PhD Position in Natural Building Skins for Heat Resilience at TU Delft Delft University of Technology in Netherlands

TU Delft is advertising a PhD position in Natural Building Skins for Heat Resilience within the Nature 4 Homes project. The research sits at the intersection of architecture, building physics, civil engineering, materials science, environmental science, ecology, and user-centered design. The project aims to develop and demonstrate nature-based façade and building-envelope solutions that can retrofit existing homes into healthier, cooler, and more sustainable living environments.

The PhD candidate will work on affordable, easy-to-install building skins that combine vegetation, circular materials, and smart ventilation strategies to improve indoor comfort without energy-intensive cooling. The work includes co-creation with residents and industry partners, prototyping, experimental testing at MATELab, modelling, and evaluation of heat resilience, ventilation performance, heat and moisture transfer, indoor environmental quality, biodiversity benefits, circularity, and long-term user acceptance.

The position is based at TU Delft, across the Architectural Engineering + Technology Department in the Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment and the Department of Materials, Mechanics, Management and Design in the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences. Supervision is by Marc Ottelé, Alessandra Luna-Navarro, and Atze Boerstra. The project involves collaboration with a postdoctoral researcher, three other PhD candidates, and research, industry, and public-sector partners.

Applicants should have an MSc in architecture, architectural engineering, civil engineering, or a related field. The ideal candidate is interested in human perception, building design, climate change, experimental research, prototyping, environmental assessment, and measuring/modelling indoor and outdoor conditions. Strong English communication skills are required, and TU Delft notes that PhD candidates must meet Graduate School English proficiency requirements.

The appointment is for 4 years in principle, with an initial 1.5-year contract followed by a 2.5-year extension subject to a successful go/no-go assessment. Salary ranges from €3204 to €4051 gross per month, plus holiday allowance and an end-of-year bonus. Additional benefits include health insurance discounts and a monthly work costs contribution.

The application deadline is 11 November 2026. Apply online through the TU Delft careers portal and upload a CV, a motivation letter (max 600 words), BSc and MSc degree certificates and transcripts, and contact details for at least three references. Email applications are not accepted.