Summary: TU Delft is offering a 4-year PhD position within the BIO-SKIN project, focusing on climate-resilient, circular, and bio-based building facades integrated with plant growth to cool cities, enhance biodiversity, and improve energy efficiency.
PhD position in Design Integration of Bio-Inclusive Façade Interventions, TU Delft, Netherlands
Position Details
| Feature | Detail |
| Designation | PhD Candidate (Doctoral Candidate / Promovendus) |
| Faculty / Department | Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering (IDE), Section Design for Sustainability |
| Location | Delft, Netherlands (with 1 day per week at AMS Institute in Amsterdam) |
| Salary Range | €3,059 to €3,881 gross per month (full-time) |
| Hours per Week | 38 to 40 hours |
| Last Date to Apply | 3 August 2026 |
Research Area
- Climate-resilient buildings inspired by nature
- Bio-based, waste-derived, and circular façade development
- Biophilic design, urban cooling, biodiversity, and insulation integration
Eligibility / Qualification
- A master’s degree (MSc) in industrial design engineering, material design, environmental design, or a related field.
- Experience or strong interest in prototyping, material testing, façade design, circular design, bio-based materials, or sustainability assessment.
- Comfortable with interdisciplinary collaboration across engineering, ecology, materials science, and industry stakeholders.
- Proficiency in English (written and spoken) is essential.
Job Description
As a PhD candidate, you will connect ecology, material choices, circularity, user acceptance, and aesthetics into actionable façade design interventions and a reusable design framework. Key responsibilities include:
- Reviewing design strategies for energy-efficient and biodiversity-enhancing façade panels.
- Prototyping and evaluating biophilic façade concepts integrating vegetation, water retention, and circular materials.
- Collaborating with consortium and Living Lab partners to test and refine interventions in real-world settings.
- Assessing environmental, aesthetic, and social performance metrics like cooling, durability, and user perception.
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted online through the TU Delft Application Portal. You will need to provide:
- Your Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- A cover letter detailing your motivations and qualifications
- An example of your writing
