PhD vacatures

Assistant Professor focusing on the use of design methods, creative participatory design, and/or service design for transforming out-of-hospital health and care systems.

The IDE Faculty and the Design Organisation and Strategy (DOS) department are seeking an Assistant Professor to strengthen its research and education profile in design methods, creative participatory design, and/or service design, applied to the transformation of out-of-hospital health and care systems. We are looking for a colleague with a strong grounding in design methodologies and processes, who can apply these critically and creatively within complex, real-world care contexts.

In this role, you will develop and lead transdisciplinary research that uses design as a driver for systemic change in out-of-hospital care, including community care, home care, and informal care networks. Your work will focus on how design methods, participatory approaches, and service design can contribute to more resilient, fair, and inclusive care systems.

You will investigate, develop, and test design methodologies that support collaboration across disciplines and stakeholder groups, including patients, informal caregivers, care professionals, policymakers, and industry partners. A central aspect of the position is advancing knowledge on how design processes can mediate complexity in health and care ecosystems, beyond the hospital.

The position involves contributing to academic publications in design-oriented, health and care, and transdisciplinary journals, acquiring external research funding, and contributing to education at bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels. You will play an active role in shaping IDE’s research agenda and educational programs, particularly where design research intersects with societal challenges in health and care.

Potential areas of research could include:

• Development and critical application of creative design methods and methodologies for complex service systems in out-of-hospital care.
• Participatory and co-design approaches involving patients, informal caregivers, professionals, and communities.
• Service design for integrated care ecosystems that connect formal and informal care structures.
• Design-led approaches to systemic transformation, equity, and resilience in health and care services.

Job requirements

You are driven by working at the forefront of design methods and processes in the context of health, by involving participation and co-design approaches. You thrive in transdisciplinary environments and enjoy working with diverse teams, including those in technology disciplines, where your experience in design methods and design research methodologies can contribute to complex societal issues. Your strong communication skills enable you to inspire and convince stakeholders of your research proposals, and you are adept at teaching and mentoring students. You are enthusiastic about growing these and other competencies during your tenure track.

• A PhD in design, or a PhD in a design-related context (e.g., healthcare, engineering, social sciences, psychology)
• Experience in conducting research in health or care-related contexts.
• Experience in writing academic publications.
• Teaching experience.
• Some experience with grant writing.
• A collaborative and open-minded approach to transdisciplinary research.
• The ability to engage with industry, societal partners and academic communities.
• A drive to develop innovative educational programs.
• A good command of spoken and written English. If you don’t speak Dutch, you have the willingness to learn the language, as your home base at TU Delft is bilingual.

TU Delft (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.

Faculty Industrial Design Engineering

Matching the evolution of people with the speed of the revolution of technology. This is the focus of the Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering (IDE). Delft designers act as a bridge between advances in technology and the needs of people, organisations and society to create products, services and systems with purpose. IDE is a leader in design research across the application areas of mobility, sustainability and health, as well as its development of design tools and methods. A 350-strong research team and over 2,000 students work together in our inspiring hall, labs and studios. In close cooperation with industry, the public sector and NGOs we rehearse possible futures in research and education to design for a complex future.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

Conditions of employment

This position is offered as an Academic Career Track position (0.8 – 1.0 FTE). During the Academic Career Track, we expect you to grow towards an Associate Professor position within a maximum of eight years, for which a position will be available. With other Academic Career Track colleagues, you will participate in the Academic Career Track Development programme, where you are offered ample opportunities to develop yourself in the areas of Education, Research, Societal Impact & Innovation, and Leadership & Organisation. You will regularly discuss your development and results with senior staff based on a personalized development plan and performance criteria agreed upon at the start of your Academic Career Track. You will start with a temporary contract that will be converted to a permanent contract no later than 12‑18 months after a positive evaluation, based on continuous confidence in your development potential and fit in the organisation.

Inspiring, excellent education is our central aim. We expect you to obtain a University Teaching Qualification (UTQ) within three years if you have less than five years of teaching experience. This is provided by the TU Delft UTQ programme as part of the Academic Career Track Development programme.

TU Delft sets high standards for the English competency of the teaching staff. The TU Delft offers training to improve English competency. If you do not speak Dutch, we offer courses to learn the Dutch language within three years.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities. The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged and you can work partly from home.

Will you need to relocate to the Netherlands for this job? TU Delft is committed to make your move as smooth as possible! The HR unit, Coming to Delft Service, provides information and personal one-on-one guidance to help you prepare your relocation, and to find housing and schools for children (if applicable). In addition, Coming to Delft Service organises events to help you settle in the Netherlands, and expand your (social) network in Delft. A Dual Career Programme is available to support your accompanying partner with their job search in the Netherlands.

Additional information

For information about the position, please contact M.GuerreiroGoncalves@tudelft.nl.

For information about the application procedure, please contact h.sosef-dehaan@tudelft.nl.

Application procedure

Apply via the application button and upload your application material no later than 27 March 2026, including:

• A cover letter (please clearly indicate how your interest/experience is linked with and complement the aforementioned research areas and teaching activities)
• A detailed CV (including publication list, contributions to education and funding/valorization achievements)
• Research statement
• Education statement
• Two reference letters
• Other information that might be relevant to your application

Please note:

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
• As part of knowledge security, TU Delft conducts a risk assessment during the recruitment of personnel. We do this, among other things, to prevent the unwanted transfer of sensitive knowledge and technology. The assessment is based on information provided by the candidates themselves, such as their motivation letter and CV, and takes place at the final stages of the selection process. When the outcome of the assessment is negative, the candidate will be informed. The processing of personal data in the context of the risk assessment is carried out on the legal basis of the GDPR: performing a public task in the public interest. You can find more information about this assessment on our website about knowledge security.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.

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