Postdoc on Trees for Climate Adaptation of Amsterdam Quay Walls

Trees are the key/quay!

Jobdescription
This postdoc position is part of a large project focused on Multifunctional Quay Walls that supports the Amsterdam program for Bridges and Quay Walls. In this project, consortium members from Delft University of Technology, Wageningen University & Research, University of Amsterdam and the City of Amsterdam co-design opportunities to integrate the work on the renewal of quay walls with other urban transitions, such as those in the areas of energy, circularity, climate, urban greenery, and heritage. 

The role of the section of Environmental Technology and Design within this project is to develop, test and assess integrated design measures for climate adaptative quay walls combinedly addressing urban heat reduction, drought and flooding events. These measures focus on the role of trees because of their ability to provide all those functions effectively with minimal use of urban surface area. Furthermore, trees along canals are an integral part of the UNESCO World Heritage status of Amsterdam City Center.

As a postdoctoral researcher you will work together with colleagues from Wageningen Research on identifying climate adaptation strategies featuring trees for quay walls, developing integral design solutions and guidelines - both general and for selected Amsterdam quay walls -, and the assessment of these solutions on shading, evapotranspiration, ventilation and water balance performance, both through modelling and in-situ measurements. 

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. Research and education blend environmental technology, urban ecology, citizen participation and environmental behaviour at different scales. There is a strong emphasis on the interaction of these fields in terms of theories, methods and techniques, as well as their application via concepts, strategies and spatial interventions, as a significant part of ETD's research portfolio concerns applied science for and often with public and private partners.

Requirements
To be considered for the position you will have:

• A PhD (or comparable) in Urbanism, Landscape Architecture, or Urban Meteorology.
• Experience with microclimate modelling software (preferably ENVI-met).
• Experience in data analysis.
• Affinity for collaboration and interdisciplinary work.
• 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 of 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 

• Duration of contract is 18 months.
• A job of 15,2 - 24 hours per week (0,4 - 0,6 FTE). 

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

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

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

The position will remain open until 5 January 2025 (local Dutch time: UTC time + 2 hrs). 

Application procedure
Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 5 January 2025 via the application button and upload the following documents:

• Cover letter describing your motivation and qualifications for the position.
• Curriculum Vitae, including a list of publications.
• Contact information of two references (letters not required at this stage).
• PhD and MSc thesis.

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.
• A knowledge security check will be part of the selection procedure (for details page 45: national knowledge security guidelines).
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.