PhD Position in Human-Centered, Data-Centric Design for Healthcare Soundscapes at TU Delft Delft University of Technology in Netherlands

Are you passionate about human-centered design, data-driven innovation, and making a real impact in healthcare? The Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) is offering a fully funded PhD position in the Industrial Design Engineering faculty, focusing on the intersection of design, technology, and healthcare. This opportunity is part of the prestigious NWO-funded Auditory Footprints project, which aims to revolutionize the soundscape of Neonatal and Paediatric Intensive Care Units (NPICUs).

Project Overview: Hospital ICUs are among the noisiest environments, with constant alarms, equipment sounds, and conversations that can harm infant development and contribute to nurse alarm fatigue. The Auditory Footprints project seeks to address this by developing an intelligent, human-centered digital platform—the NPICU Data Commons—that empowers nurses to understand and actively shape their acoustic environment. Unlike traditional monitoring dashboards, this platform will enable nurses to become investigators and designers of their own workplace soundscapes.

Research Focus: The project combines physical sound measurement, perceptual quality assessment, and sound event recognition using advanced machine learning and data visualization techniques. The goal is to create a comprehensive Sound Quality Index and intuitive digital interfaces that support quick, informed decision-making by healthcare professionals. The platform will be co-designed with nurses and tested in real-world NPICU settings, with the potential to set new standards for hospital acoustic environments globally.

Eligibility & Requirements: Applicants should have an MSc in Human-Computer Interaction, Industrial Design Engineering, or a related field. Essential skills include a passion for human-centered design and qualitative research, experience with data visualization and prototyping, programming skills, and a background in machine learning. Fluency in English and Dutch is required, along with a genuine interest in creating impactful healthcare solutions.

Funding: This PhD position is fully funded as part of the NWO Auditory Footprints project. While specific stipend and tuition details are not listed, TU Delft PhD positions typically offer competitive financial support.

Supervision & Collaboration: The project is led by a multidisciplinary team including Jacky Bourgeois (Professor, TU Delft), Elif Özcan (Vieira), Roberto Merino Martinez, and other international collaborators from Erasmus MC, IRCAM, and Università Iuav di Venezia. The research will be conducted in close collaboration with the Critical Alarms Lab, Data-Centric Design Lab, and Knowledge and Intelligence Design at TU Delft.

Application Process: The application deadline is February 28, 2026. Interested candidates should apply via the official TU Delft careers portal. For more information and to submit your application, visit the provided links.

Keywords: human-centered design, data-centric design, soundscape, healthcare technology, ICU, machine learning, data visualization, acoustic environment, nursing, digital platform.