Join TU Delft and the AMS Institute as a Postdoc to shape circular urban futures in Amsterdam: spatial planning, urban metabolism, and industrial symbiosis in action.
Job description
In this Postdoc position you will develop spatial planning scenarios that detail what circular value chains and waste management could look like in Amsterdam, looking at five value chains central to the REDOL project: packaging, plastics, construction & demolition waste (CDW), textiles and waste electric and electronic equipment. These scenario's will be based on (1) an assessment of the current situation, involving mapping of the relevant stakeholders and spatial analysis of activities in the current linear value chain, (2) a quantitative and qualitative analysis of relevant waste streams in the city (*Mass Flow Analysis), and (3) a quantitative model detailing the spatial requirements of circular economic activities and industrial symbiosis that would need to be developed in the future. Ideally the impact of these new circular economic activities and waste-processing pathways would also be included in a prognosis of the reduction of solid-waste flows in Amsterdam highlighting the potential for a more circular urban metabolism.
You will contribute to the development of a strategy for Urban-Industrial Symbiosis and potentially a Circular Economy Hub in Amsterdam, and the Amsterdam Harbour area. These strategies will explore and select processing technologies from other REDOL project partners (especially those developed and tested in Zaragoza, Spain) that may be replicated in Amsterdam, and explore other locally specific routes for waste valorisation. You will contribute directly to the improvement of the municipal government's and Amsterdam harbour's capacity for planning for urban-industrial symbiosis, by modelling spatial requirements of specific circular economic activities. By this, the research will produce knowledge responding to the needs of spatial planners and urbanists promoting circular urban development in industrial and harbour areas in the Netherlands and in Europe.
You will be based at the section of Environmental Technology and Design, under the Supervision of Dr Wandl and collaborate closely with the section of Spatial Planning and Strategy, under the co-supervision of Dr Dabrowski, within the Department of Urbanism. Networking and collaborating with other scholars engaged in research on circularity within the Faculty of Architecture & Built Environment will also be encouraged. In addition, you will hold a research fellow position at the Amsterdam Institute for Advanced Metropolitan Solutions (AMS Institute), benefiting from a dynamic, interdisciplinary research environment focused on urban challenges and innovation. At AMS Institute you will work together with project managers and other researchers in a non-hierarchical environment. To benefit from the research fellow position, you are required to be at AMS office (in Amsterdam) at least once a week (on Thursdays). To enable effective collaboration with the TU Delft scholars, you will be expected to be present during two other weekdays at the Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment at TU Delft. The position is funded for a duration of 12 months during which you will undertake research as part of the REDOL project without being required to contribute to educational activities. The project will offer opportunities to co-produce academic publications and collaborate with industrial partners and academics from other disciplines, as required (for instance with other scholars engaged in the Circular Built Environment Hub at TU Delft, the Municipality of Amsterdam, Port of Amsterdam, etc.)
Job requirements
- Phd/MSc in Architectural Engineering / Building Technology, Civil Engineering, Building Physics, Spatial Planning, Computer Science or other related disciplines;
- Knowledge on circular economy and, ideally, experience in reseach and/or practice in circular urban development;
- General knowledge on the latest research, innovations, novelties and tools on MFA and urban metabolism analysis (preferable but not mandatory);
- Affinity with spatial development and the spatial dimension of circular economy.
- Experience with programming (e.g. Python);
- Experience in data collection, management and analysis, both qualitative and quantitative, including spatial data.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills in English, ideally including academic writing experience in English;
- Ability to work in a team, take initiative, and be results-oriented;
- You enjoy performing research. 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 sustainability challenges and promoting circular urban development.
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 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.
to go to the website of the Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment.
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Application procedure
15 August 2025
via the application button and upload the following documents:- Detailed CV - highlight examples of projects and/or achievements that demonstrate skills relevant to the advertised position.
- Motivational letter (no more than 600 words) addressing your interests and describing how your experience and plans fit with the position.
- Contact information of two referees (letters not required at this stage).
- PhD and MSc thesis, and one notable publication you have authored.
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.