Become an EXPLORA-er to study how exploratory behavior impacts perception! And design multisensory EXPLORA kits with your team to show the world what light and materials can do.
Job description
Two PhD projects (nrs 10 and 13) in the EU training network EXPLORA
EXPLORA is a Marie Skłodowska-Curie doctoral network funded by the HORIZON 2020 framework. It will start on 1 February 2026, and within this network we have two positions available (preferably starting also on February 1 2026, a little later is possible). The international network offers a cross-sectoral, multi-disciplinary research and doctoral training programme - and a network / friends for life. Training will include hands-on research training, the EXPLORA doctoral programme, which will be integrated with the TU Delft Graduate School education, and two exchanges. A special element will be the design of EXPLORA kits: through teamwork with other doctoral candidates in the network you will make an EXPLORA kit forming a meaningful contribution towards science literacy and STEAM (Science Technology Engineering Arts Mathematics) education.
The network's focus: Exploratory behavior is at the core of what it means to be human. Being confronted with novel materials, tools, or artistic creations, humans instinctively explore the unknown in order to acquire information about it, to make sense of it, to act on it, and to appreciate what is in front of them. This involves dynamic engagement like walking, observing, and handling objects. The relationship between perceptual experiences and the dynamic structures of the multi-sensorial information generated by active exploration is complex and still not well understood. EXPLORA aims to uncover links between perceptual impacts and active exploration systematically, quantitatively, and empirically. We will create impact through transfer between science, engineering, design, arts and industry and by connecting multiple levels of STEAM education from middle schools to doctoral education. Understanding active exploration has the potential to advance the development of multi-sensory interactive technologies and the innovative design of immersive systems, as well as the modeling of intelligent adaptive behavior, thereby affecting nearly every facet of our life, including healthcare, education, mobility, AI, robotics and culture.
The positions:
PhD candidate / project 10 focuses on understanding the effects of lighting on, in and around modern artworks on the active exploration dynamics, on learning, and on perception of the light, materials, shape and space of the scenes. We will record and characterize exploratory eye and body movements during art (exhibitions) experiences and relate those to parameters of lighting design and perception. This project will be supervised by Maarten Wijntjes and Sylvia Pont.
PhD candidate / project 13 focuses on understanding how social, multisensorial material interactions can be translated to VR and XR interactions. We will capture real-world material explorations and convert these into interactive images based on pseudo-haptics. The goals are to understand the interaction between exploration movement, multisensorial cues, and material properties and to enhance material experience and object handling in shared VR/XR environments. This project will be supervised by Gijs Huisman and Sylvia Pont.
These positions will be embedded in the Perceptual Intelligence section of the Human Centered Design department of the Industrial Design Engineering Faculty. This section includes expertise on perceptual intelligence for design of multisensory experiences and smart products, services and systems. Researchers in this section explore how auditory, visual, haptic, multimodal perceptual and cognitive factors such as memory and attention relate to human information processing, (inter)action, and experience design. Their research contributes to the theory and practice of sensory and cognitive communication and augmentation design and the section is unique for its cross-disciplinary approach to design for real-world perception and cognition problems.
Job requirements
A Masters degree in psychology/cognitive science/computer science/industrial design/lighting design/architecture or equivalent. A keen interest in human perception and cognition. Experience in: experimental methods, computer rendering or VR/XR, programming. Affinity with multidisciplinary work, combining science, art, and technology.
Enthusiasm to work in a large European Training network, combining basic research with transdisciplinary collaborations and international exchanges.
Eligibility criteria:
- You must not already be in possession of a doctoral degree at the date of the recruitment. If you have successfully defended your doctoral thesis already but have not yet formally been awarded the doctoral degree you are also not eligible.
- You must not have resided or carried out your main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the recruiting beneficiary (that is, the Netherlands) for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the envisioned date of recruitment (earliest date possible: Feb 01, 2026). Compulsory national service, short stays such as holidays, and time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention are not taken into account.
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.
Challenge. Change. Impact!
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.
to go to the website of the Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering.
Conditions of employment
Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1,5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2,5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.
Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities , increasing from Promovendus gross per month, from the first year to the fourth year based on a fulltime contract (38 hours), plus 8% holiday allowance and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%.
As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.
Coming to Delft ServiceDual Career Programme is available, to support your accompanying partner with their job search in the Netherlands.
Additional information
For PhD project 10 the first round of interviews will be November 6th and second round November 18th, 2025.
For PhD project 13 the first round of interviews will be November 10th and second round November 24th, 2025.
Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 24 October 2025 via the application button and upload the following documents: your CV and cover letter, plus a statement regarding the eligibility criteria. Please indicate which of the two projects you are interested in.
The procedure will involve two rounds, with first an online interview with the two supervisors of the project, and after further selection a second interview with the supervisors and junior department members. The interviews will be performed in November. Please keep this information in mind when applying. The envisioned starting date is February 2026 or shortly after.
Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis. For more details please check the Graduate Schools Admission Requirements.
Please note:
- You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
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