellent communication skills in English (spoken and written).

Preferred qualifications:

• Familiarity with tools/programs such as GIS, Illustrator, R or other spatial analytical or visualisation platforms.
• Basic knowledge of Dutch or willingness to improve it (for stakeholder interaction).
• Experience in interdisciplinary or transdisciplinary collaboration.
• An independent, flexible, and collaborative working style.

We especially encourage candidates from diverse academic and personal backgrounds to apply.

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 additional information about the position, please contact Dr. Karel Van den Berghe via e-mail: K.B.J.VandenBerghe@tudelft.nl.

For more information about the application procedure, please contact Paulien Stastra, HR advisor, via e-mail: recruitment-BK@tudelft.nl.  

Application procedure
Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 17 August 2025 via the application button and upload the following documents:

• Curriculum Vitae.
• Two-page motivation letter indicating your research interests and experience.
• Diplomas/degrees including a grade transcript of previous education at Bachelor and Master level (or preliminary grade transcript if still finishing up your MSc).

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.