Postdoc AI-Powered Maritime Systems Optimization

Challenge: Managing one of the world’s busiest maritime corridors while integrating offshore renewable energy.

Change: Leveraging AI to support safer, smarter, and more sustainable maritime operations.

Impact: Future-proofing critical North Sea infrastructure and navigation.

Job description

The North Sea is becoming one of the most dynamic and high-stakes regions in Europe, not only as a vital maritime route, but also as a key player in the transition to renewable energy. With an increasing number of offshore wind parks planned and under development, a critical question arises: How can we safely integrate these new energy functions into one of the world’s busiest shipping corridors?

To tackle this challenge, Rijkswaterstaat, the Dutch Coastguard, and TU Delft have joined forces in a strategic and unique collaboration. This has led to the launch of the Sea and Shipping AI research program, a pioneering initiative that leverages artificial intelligence, machine learning, and advanced data analytics to reimagine how we manage maritime performance and infrastructure.

We are seeking a motivated and forward-thinking postdoctoral researcher for a unique 2-year position to work at the intersection of artificial intelligence, maritime infrastructure, and real-world decision-making. This postdoctoral position is one of two research roles within the program. While a PhD researcher will focus on the strategic and operational aspects of sea infrastructure, your primary mission will be to create a novel, AI-powered experimentation and development environment- a practical “sandbox” for refining and testing new methods and tools to improve maritime safety and performance.

You will:

• Design and build a collaborative AI environment where models can be developed, tested, and benchmarked.
• Develop structured, high-impact test cases that address real-world maritime challenges, such as:
  • Reconstructing shipping incidents using data fusion.
  • Detecting changes in maritime infrastructure via satellite imagery and CNNs.
  • Creating digital twins of vessels to simulate energy use and behavior at sea.
  • Developing reinforcement learning agents to emulate decision-making.
  • Identifying abnormal vessel behavior using embeddings and manifold learning.

You will collaborate with a multidisciplinary team of researchers, government partners, and industry experts to establish transparent, reproducible workflows that lay the foundation for long-term system innovation. Your home base will be the Hydraulic Engineering department, renowned for its excellence in education, research, and career development. With cutting-edge facilities and an internationally diverse team we stand at the forefront of innovation. Our team fosters an open-minded, inclusive, and inspiring atmosphere where knowledge is shared freely. We are committed to a healthy, supportive work environment that values autonomy, professionalism, and work-life balance, offering the training and support needed to advance your career.

Job requirements

We are looking for an excellent candidate who is eager to apply state-of-the-art analysis techniques in a real-world practical context. You thrive in a dynamic, impact-oriented research environment, and you put your communication skills to good use to inspire and convince your partners and stakeholders.

In particular, we look for a candidate with: 

• A PhD degree in Civil Engineering, Maritime Engineering, Transport and Infrastructure, Logistics, or any other related field.
• Advanced skills in applying AI models and big data analytics to diverse data sources
• High proficiency in scripting in Python
• Affinity with maritime applications, including nautical traffic, safety, and hydrometeorological influences on ship behaviour
• Experience with agent-based or discrete-event simulation and/or AIS data is a plus
• Ability to work in a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment both with scientific partners and stakeholders from industry

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 of Civil Engineering and Geosciences

The Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences (CEG) is committed to outstanding international research and education in the field of civil engineering, applied earth sciences, traffic and transport, water technology, and delta technology. Our research feeds into our educational programmes and covers societal challenges such as climate change, energy transition, resource availability, urbanisation and clean water. Our research projects are conducted in close cooperation with a wide range of research institutions.
CEG is convinced of the importance of open science and supports its scientists in integrating open science in their research practice. The Faculty of CEG comprises 28 research groups in the following seven departments: Materials Mechanics Management & Design, Engineering Structures, Geoscience and Engineering, Geoscience and Remote Sensing, Transport & Planning, Hydraulic Engineering and Water Management.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences.

Conditions of employment 

• Duration of contract is 2 years.
• A job of 32-40 hours per week. 

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities. 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
The supervisory team consists of Prof. Mark van Koningsveld, and Dr. Nadia Pourmohammadzia. For more information about this vacancy, please contact Dr. Nadia Pourmohammadzia, e-mail: n.pourmohammadzia@tudelft.nl

Application procedure
Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 10 August 2025 via the application button and upload the following documents:

• Detailed CV.

• Motivation letter.

• Transcripts (both MSc and BSc - and PhD if applicable).

• PhD dissertation abstract.

• Contact information of at least two referees.

• List of your self-selected top 3 publications. 

You can address your application to Nadia Pourmohammadzia.

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.