Join us in investigating how BSc Electrical Engineering students develop academic skills, teamwork, project performance applying leaning analytics methods using multi-cohort consented learning data.
Job description
We, the Electrical Engineering Education section at TU Delft, would like to warmly invite applications for a PhD position focused on improving student success in project-based engineering education. The project will use multi-cohort learning data from the BSc Electrical Engineering programme to understand how students develop academic skills, teamwork competences, and project performance from the first year through to the Bachelor Graduation Project. The programme has access to four-year consecutive cohorts of consented student data, including university grades in theoretical and project-based courses, BuddyCheck peer-evaluation scores, project outcomes, and first-year progression and retention/BSA information. These data provide a unique opportunity to study learning trajectories across the curriculum and identify where targeted support can have the greatest impact. This PhD will investigate how early academic adjustment, prior preparation, teamwork experiences, and peer evaluation interact over time. The research will focus on three connected areas. First, it will analyse the transition into university engineering education by identifying typical adaptation pathways and linking them to first-year progression and retention. Second, it will model the development of project performance and academic skills across the BSc curriculum, from the introductory course to the Bachelor Graduation Project. This will help determine whether later project success is mainly shaped early on, or whether recovery, catch-up, and growth are common. Third, the project will evaluate BuddyCheck as both an assessment instrument and a learning tool, with attention to feedback quality, fairness, validity, and improvement in later projects.
Please note that this is a six-year PhD position, which includes two years of educational support duties. As part of these duties, the PhD candidate will contribute to teaching activities in the BSc Electrical Engineering programme. These activities may include delivering lectures and instructional sessions, supporting laboratory teaching, and contributing to the BSc Electrical Engineering Integrated Projects (IP1, IP2, and IP3). The candidate will also be required to obtain the University Teaching Qualification (UTQ/BKO) during the appointment. The candidate will work at the intersection of engineering education, learning analytics, assessment, and academic skills development. The project is connected to ongoing educational innovation initiatives, including tools for better use of BuddyCheck results and learning dashboards for student support. We are looking for a motivated candidate with an interest in engineering education and student success. Suitable backgrounds include electrical engineering, engineering education, learning analytics, educational sciences, data science, or related fields. Experience with quantitative methods, statistical modelling using the python programming language, learning analytics, or text analysis is an advantage.
This PhD contributes to TU Delft’s mission to educate future-proof engineers by strengthening retention, teamwork, academic skills, and project-based learning in the BSc Electrical Engineering programme. If you are interested in this research area- we'd love to have you with us.
Job requirements
You have:
- A Bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering.
- A Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science or Embedded Systems.
- Previous experience in teaching either professionally or in form of internships. And, familiarity with the Dutch secondary and higher education system and curriculum.
- A strong interest in electrical engineering education, and learning processes in education. A minor degree or certification in education.
- Affinity with both technical and educational research (e.g. data analysis).
- Experience with qualitative and/or quantitative research methods.
- Strong analytical, communication, and collaboration skills.
- Excellent command of Dutch and English.
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 Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science
The Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS) brings together three scientific disciplines. Combined, they reinforce each other and are the driving force behind the technology we all use in our daily lives. Technology such as the electricity grid, which our faculty is helping to make completely sustainable and future-proof. At the same time, we are developing the chips and sensors of the future, whilst also setting the foundations for the software technologies to run on this new generation of equipment – which of course includes AI. Meanwhile we are pushing the limits of applied mathematics, for example mapping out disease processes using single cell data, and using mathematics to simulate gigantic ash plumes after a volcanic eruption. In other words: there is plenty of room at the faculty for ground-breaking research. We educate innovative engineers and have excellent labs and facilities that underline our strong international position. In total, more than 1000 employees and 4,000 students work and study in this innovative environment.
Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science.
Conditions of employment
Doctoral candidates will be offered a 6-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 4,5 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
If you would like more information about this vacancy or the selection procedure, please contact Dr. Seyedmahdi Izadkhast, via s.izadkhast@tudelft.nl.
Application procedure
Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 23 June 2026 via the application button and upload the following documents:
- CV including education, employment history, and (if available) publications
- Motivational letter (max one page)
- A research statement (max. 1 page) your original ideas on the subject and proposed approaches
You can address your application to Dr. Seyedmahdi Izadkhast.
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.
