Job description

Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for a full-time fixed term position as a postdoctoral researcher based at TU Delft, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geoscience, Delft, The Netherlands. This position is available from 1st January 2025 to contract end date of 30th of December 2026.

The ability of existing transport infrastructure to absorb and recover from the projected effects of climate change is relatively unexplored. Bridges form a vital link in our transport systems, but they also carry energy, water, and communication networks, making them critical cascading failure points. The reliability and availability of bridges are two of the key climate-change relevant elements that need to be considered when preparing for uncertain future climate risks. They are vulnerable to natural hazards, in particular bridge scour is the leading cause of bridge collapse globally. The lack of data in relation to bridge structures and scour has been highlighted as a bottleneck for adaptation under uncertainty. Newly developed technologies allow for new datasets and analytics to be exploited; and not incorporating such advances into current bridge management practice is a missed opportunity for improving the resilience of bridge infrastructure.

CRANN (Towards a Climate Resilient Adapted National Network) is a new project which aims to develop toolkits to support bridge investment decisions considering economic benefits, mobility, public safety, and the environment while addressing the impacts of climate change. CRANN will adapt current bridge management processes to include sensor data, latest analytics, vulnerability analysis and citizen science to improve the assessment of scour risk under uncertain and changing climate conditions.

The successful candidate will work under the supervision of Dr Maria Pregnolato (TU Delft), in collaboration with Somni Solutions (Delft), Dr Myra Lydon (University of Galway), Dr Darragh Lydon (Queens University Belfast) and Kris Campbell (Northern Ireland Department for Infrastructure). The candidate will assist in the development of a risk-based national framework for assessing bridge condition using sensor data and advanced analytics while accounting for climate uncertainties. The framework will build on the consolidated concept of risk as the product of “hazard x exposure x vulnerability”. Data provided from sensors will enter into the risk assessment process, granting enhanced information about both the hazard (e.g. river gauges) and the vulnerability (e.g. novel scour sensors). The framework aims to be “open” to accommodate the inclusion of more different type of data for future updates (e.g. from satellites). The framework will identify suitable deterministic and probabilistic predictive tools for forecasting of future maintenance program. Comprehensive review of state-of-the-art in scour risk assessment, scour structural health monitoring (SHM) systems, existing datasets relating to climate predictions and relevant environmental data for Ireland will be undertaken to identify suitable real time data streams for integration in the framework.

Job requirements

The candidate main duties will include:

• Undertake and prepare literature reviews to formulate a robust theoretical background.
• Develop a new risk-based framework for assessing bridge condition which uses sensor data, advanced analytics and climate uncertainty.
• ntegrate sensor data with bridge management.
• Predispose the application of the framework for the demonstrators (case studies).
• Liaise and collaborate with stakeholders and consortium partners.
• Contribute to the writing of academic papers, policy-oriented reports or white papers.
• Develop and support the delivery of outreach and impact activity.
• Attend national and international meetings and conferences.
• Contribute to the management and reporting requirements of the project.
• Excellent command of spoken and written English.

Essential Requirements:

• PhD (or be near to completing a PhD) in engineering, mathematics, physics, computer science or related area.
• Track record of high impact journal publications and international conference presentations.
• Demonstrated experience in bridge engineering or structural health monitoring.
• Demonstrated experience in statistical/probabilistic analysis.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct independent research with limited supervision.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a team, collaborate across disciplines and build effective relationships.
• Experience of coordinating or managing collaborative research projects.
• Excellent interpersonal and written-verbal communications skills.

Desirable Requirements:

• Post-doctoral research experience or equivalent.
• Programming skills sufficient to adapt and/or modify existing models.
• Proven track record in using one or more scripting languages, e.g. MATLAB, Python or similar.
• Demonstrated experience in machine learning and data mining.
• Competence in transport management and decision making.
• Competence in a GIS and/or FEA environment

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 Civil Engineering & Geosciences

The 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.

Conditions of employment

• A salary based on scale 10 of the CAO for Dutch Universities with a minimum of €3.345,- and a maximum of €5.278,- gross per month based on a fulltime contract (38 hours), plus 8% holiday allowance and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%.
• An excellent pension scheme via the ABP.
• The possibility to compile an individual employment package every year.
• Discount with health insurers.
• Flexible working week.
• Every year, 232 leave hours (at 38 hours). You can also sell or buy additional leave hours via the individual choice budget.
• Plenty of opportunities for education, training and courses.
• Partially paid parental leave
• Attention for working healthy and energetically with the vitality program.

Additional information

For more information about this vacancy, please contact Maria Pregnolato, Associate Professor in the Department of Hydraulic Engineering, TU Delft m.pregnolato@tudelft.nl

Application procedure

Apply via the application button and upload the following documents:

• Motivation letter (1 page).
• Detailed CV (4 page max).
• Copies of your BSc and MSc degrees and transcripts.
• At least, three relevant publications
• Names and contact information of at least three relevant references. We will not contact references without your consent.

Please apply no later than 5 November 2024 at 23:59 (CET time). Documents that do not fullfil the length criteria or the deadline will not be considered.