Postdoc AR/VR for Minimally Supervised at Home Neurorehabilitation after Stroke

Job description 

This project aims to enhance at-home neurorehabilitation by developing and evaluating motivating gamified immersive virtual environments that interact with minimally-actuated low-cost portable technology. Key characteristics of your solution is the simulation of real/imaginary activities of daily living, provision of personalized physical assistance to practice meaningful functional tasks, and enhancement of patients' motivation and reduction of their cognitive load.

To reach the project aim, you will meet two key objectives:

• Improve the usability, acceptance and effectiveness of our low cost minimally actuated devices for upper and lower rehabilitation.
• Develop and exploit gamified immersive virtual environments that boost the engagement of patients by simulating real or imaginary worlds while provide users with real-time feedback about their performance.

The pressing and complex social challenges of our time call for convergence; crossing boundaries between institutions and disciplines to create new perspectives and solutions. For this reason TU Delft, Erasmus MC and Erasmus University Rotterdam are joining forces in Convergence. Within the convergence theme Health & Technology we form new frameworks that promote scientific discoveries and technological innovation in health and healthcare. We do this by working on groundbreaking research and innovation bundled in 10 international leading research flagships.

The Convergence Human Mobility Center (CHMC) brings together technicians, clinical experts, socio-medical researchers, patients and industrial partners. Together we will build on technology-based interventions for minimally supervised motor rehabilitation at home and under minimal supervision of a therapist in the rehabilitation center. Motion sensors inform patients and their therapists about recovery and progress of treatment. Home exercise will be supported by easy-to-use robots with challenging (virtual) exercise programs tailored to the patient. These developments are emphatically done in collaboration with vulnerable groups so that they too benefit fully from this new form of rehabilitation.

Job requirements 

You are a highly motivated candidate with a PhD in Neuroscience, Biomedical Engineering, Computer Science, Industrial Design, Robotics.

Further you have:

• Open-mindedness and motivation to embark on interdisciplinary research.
• Affinity with teaching and supervising students.
• Solid programming skills.
• Ability to take initiative.
• Proficient in verbal and written English.

Candidates with a strong track record in XR, AR/VR, rehabilitation technology, human factors, and motor learning are especially encouraged to apply. In addition, experience with one or more of the following topics is considered a plus: computer graphics, control, and movement science.

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 Mechanical Engineering

From chip to ship. From machine to human being. From idea to solution. Driven by a deep-rooted desire to understand our environment and discover its underlying mechanisms, research and education at the ME faculty focusses on fundamental understanding, design, production including application and product improvement, materials, processes and (mechanical) systems.

ME is a dynamic and innovative faculty with high-tech lab facilities and international reach. It’s a large faculty but also versatile, so we can often make unique connections by combining different disciplines. This is reflected in ME’s outstanding, state-of-the-art education, which trains students to become responsible and socially engaged engineers and scientists. We translate our knowledge and insights into solutions to societal issues, contributing to a sustainable society and to the development of prosperity and well-being. That is what unites us in pioneering research, inspiring education and (inter)national cooperation.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. Do you want to experience working at our faculty? These videos will introduce you to some of our researchers and their work.

Conditions of employment 

• Duration of contract is 2 years.
• A job of 36-40 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. 

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 Laura Marchal Crespo L.marchalCrespo@tudelft.nl.

Application procedure

Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 21 July 2025 via the application button and upload the following documents:

• A letter of motivation explaining why you are the right candidate for this project, and a brief description of how you plan to contribute to this project (no more than 2 pages).

   

• A detailed CV, including a list of academic publications, and a list of projects you have worked on with brief descriptions of your contributions.

   

• A complete record of Bachelor, Master and PhD courses (including grades).

   

• Your PhD Dissertation (at least as draft).

   

• The names and contact addresses of two or three references.

You can address your application to Laura Marchal Crespo.

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.