Postdoc Data-Driven Corrosion Engineering for the Blue Economy

Join the future of corrosion engineering in a project that bridges experiments, AI, and digital twins to protect marine infrastructure and enable a sustainable blue economy

Job description 

Are you passionate about understanding how materials behave in harsh environments and willing to turn knowledge into smart, data-driven solutions for a sustainable blue economy? Within the European CORRASBlue project (https://corrasblue.org), TU Delft is seeking a postdoctoral researcher to bridge cutting-edge corrosion engineering with digital-twin and AI technologies.

CORRASBlue project is a European transnational research initiative aiming to transform how marine and coastal infrastructure is managed in relation to corrosion and degradation. The project addresses the critical challenge of corrosion in harsh marine environments, seeking to safeguard assets, reduce environmental impact, and maximise material lifetime in line with blue-economy goals.

CORRASBlue will develop a next-generation digital twin platform: a virtual representation of real-world marine structures and their corrosion processes. By integrating comprehensive sensor measurements, experimental data on corrosion, and advanced predictive modelling (including physics-based and machine-learning approaches), the digital twin will provide decision-makers and industry stakeholders with actionable insights about when, where, and how corrosion risk evolves.

As a postdoc researcher at TU Delft, you will contribute to gathering and interfacing experimental and computational data. In particular, you will:

• Create a benchmark corrosion dataset for selected metals and coatings relevant for marine applications using corrosion and electrochemical lab facilities.
• Devise a strategy to translate laboratory results and field data across partners, also establishing data formats suitable for model calibration and validation.
• Develop models - potentially adopting first principles theories, coarse computational description and/or machine learning / artificial intelligence methods – to describe corrosion processes.
• Help to identify the key parameters and descriptors that govern corrosion behaviour.
• Design experiments that feed and validate, in the later stage, the predictive models.
• Support the integration of mechanistic and data-driven insights into the project’s digital twin platform.
• Prepare technical reports describing the results and findings of the research as key milestones of the project.
• Actively participate in CORRASBlue consortium meetings and collaborate closely with the partners.
• Prepare and contribute to publications and participate in International Conferences as part of the dissemination activities of the project.
• Contribute to the mentoring of MSc students and education tasks within the MSE department.

You will work at the Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) department, where you’ll find an open and collaborative environment where interdisciplinary teamwork, curiosity, and scientific excellence are valued.

You will be part of the Corrosion Technology and Electrochemistry (CTE) and Materials Intelligence (MI) groups in the MSE department.

The CTE team focuses on understanding and controlling local corrosion processes to enhance the durability and sustainability of materials. The CTE team aims to gain fundamental insights into corrosion mechanisms and promote best practices in corrosion control. The research bridges fundamental electrochemistry with applied materials science, contributing to advances in energy storage, cultural heritage, and biomaterials.

The MI group focuses on harnessing machine learning to accelerate the discovery, characterization, understanding, and optimization of materials and processes. By developing and applying data-driven models, The MI team develops strategies for the efficient exploration of complex chemical and phenomena across scales.The research integrates machine learning and artificial intelligence with advanced simulations methods, to predict material properties and reaction mechanisms. This approach enhances the ability to design materials tailored for sustainable applications.

Job requirements 

We seek an outstanding experimental researcher with an interest in data management who’s motivated to work in an international, multidisciplinary, and academic-industrial team. We are looking for an enthusiastic and inquisitive researcher who wants to develop their know-how and experience in a challenging academic environment.

Furthermore, you need to have:

• A PhD in corrosion science, materials science and engineering, metallurgical, chemical, or another closely related discipline with a strong focus on materials degradation and electrochemical behaviour.
• Experience with techniques such as electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, potentiodynamic polarisation, or local electrochemical methods (e.g. SKP, SVET, SECM) will be highly valuable.
• Experience with data management or statistical analysis will be desired. Familiarity with machine learning concepts, materials informatics, or computational modelling will be considered an advantage. Candidates with an interest in acquiring these skills are also welcome to apply.
• Critical and creative approach to the research, with good problem-solving skills.
• Proven experience writing scientific publications and preparing communications for scientific and technical meetings with project partners.
• Have proven excellent written and spoken English skills.

The work will involve close interaction with partners across disciplines and countries, requiring strong communication skills, an open and collaborative mindset, and enthusiasm for interdisciplinary science.

There will be the possibility of research visit(s) abroad, within the consortium network, to carry out complementary research activities.

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 3 years Temporary
• A job of 36-40 hours per week. 
• Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities.
• An excellent pension scheme via the ABP. 
• The possibility to compile an individual employment package every year. 
• Discount with health insurers on supplemental packages. 
• Flexible working week. 
• Every year, 232 leave hours (at 38 hours). You can also sell or buy additional leave hours via the individual choice budget. 
• Plenty of opportunities for education, training and courses. 
• Partially paid parental leave 
• Attention for working healthy and energetically with the vitality program. 

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 the vacancy scope, please contact Dr. Yaiza Gonzalez-Garcia (email: y.gonzalezgarcia@tudelft.nl) and Dr. Kevin Rossi (k.r.rossi@tudelft.nl).

For information about the selection procedure, don't hesitate to get in touch with the recruitment team, email: recruitment-me@tudelft.nl. 

Application procedure

Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 1 December 2025 via the application button and upload the following documents:

• A cover letter stating your motivation (max. 2 pages)

   

• Detailed curriculum vitae (including a list of publications).

   

• Names and contact detail (email) of up to three professional referees.

   

• A summary of your doctoral thesis and other research experience, if applies (max. 2 pages.)

You can address your application to Dr. Yaiza Gonzalez-Garcia and Dr. Kevin Rossi.

Please note:

• Applications will be reviewed as they are received as we hope to fill the positions as soon as possible.
• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post. 
• As part of knowledge security, TU Delft conducts a risk assessment during the recruitment of personnel. We do this, among other things, to prevent the unwanted transfer of sensitive knowledge and technology. The assessment is based on information provided by the candidates themselves, such as their motivation letter and CV, and takes place at the final stages of the selection process. When the outcome of the assessment is negative, the candidate will be informed. The processing of personal data in the context of the risk assessment is carried out on the legal basis of the GDPR: performing a public task in the public interest. You can find more information about this assessment on our website about knowledge security.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.