PhD Position on Justice and Adaptive Capacity to Heat Stress in Informal Settlements

This PhD project will develop socially just, context-sensitive adaptation strategies against heat stress in informal settlements, particularly in conflict-sensitive settings. 

Job description

The increasing frequency and intensity of heat stress due to climate change pose significant risks to vulnerable populations all over the world. This has led to some scholarship and the ensuing policy development in western countries mostly. The impacts of heat stress in informal settlements particularly for those displaced by conflict, is growing, however, is not well documented. This PhD project aims to explore the conceptualization of justice in enhancing adaptive capacities against heat stress in such environments, particularly in conflict-sensitive settings.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) defines risk as the potential adverse consequences arising from climate-related hazards and the vulnerability of affected systems. The vulnerability framework comprises three crucial elements: exposure to hazards, sensitivity of systems, and capacity to adapt. Recent IPCC assessments have shifted the understanding of exposure, emphasizing that it is an internal quality impacted by external stressors. This transition reflects the need to acknowledge not just environmental factors but also the socio-economic and cultural contexts that shape vulnerability to heat.

This research will employ a multi-disciplinary approach to analyse the barriers and opportunities for adaptive capacity to heat stress, incorporating insights from social justice theories. It will assess how factors like poverty, social inequality, infrastructures (including housing) and community resources influence adaptive capacities. Moreover, the project will investigate how societal tensions interact with heat adaptive actions.

Key objectives of this project are i) developing an holistic understanding of people’s vulnerability to heat in relation to their geographical, cultural, political and climatic context, ii) assessing the role of factors relating to perception (e.g., knowledge and attitude), gender, household composition, home ownership, education, access to resources, migration status and political context in adaptive capacity and iii) developing socially just heat adaptation strategies, that are context and conflict sensitive.

This PhD position is situated at the Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment, Department of Urbanism, section of Environmental Technology and Design. The section of Environmental Technology and Design (ETD) contributes to inter- and transdisciplinary, context-driven, and problem/solution-focused research and education for the sake of a better environment. It involves a collaborative design and engineering approach, with social-and environmental-based methods and techniques as operative instruments, as well as the development and application of advanced urban data science and geospatial information technologies to support this primary aim. For this project, we envision a strong collaboration with the Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management, Department of Values, Technology and Innovation, and particularly the Section of Ethics and Philosophy of Technology. This Section has a world-leading position in ethics of technology, and in recent years, several dissertations have been presented and successfully defended, spelling out the implications of social justice in climate adaptation as well as climate mitigation technologies.

This PhD position is also part of the interdisciplinary Climate Safety & Security centre (CaSS) at TU Delft | Campus The Hague. This centre runs an ambitious and comprehensive programme that considers climate change and stability in an integrated manner, with focus on human security, security of supply of fundamental needs (water, food) and essential resources (energy, critical materials). The PhD will contribute to the flagship Human Security within CaSS. For more information on the TU Delft | Climate Safety & Security centre see: www.tudelft.nl/cass.

Job requirements
We are looking for a PhD candidate with the following profile:

• A PhD (or comparable) in Social Geography, Urbanism, or Anthropology.
• Experience in qualitative and quantitative data analysis.
• Affinity with collaboration and interdisciplinary work.
• Affinity with discussions on (and familiarity with the literature in) social justice.
• Affinity with ethics and moral philosophy.
• Good communication and presentation skills in English.

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 and 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.  

For international applicants, TU Delft has the Coming to Delft Service. This service provides information for new international employees to help you prepare the relocation and to settle in the Netherlands. The Coming to Delft Service offers a Dual Career Programme for partners and they organise events to expand your (social) network.

Additional information

For more information about this vacancy, please contact directly Marjolein van Esch, e-mail: m.m.e.vanesch@tudelft.nl.

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

Application procedure

Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 30 November 2025 via the application button and upload the following documents:

• Motivation letter (maximum 1 page) addressing your interests and describing how your experience and plans fit with the position.
• Detailed CV; those should contain examples that prove your previous work related to the position (projects, experience, software, research, publications).
• Undergraduate and graduate transcripts.
• The names of two references, with contact information (letters 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.