Do you want to improve life in coastal environments facing threats from climate change? Be part of a pioneering European project tackling real-world climate challenges!
Job description
CORRAL is a European project that aims to support local and regional authorities in driving the socio-ecological-technological transformations required to build coastal resilience. The project will co-design and implement locally grounded, systemic solutions that address diverse climate risks while strengthening ecological integrity and community preparedness. The CORRAL consortium consists of 28 partners from 9 countries.
In particular, in collaboration with the municipality of The Hague, the TU Delft Green Village and Hydraulic Engineering department, CORRAL will develop a “Dune Park" in Scheveningen that consists of a "Growing Dune Landscape”. The plan is inspired by the Zandmotor pilot project and involves developing vegetation planting strategies to trap wind-driven sediment, leading to natural elevation of the local morphology providing functions to society. The hypothesis is that, as the sediment accumulates, vegetation growth and dune development will progress hand in hand, demonstrating how natural processes can generatively support coastal protection and provide a nature-based solution to combat sea-level rise.
In this ambitious plan, you will:
- Study the natural processes that govern the growth of coastal dunes in an urban coastal environment.
- Lead a fieldwork program to measure vegetation dynamics and morphological changes using GPS surveys, drones, and advanced remote sensing techniques.
- Simulate vegetation and dune evolution with the AeoLiS model.
- Disseminate observations and modelling results to stakeholders to showcase the site’s evolution and the potential of dune landscapes as a sustainable coastal defence strategy.
You will join the Department of Hydraulic Engineering, a collaborative and international team where curiosity, interdisciplinary research and scientific excellence are valued. You will also be part of the European project CORRAL. Our department closely collaborates with the other departments within our Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geoscience and many research groups around the world. We offer strong support for your professional growth, including mentoring, student supervision, training, and ample opportunities for international collaboration and networking.
Job requirements
We are looking for an enthusiastic and inquisitive computational researcher who enjoys working in an international and multidisciplinary environment. You have:
- An MSc degree in Hydraulic Engineering, Physical Geography, Hydro-informatics or Civil Engineering (or in a related discipline).
- Demonstrated experience or deep interest in modelling and coastal engineering.
- Affinity with international collaborations that require travelling.
- Scientific and/or practical knowledge of coastal processes.
- Excellent programming skills (e.g. in Python, SQL, Java, PyTorch, etc.).
- A critical, creative and pro-active approach to research, with good problem-solving skills.
- Excellent command of English (oral and written).
We welcome applications from candidates with diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
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 of Civil Engineering and 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
Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1,5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2,5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.
Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from €3059 - €3881 gross per month, from the first year to the fourth year based on a fulltime contract (38 hours), plus 8% holiday allowance and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%.
As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.
The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.
Will you need to relocate to the Netherlands for this job? TU Delft is committed to make your move as smooth as possible! The HR unit, Coming to Delft Service, offers information on their website to help you prepare your relocation. In addition, Coming to Delft Service organises events to help you settle in the Netherlands, and expand your (social) network in Delft. A Dual Career Programme is available, to support your accompanying partner with their job search in the Netherlands.
Additional information
For more information about this vacancy, please contact Sierd de Vries (sierd.devries@tudelft.nl) and Maria Pregnolato (m.pregnolato@tudelft.nl)
Please apply via the website of TU Delft, unsolicited emails will not be considered.
After the first selection, online interviews will be held in early July. The candidate is expected to start on 1 October 2026.
Application procedure
Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 1 June 2026 via the application button and upload the following documents:
- CV (max 4 pages), inclusive of publications (if any).
- Cover (max 1 page) letter describing your motivation and qualifications for the position.
You can address your application to Sierd de Vries.
Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis. For more details please check the Graduate Schools Admission Requirements.
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.
- Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.
