Join our NWO-funded "Future In-vehicle Touch Screens" (FITS) project as a postdoctoral researcher and help us improve the usability of touchscreens in moving vehicles!
Job description
In this position, you will contribute to a cutting-edge Dutch Research Council funded project “Future In-vehicle Touch Screens” (FITS) in collaboration between the faculties of Aerospace Engineering (AE) and Mechanical Engineering (ME) at TU Delft.
Touch interfaces have replaced physical buttons, dials, and switches in the new generation of cars, aircraft, and vessels. However, vehicle vibrations and accelerations perturb finger movements and frequently cause erroneous touchscreen inputs by users. Furthermore, unlike physical buttons, touchscreens cannot be operated by touch alone and always require users’ visual focus. Hence, despite their numerous benefits, touchscreens are not inherently suited for use in vehicles, which causes significant user annoyance and results in an increased risk of accidents. In FITS, we aim to address these problems by developing novel in-vehicle touchscreens that actively, and in real time, predict and correct perturbed finger movements and simulate physical touch interactions with artificial tactile feedback.
As a postdoc, you will:
- Perform fundamental experiments in TU Delft’s SIMONA flight simulator to develop and fine-tune touchscreen corrections for perturbed finger movements.
- Implement and test adaptive tactile feedback (electrovibration) to restore a true sense of touch to in-vehicle touchscreens, to facilitate their “eyes-off” operation.
- Implement novel touchscreen technologies (hardware and software) in a final demonstrator (prototype) as well as commercial touchscreen hardware provided by our project’s partners.
- Perform validation human-subject evaluations with prototype touchscreens in real air, road, and water vehicles.
- Contribute to scientific articles, conference papers, and new research proposals.
You will be hired at the “Aerospace Human-Machine Systems” cluster of the Control & Operations department at TU Delft’s AE faculty (Dr.ir. Daan Pool) and co-hosted by the “Haptic Interface Technology Lab” (HITLab) at the ME faculty’s Cognitive Robotics department (Dr. Yasemin Vardar). Focusing on the aerospace and automotive/maritime domains, respectively, both departments strive to lead in integrating, developing, and testing control, autonomous, and cognitive systems, especially those with human interaction, to meet industrial and societal needs. You will also have access to the cutting-edge experimental facilities (e.g., SIMONA Research Simulator, PH-LAB research aircraft, HITLab) available at both research groups.
In this project, you will collaborate closely with our two PhD students who perform the fundamental research into finger movement corrections and tactile feedback that support our touchscreen innovations. Furthermore, you will collaborate with the project partners from the aerospace, automotive, and maritime sectors that support FITS: ScioTeq, NLR, VNV, Abbink Aviation Consultancy, SWOV and Damen. Hence, we offer an intellectually stimulating environment, with fellow researchers and partners that work across disciplines and scales, with ample opportunities for scientific impact and personal development.
Job requirements
We are looking for a self-motivated researcher to help develop, implement, and test new touchscreen technologies for use in moving vehicles. You can perform research independently, but are also a good team player and willing to cooperate closely with other researchers and our industry partners.
Furthermore, we are looking for candidates who meet the following requirements:
- PhD degree in Mechanical Engineering, Control Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Robotics, or comparable studies and experience.
- Proven experience in human-subject data collection, (statistical) data analysis, and mathematical modeling.
- Proven experience in working with experimental hardware and electronics.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
- Good programming skills are required, preferably including Python and C++.
- Strong analytical skills and ability/interest to work at the intersection of several research domains.
- Excellent track record in scientific research, as evident from published papers in international and peer-reviewed journals.
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 Aerospace Engineering
The Faculty of Aerospace Engineering at Delft University of Technology is a leading international community where innovation in aerospace meets global challenges. Our support and scientific staff, including PhD candidates, postdocs, and students, largely work together on three main themes: the energy transition, sustainable aerospace, and safety and security, with the aim of tackling climate change and contributing to the independence and security of Europe.
When you join us, you become part of a diverse, collaborative, and forward-thinking environment where your ideas and perspectives are valued. Our work extends beyond the lab—into field labs, innovation hubs, and partnerships with other faculties, research institutes, governments, and industry, both locally and globally.
We are committed to fostering an inclusive and welcoming workplace, assisted by an active Diversity & Inclusion team. This includes tangible support such as funding for extra personnel for family and caregiving responsibilities, mentoring programmes, and initiatives that promote cultural exchange and integration.
You don’t just join our faculty, you join a community where you can thrive, grow, and help shape the future of aerospace.
Conditions of employment
- Duration of contract is 1 year Temporary
- A job of 36-40 hours per week.
- Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch
- An excellent pension scheme via the ABP.
- The possibility to compile an individual employment package every year.
- Discount with health insurers on supplemental packages.
- Flexible working week.
- Every year, 232 leave hours (at 38 hours). You can also sell or buy additional leave hours via the individual choice budget.
- Plenty of opportunities for education, training and courses.
- Partially paid parental leave
- Attention for working healthy and energetically with the vitality program.
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. ir Daan Pool, via [email protected] or Dr. Yasemin Vardar, via [email protected].
Application procedure
Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 15 Jul 2026 upload the following documents:
- CV
- Motivational letter
- Two previous publications
- Your (draft) PhD thesis
You can address your application to Dr.ir. Daan Pool or Dr. Yasemin Vardar.
Interviews will be held be between 20-31 July.
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.
Applying for an exemption for specific research and educational areas is an obligatory part of the selection procedure for this vacancy. This exemption must be obtained from the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW) before an employment contract is agreed upon. - .
- Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.
