Within the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences the Concrete Structures Group, consisting of 23 people, is conducting high-quality research at the interface between science, engineering and design.

The main research lines currently pursued by the Group are:

• assessment and maintenance of existing concrete structures such as buildings, bridges, dams, etc.;
• introduction of innovative, CO2-neutral, concrete-based materials into the structural design and construction;
• development of new techniques for monitoring of concrete structures.

This PhD position fits in the second research line.

In this project you are expected to work in a large EU consortium AshCycle which deals with integration of underutilized ashes into material cycles by industry-urban symbiosis. The incineration of biomass, municipal solid waste and sewage sludge produces significant quantities of ashes in the EU: approximately 25 million tons annually. These residues have currently no use or they are utilized only in low-value applications. Major problems with the use of incineration residues in the construction, water treatment, and other industries are insufficient public awareness of the safety and environmental acceptability of the final products , the lack of uniform regulations, and readiness of the market to accept incineration residues as a supplementary material. The project AshCycle with 28 European partners will demonstrate and implement industry urban symbioses revolving around the underutilized ashes to reach circular and climate neutral economy in Europe. Pilots and replication demonstrations will be carried out in Denmark, Finland, Belgium, The Netherlands, Croatia, Slovenia, Switzerland, and South Africa.

We seek for a PhD candidate to work on the structural behavior of ash-based OPC and alkali-activated reinforced concrete. Novel construction materials developed within the whole project will be investigated under different type of mechanical and imposed deformation loadings in order to understand their fracture behavior and bearing capacity over time. Based on the results, a generic model will be developed with the aim to unravel the mechanisms and to derive calculation models and design guidelines for the bond as well as for flexure and shear behavior of  ash-based OPC and alkali activated reinforced concrete elements.

Our ideal candidate has a clear and unambiguous ambition towards a sustainable future for the built environment. You are expected to have scientific creativity and broad-knowledge of Engineering. More specificially, you are required to have:

• A Master's degree in a relevant field, i.e., Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering.
• Ability to interact and carry out research with close collaboration with community and partners in EU project
• Ability to work both in a project team, but also independently and take leadership and responsibility for research tasks
• Excellent communication skills in English, both written and oral.

Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis. For more details please check the Graduate Schools Admission Requirements.

Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1,5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2,5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from € 2443 per month in the first year to € 3122 in the fourth year. As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance and sport memberships, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged. For international applicants we offer the Coming to Delft Service and Partner Career Advice to assist you with your relocation.

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 and aim to be as inclusive as possible (see our Code of Conduct). Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale.

Challenge. Change. Impact! 

Faculty Civil Engineering & Geosciences

The Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences (CEG) is committed to outstanding international research and education in the field of civil engineering, applied earth sciences, traffic and transport, water technology, and delta technology. Our research feeds into our educational programmes and covers societal challenges such as climate change, energy transition, resource depletion, urbanisation and the availability of clean water, conducted  in close cooperation with a wide range of research institutions. CEG is convinced that Open Science helps to achieve our goals and supports its scientists in integrating Open Science in their research practice. The Faculty of CEG comprises 28 research groups in the following seven departments: Materials Mechanics Management & Design, Engineering Structures, Geoscience and Engineering, Geoscience and Remote Sensing, Transport & Planning, Hydraulic Engineering and Water Management.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences.