Automated Vehicles (AVs) are set to transform road travel, promising significant improvements in road safety, accessibility, and transportation equity.
Job descriptionAs autonomous vehicles move closer to widespread deployment, a critical question remains largely unanswered: how can AVs interact safely and effectively with vulnerable road users (VRUs), including people with disabilities? Such interactions involve complex human decision-making processes that span behavioral, cognitive, psychological, and physiological dimensions. To date, these dimensions have largely been studied in isolation, leaving their interconnections and their role in real-world AV–VRU interactions poorly understood.
The postdoc researcher will focus on employing Virtual Reality technologies to understand this complex interaction process and explore how external Human-Machine Interfaces (eHMIs) can enable safer and more inclusive interactions.
The postdoc position will be based in the Mobility in eXtended Reality lab at the Department of Transport & Planning, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft University of Technology.
Job requirementsThe Postdoc researcher will:
- Develop a theoretical framework for identifying key characteristics of AV–VRU interactions and define design criteria for inclusive eHMIs.
- Develop accessible VR simulators for people with disabilities.
- Conduct VR experiments to collect data and model decision-making processes in AV–VRU interactions.
- Conduct real-world testing to evaluate the effectiveness of inclusive eHMI design.
- Collaborate closely with other PhD researchers on related projects and relevant topics.
- Support other researchers and ongoing projects in the lab and contribute to the management of lab activities.
- Publish in high-impact scientific journals and disseminating findings through conferences and stakeholder workshops.
Your Profile
- Hold a PhD degree in a relevant field (e.g., transportation, human-computer interaction, mechanical engineering, or related disciplines).
- Solid background in XR technologies and skills in developing XR applications using Unity/Unreal game engine.
- Strong and demonstrable experimental skills, including experiment design, setup, execution, and data collection.
- Strong skills in quantitative and qualitative data analysis.
- Strong analytic and programming skills (e.g., Python, C#) with proficiency in statistics.
- Ability to work independently while actively contributing to a collaborative, interdisciplinary research environment.
- Excellent writing and communication skills in English.
- Strong publication record in relevant scientific journals.
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 of Civil Engineering and GeosciencesThe Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences (CEG) is committed to outstanding international research and education in the field of civil engineering, applied earth sciences, traffic and transport, water technology, and delta technology. Our research feeds into our educational programmes and covers societal challenges such as climate change, energy transition, resource availability, urbanisation and clean water. Our research projects are conducted in close cooperation with a wide range of research institutions. CEG is convinced of the importance of open science and supports its scientists in integrating open science in their research practice. The Faculty of CEG comprises 28 research groups in the following seven departments: Materials Mechanics Management & Design, Engineering Structures, Geoscience and Engineering, Geoscience and Remote Sensing, Transport & Planning, Hydraulic Engineering and Water Management.
Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences.
Additional informationFor more information, please contact Dr.Yan Feng (y.feng@tudelft.nl).
Application procedureAre you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 14 June 2026 via the application button and upload the following documents:
- A motivation letter (max 2 pages) explaining your interest in this position and your qualifications for the position.
- Curriculum Vitae (max 2 pages).
- Publication list incl. A one-page summary of your PhD thesis.
- Transcripts of academic qualifications (BSc and MSc), including list of courses and marks;
- Two recommendation letters (or alternatively, the names and email addresses of two references).
- A 3-slide presentation (PDF) with your initial research ideas and directions for this project.
You can address your application to Yan Feng, Assistant Professor.
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.
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