PhD on safety and sustainability in bio-based composites' structural design

The increasing demand for new buildings and infrastructure is one of society's most critical environmental challenges since a large amount of waste, pollution, and gas emissions are produced. In the last decade, bio-based composite materials have shown the potential to develop sustainable building systems for architecture. However, a significant challenge is the scarcity of comprehensive data regarding their performance and characteristics. This lack often leads to difficulties in assessing safety, prompting the application of overly conservative safety factors and unnecessary material usage, which also detriments their sustainability level. Moreover, the intricate relationship between safety and sustainability is frequently underestimated or disregarded in current practices.

In this position, you will research and develop a comprehensive design framework that integrates safety assessment and sustainability considerations for bio-based composite materials, addressing the current challenges and gaps in understanding their performance and characteristics. The main key objectives and challenges of this PhD position would include:

• Explore bio-based fiber-polymer composite materials as a promising avenue for sustainable construction.
• Address the scarcity of comprehensive data regarding the performance and characteristics of bio-based composite materials.
• Study the structural reliability of bio-based composite materials and develop a comprehensive design framework to determine their safety.
• Integrate sustainability considerations into the structural design process to optimize building performance and minimize environmental impact.

The position is embedded in the newly formed chair of Sustainable Structural Design of the Unit Structural Engineering and Design at the Department of the Built Environment.

A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an interdisciplinary setting, and within an international network. You will work on a beautiful, green campus within walking distance of the central train station. In addition, we offer you:

• Full-time employment for four years, with an intermediate evaluation (go/no-go) after nine months. You will spend 10% of your employment on teaching tasks.
• Salary and benefits (such as a pension scheme, paid pregnancy and maternity leave, partially paid parental leave) in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, scale P (min. €2,770 max. €3,539).
• A year-end bonus of 8.3% and annual vacation pay of 8%.
• High-quality training programs and other support to grow into a self-aware, autonomous scientific researcher. At TU/e we challenge you to take charge of your own learning process.
• An excellent technical infrastructure, on-campus children's day care and sports facilities.
• An allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs.
• A Staff Immigration Team and a tax compensation scheme (the 30% facility) for international candidates.