The History of Architecture and Urban Planning Group in the Department of Architecture and the Leiden-Delft-Erasmus PortCityFutures research center in collaboration with the Industrial Design Faculty, are seeking to expand their teams with a Postdoc researcher interested in sustainable development at the edge of sea and land with knowledge of data collection, management and web platform development. The Postdoc researcher will be part of WP 5 of the Bauhaus of the Seas Lighthouse grant and will be based in the Netherlands and collaborate with a European research consortium.

The Bauhaus of the Seas initiative aims to develop solutions for climate neutrality with a particular focus on coastal cities as an interface to healthy seas, ocean and water bodies. WP 5 will develop a geospatial platform that allows for collaboration, comparison and assessment through all the steps of the project. The platform will provide access to both fixed and fluctuating GIS based data as well as for soft mapping of the project’s interventions, narratives and achievements. In doing so, it will provide the new tools for understanding maritime flows and shared waters and their relation and impact on land and port city territories. The Postdoc will take the lead in collecting data both at an European level, in relation to the pilot territories, and potentially for new members. The focus is on the pilot cases. Key questions are: How can we cross European and local data at the edge of sea and land to provide a meaningful platform for comparison? How can we enrich this data with local knowledge and outcomes of the project through soft mapping? How can we use the platform as a tool to communicate with diverse local actors?

The main objectives of the Postdoc research position are:

• Collect relevant open access GIS-based and other data on Europe and on the pilots to facilitate collaboration, comparison, assessment and outreach.
• Engage with all project partners to collect relevant data.
• Embed and visualize the data into a single geospatial platform (to be developed in collaboration with a software engineer).
• Administer, refine and develop the platform during the duration of the project.
• Collaborate with the partners in workshops based on the data visualized on the platform.
• Publishing research findings in scientific journals, present the project at international conferences, connect to other partners.

The research will be jointly supervised by an experienced and collaborative team comprising members from TU Delft History of Architecture+Urban Planning, PortCityFutures, and the Industrial Design Engineering faculty.

You have:

• An excellent academic track record with a PhD and expertise in data management, GIS, web design and demonstrated capacity for interdisciplinary science research. If you have a background in spatial or social sciences, or computer science we encourage you to apply.
• An affinity with visualisation/mapping methods and inter- and transdisciplinary research are highly desirable.
• First-hand experience working with GIS, data collection, data visualization, and systematic spatial analysis.
• The ability to understand the societal contexts of energy transitions at the edge of sea and land and possess the social skills to engage with diverse project partners.
• Adequate writing/presentation skills to synthesize and digest the outcomes of the pilot study interventions and activities.

The project requires traveling to the case study locations. The candidate should be proficient in English (both writing and speaking) on a C1 CEFR level (or equivalent), and willing to collaborate and travel internationally.

Fixed-term contract: 36 months.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities. The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, a discount 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. An International Children's Centre offers childcare and there is an international primary school.

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.

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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.

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