Postdoc Human Centered Design for Smart Mobility

Are you passionate about shaping the future of mobility and self-driving technology? Join us in pioneering human-centered design solutions for safe, inclusive, and sustainable mobility.

Self-driving technology is advancing rapidly and making its way onto our roads, bringing with it a host of new questions related to usability, safety, inclusivity, and sustainability. In this postdoctoral position, you will conduct cutting-edge research on human-centered design for smart mobility.

Your work will be at the intersection of Design Research, Human Factors, and Technology, challenging you to produce innovative scientific research with strong societal relevance and practical applicability. Relevant research topics are developing design solutions and evaluation criteria for seamless driver interaction with automated features at intermediate levels of automation, as well as for the interaction of automated vehicles with other road users-including cyclists, pedestrians, and motorized vehicles. Another relevant topic concerns the development of societally relevant use cases for fully automated vehicles. The specific research questions that you will focus on within this field, is to be discussed considering your interest and expertise.

The faculty of Industrial Design Engineering of Delft University of Technology is offering a position for a postdoctoral researcher for 24 months to perform interdisciplinary research on Design for Smart Mobility. The successful candidate will work under the direct supervision of Prof. Dr. Nicole van Nes and will conduct their own research within the section Human Technology Relationship and the department Human Centered Design.

Being part of the Industrial Design Engineering faculty provides a unique opportunity to collaborate with leading experts in human-centered design and the human-technology relationship.

Beyond your research activities, you will be involved in publishing articles in high-quality journals, presenting your findings at international conferences, and engaging with both stakeholders and users in co-design processes. You will supervise master's theses, contribute to the Delft Design Lab on Automated Mobility and help develop its portfolio. Furthermore, you will contribute to writing proposals for Horizon Europe and NWO funding and play an active role in fostering a pleasant, diverse, and safe working environment.

• We are looking for a candidate who meets the following criteria:
• A PhD degree in a relevant field.
• Expertise in design, human factors, psychology, smart mobility, or another interdisciplinary domain related to human-centered design for smart mobility.
• Demonstrated strong research and academic writing skills.
• The ability to work independently as well as a collaborative team player.
• A proactive, enterprising and designerly attitude, with a passion for innovative research and societal impact.
• A commitment to design research, ideally experience in Research through Design and evaluative experiments. Experience with immersive technologies research (VR, AR, XR) is considered an asset.
• Excellent command of English, both written and spoken. Proficiency in Dutch is an asset but not required.

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!

Matching the evolution of people with the speed of the revolution of technology. This is the focus of the Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering (IDE). Delft designers act as a bridge between advances in technology and the needs of people, organisations and society to create products, services and systems with purpose.

IDE is a leader in design research across the application areas of mobility, sustainability and health, as well as its development of design tools and methods. A 350-strong research team and over 2,000 students work together in our inspiring hall, labs and studios.

In close cooperation with industry, the public sector and NGOs we rehearse possible futures in research and education to design for a complex future.

to go to the website of the Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering.

• 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. 

, 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 is available, to support your accompanying partner with their job search in the Netherlands.  . 

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Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 9 April 2025 via the application button and upload the following documents:

• CV
• A concise cover letter clearly indicating your relevant experience and future interests.

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.