Are you fascinated by the question of how society can be carbon-neutral and fully circular in 2050? And are you interested in quantifying a range of environmental effects? Do you want to do so with improved methods such as prospective LCA and material flow analysis? Would you like to know how circular pavement strategies contribute to climate targets?

You will do research on assessing innovations in relation to circularity and climate change with focus in road infrastructure.

Major aim of the PhD position is to develop a framework to assess the environmental footprints of circular roads building on prospective life cycle assessment and material flow analysis, and to apply this framework to assess contributions to circularity and climate targets (2030; 2050). You will develop an approach to compare eco-efficiencies of technological innovations and current and future road pavement scenarios. By applying this approach you will be able to answer questions like: To what extent does lifetime extension and improved circularity of roads help to reach climate neutrality? How much can be gained in terms of GHG reduction compared to the current situation?  


This PhD position will involve close collaboration with the Circularity and Sustainability Impact group at TNO, the Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research. The PhD research will contribute to and profit from an Internal TNO research program on technological innovations for extended asphalt lifetime. You will work in both institutes (TU/e in Eindhoven, TNO in Utrecht) and will be part of the multidisciplinary project team of the TNO research program.

The Technology, Innovation, and Society (TIS) group at Eindhoven University of Technology straddles natural science, social science and humanities disciplines and provides a stimulating and collaborative environment. The TIS group is part of the Department of Industrial Engineering & Innovation Sciences (IE&IS). Research at TIS concerns how humans and societies bring about technological change, and how technological innovations change society. With ~25 tenured staff and a large group of postdocs and PhD candidates, researchers in the TIS group try to bridge the engineering and social sciences in a systems perspective on sustainability transitions. The TIS staff teaches in the BSc program 'Sustainable Innovation', the MSc programs 'Sustainable Energy Technologies' and 'Innovation Management', and in university-wide programs for engineers.

• A master's degree (or an equivalent university degree) in natural or technical sciences with a clear affinity towards environmental topics.
• A research-oriented attitude.
• Ability to work in an interdisciplinary team.
• Fluent in spoken and written English (C1 level).
• Prepared to work in two locations.
• Experience with Life Cycle Assessment and/or Material Flow Analysis is an advantage.

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. €2,872 max. €3,670).
• 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.