PhD Position "On Thirst and Mirage: Rethinking the Desert"

Overview

At TU Delft’s Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment we invite a PhD candidate to investigate the spatialities and materialities of bodies of water in MENA desert regions. The project builds on the 2023 research project “On Thirst and Mirage” and aims to unpack the ecological and political tensions that arise when colonial, extractive and technocratic practices shape water governance in desert areas.

Research questions

1. How could decolonial thinking and indigenous relationalities afford shifts in understanding deserts as multitudes of worlds?
2. How could everyday practices associated with indigenous literacies inform spatial thinking to reimagine alternative ways of living in deserts?
3. What methodological, tangible and intangible material sources ought to be taken into account to restitute water literacies and water bodies in the deserts?
4. What modes of spatial representations and mappings could be considered when engaging with indigenous cosmovisions?

Position description

The position is a full‑time, fully funded PhD lasting four years, funded by TU Delft and the Dutch Collective Labour Agreement. The candidate will work closely with Prof. Negar Sanaan Bensi, an associate professor in the Architecture Department, and will develop an annotated research proposal, critical literature review, field studies and spatial analyses. PhD candidates are enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School and will receive mentoring, access to research infrastructure and a competitive salary.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in architecture, urban studies, environmental humanities or a related discipline with spatial thinking.
• Academic research experience at post‑Master level.
• Demonstrable affinity with archival sources and field work.
• Creative, independent and collaborative working attitude.
• Excellent oral and written proficiency in English and proficiency in one local language of suggested case studies.
• Commitment to the TU Delft Graduate School’s admission requirements and to full‑time research for four years.

Conditions of employment

Doctoral candidates receive a four‑year employment period in principle, implemented as two separate employment contracts. The first contract is 1.5 years, followed by a 2.5‑year contract contingent on performance. Salary increases from €2,770 per month in year one to €3,539 in year four. Candidate enrolment in the TU Delft Graduate School includes flexible work schedules, a monthly work cost contribution and health‑insurance discounts.

Application procedure

The application deadline is 30 January 2026 (local Dutch time + 2 hrs). Submit a single PDF file (max 30 pages, 20 MB) naming it: Lastname_keyword.pdf. The PDF must include:

• Cover letter (one page) explaining motivations, interests and qualifications.
• Full CV.
• Two reference details (letters not required at this stage).
• Research proposal (2,500 words exclusive bibliography) following the structure below.
  1. Provisional title – framing the project conceptually.
  2. Abstract – 300–500 word summary with keywords.
  3. Question(s)/Hypothesis, Aims and Goals – clear statement of research question(s).
  4. Preliminary outline – structure of the PhD research.
  5. Disciplinary approach – methodology positioned in interdisciplinary framework.
  6. Research significance – relevance and originality of the contribution.
  7. Preliminary bibliography.

Contact

N.SanaanBensi@tudelft.nl

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