Postdoctoral Position on Timber and Biobased Structures of the 21st Century

Are you interested in timber and other biobased materials? Do you like hands-on and experimental research? Join us in our quest for timber and biobased structures of the 21st century.

Jobdescription
Delft University of Technology is hiring a postdoctoral researcher that will help expand its research on timber and biobased structures and materials. You will be part of an international and dynamic team of researchers that work towards circular and resource-efficient construction practices with locally-sourced timber and biobased materials. Your research will be hands-on and experimental in nature. Aside from developing your own original research, you will contribute to funding acquisition and to the setting up of the BioBuild Lab, a physical laboratory for timber and biobased construction.

The growing urgency of the climate crisis sparks a renewed interest in the use of timber and other biobased materials. While timber has a long tradition and great cultural significance in countries like the Netherlands, much of the vernacular material knowledge has disappeared. This creates the risk of overly simplified applications, in which biobased materials merely substitute more carbon-intensive materials like concrete. Effective application of biobased materials requires a thorough understanding and utilisation of the unique material properties. New technologies offer great potential for more informed design, for example by providing material data. At the same time, hands-on experiments are essential to generate insight in material behaviour.

In this position you will develop your own original research, which is complementary to the ongoing research and future research directions of the team. Some topics of interest are (non-exhaustive):

• Reuse of post-consumer timber.
• The utilisation of local resource streams, including urban wood or timber outside forrests.
• The development of hybrid or composite construction systems that combine timber with other biobased materials.
• Novel timber connections, particularly reversible timber-only connections.
• The engineering of new biocomposites, particularly for load-bearing applications.

You will be part of the ReStruct Research Group in the Structures & Materials section of the Department of Architectural Engineering + Technology, where you will work under the supervision of Prof. Alex de Rijke and dr. Stijn Brancart. You will create meaningfull collaborations with researchers across the department and faculty. You will develop original research that aligns with the mission of the team, is strongly connected to the current state of the art of the research field, and is relevant to the Dutch timber and biobased construction practice.

As a postdoctoral researcher in our team, you will have an active role in the organisation of the BioBuild Lab, a new lab facility for the fabrication and testing of timber and biobased components up to 1:1 scale. You will help with the coordination of the lab and collaborate on ongoing experimental research of the team. Your own research will be experimental in nature and include fabrication and testing at full scale. You will build on your own research and that of the team to develop new research proposals and set up collaborations with industry and society. While this is mostly a research position, you will also support teaching actvitities, with a particular focus on hands-on teaching and lab work.

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.
• You have experience with wood and/or other biobased materials.
• You have experience with hands-on and experimental research, preferably including 1:1 fabrication.
• 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 and biobased materials.
• 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.
  

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.