Postdoctoral Position on Stock-Constrained Design of Circular Timber Structures

Are you interested in timber and do you want to contribute to a circular construction industry? Do you like digital design? Join us in the quest for zero-waste timber structures.

Jobdescription
Delft University of Technology is hiring a postdoctoral researcher on the topic of “Stock-constrained design of circular timber structures”. You will be part of an international team of researchers that work towards more circular, resource-efficient and locally-sourced timber structures. The position is part of the WoodStock project, a European project that investigates climate-smart and zero-waste construction methods using underutilised wood sources like post-consumer wood, hardwood, damaged and low-quality wood.

Timber construction in countries like the Netherlands depends almost entirely on wood import. Yet, considerable amounts of wood become available through public greenspace maintenance and the deconstruction of existing buildings. This could facilitate local timber production. However, the timber design and construction industry is generally not equipped to deal with the large variety and unpredictable availbility of these underutilised material streams. With this position you will address that critical need by investigating a stock-constrained computational design workflow that links existing stock characteristics to the design or redesign of resource-efficient and zero-waste timber structures.

As a postdoctoral researcher in our team, you will contribute to the ongoing WoodStock project. WoodStock is a European project that investigates climate-smart and circular wood construction methods, with a particular focus on underutilised wood sources like post-consumer wood, hardwood, damaged and low-quality wood. Through six living labs, the project co-creates product and building solutions, policies, and business models together with relevant industry and societal actors. TU Delft coordinates one of the living labs at The Green Village. Your main task will be to develop a computational workflow that enables the design of load-bearing structures from stocks of reclaimed or locally sourced wood components. The workflow will include the characterisation of the wood components, the stock-constrained design of new structures from the stock library, and the digitally informed (re-)fabrication and (re-)assembly of the components. You will demonstrate and validate the workflow through a 1:1 prototype in a realistic environment.

You will be part of the ReStruct Research Group in the Structures & Materials section at the Department of Architectural Engineering + Technology and a member of the research team of dr. Stijn Brancart. Aside from your work on the WoodStock project, you will make contributions to the group and department by supporting with teaching activities, advising PhD researchers, and supporting with funding applications.

Job requirements
This job is for you if:

• You hold an MSc degree in Architecture, Building Technology, Architectural Engineering, Structural Engineering or a related field.
• You have obtained a PhD with a dissertation on a related topic.
• You have a strong technical background and experience with structural design.
• You have experience with computational design.
• You have a strong affinity for timber and timber architecture.
• You enjoy performing research, including experimental work. You are independent, self-motivated and eager to learn. You are keen to develop new fundamental knowledge and engineer novel solutions for addressing real-world societal challenges, particularly in the sustainable use of wood.
• You are able to work in a team, to be pro-active and to collaborate with students, researchers and industry partners.
• You have excellent oral and written communication skills in English.

Furthermore, it would be nice if:

• You have hands-on experience working with wood and/or other biobased materials.
• You have experience with 1:1 fabrication.

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 & 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 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
If you would like more information about this vacancy, please contact Dr. Stijn Brancart, via e-mail: s.brancart@tudelft.nl.

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

For more information about the ReStruct Group, visit: https://www.restructgroup-tudelft.nl. For more information about the WoodStock project, visit: https://www.woodstockproject.eu. 

Application procedure
Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 31st August 2025 via the application button and upload the following documents:

• A detailed CV that highlights projects and achievements that are relevant to the position.
• A motivation letter (no more than 600 words) that addresses how your experience and future plans fit with the position.
• Contact information of two references (letters are not required at this stage).
• Your PhD and MSc theses, and one notable publication that you have authored.

The position will remain open until the 31st of August 2025. Selected candidates will be invited for a first round of interviews at the end of September. A second round of interviews will follow in the first half of October. The preferred starting date is between the 1st of January 2026 and the 1st of April 2026.

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.