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Delft University of Technology

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PhD in Co-creating Circular Business Models and Product–Service Systems for E-bikes and Home Appliances Delft University of Technology in Netherlands

Degree Level

PhD

Field of study

Environmental Science

Funding

Full funding available

Deadline

Aug 23, 2026

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Country

Netherlands

University

Delft University of Technology

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Keywords

Environmental Science
Psychology
Mechanical Engineering
Materials Science
Business
Industrial Engineering
Environmental Sustainability
Circular Economy
Eco-design

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About this position

TU Delft is hiring a fully funded PhD candidate for a project on co-creating circular business models and product-service systems (PSS) for e-bikes and home appliances/white goods, with a strong focus on repair, refurbishment, reuse, and behavior change. The project sits in the Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering, Section Design for Sustainability, and is part of the NWO KIC-funded CIVIC-4CE programme on circular consumption and value-chain integration.

The PhD will investigate how circular propositions can be made attractive to consumers and viable for firms, using two case studies in the Netherlands: e-bikes as the primary case and washing machines/white goods as a comparative case. Research activities include co-creating user-centered opportunity spaces, translating behavioral insights into personas and user journeys, developing propositions such as repair subscriptions, refurbished offers, and deposit/take-back systems, and piloting these ideas in real-world settings.

Supervision is by Prof. dr. ir. Ruud Balkenende, Dr. ir. Sonja van Dam, and Dr. ir. Brian Baldassarre. The wider consortium includes TU Delft and several Dutch universities and partners from industry, repair SMEs, civil society, and municipalities. The role is ideal for candidates interested in circular economy, design for sustainability, micromobility, consumer behavior, and transdisciplinary co-creation.

Eligibility highlights include an MSc (or equivalent) in design engineering, business, innovation studies, or a related field; experience with participatory research, co-design, or PSS development; strong English proficiency; and Dutch language skills as an advantage. The position is fully funded for 4 years, with salary according to the Dutch university collective agreement.

Application deadline: 23 August 2026. Apply online via the TU Delft careers portal with a CV, cover letter, and writing sample.

Funding details

Full funding including tuition fees and living expenses is available for this position. The scholarship covers all educational costs and provides a monthly stipend.

How to apply

Please submit your application including a cover letter, CV, academic transcripts, and contact information for two references. Applications should be sent via the online portal before the deadline.

More information can be found here

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