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Two PhD positions in User-centred Design of Public Transport
Design effortless public transport solutions in a trans-disciplinary environment, collaborating with multiple stakeholders from academia, government and industry.
Job description
Using public transport can feel cumbersome to many people. Making it effortless with all the variety of available services provided is a challenge of technical, service and organisational design. Therefore, we want to hire two PhD candidates to help the sector move forward in this in all three design aspects. Both PhD positions are fully funded for four years and part of the research project 'Effortless public transport', in close cooperation with the Dutch public transport authorities, combined in DOVA, which is also funding the studies. Three TU Delft faculties are collaborating with DOVA in this 4.5-year project: Industrial Design Engineering (IDE), Civil Engineering and Geosciences (CEG), and Technology, Policy and Management (TPM).
As a PhD candidate, you will conduct research aimed at making public transport more accessible and making it an obvious choice for travellers, thereby reducing the environmental impact for travel.
We have two open PhD positions, so you will closely work together with the other PhD candidate. Next to that, we expect you to collaborate with several stakeholders, such as public transport operators, local governments and travellers, to conduct field research and experiments.
Position A is a collaboration between IDE & TPM. In this position, you will study the transition towards public mobility, and what this means for travellers and how to design the governance system. Your supervisors will be Wijnand Veeneman (TPM) and Suzanne Hiemstra-van Mastrigt (IDE).
Position B is a collaboration between IDE & CEG. Here, you will design and test interventions to convince the 'not-yet-traveller' to use public transport, with special attention to key events, such as changing jobs, moving house, or expecting a first child. Your supervisors will be Niels van Oort (CEG) and Suzanne Hiemstra-van Mastrigt (IDE).
During your PhD you will:
Conduct user studies to evaluate current barriers in using public transport
Analyse the links of those barriers with technical and organisational characteristics of public mobility
Develop and test user-centred solutions to make public transport more effortless
Set up, conduct and analyse (pilot) experiments together with public transport operators
Collaborate with academic, governmental and industry partners across different disciplines
Share your research findings with partners from practice, e.g. in working groups and at mobility conferences, such as the yearly ‘Dag van het OV’
Disseminate your research through peer-reviewed publications, co-authored with your supervisors and collaboration partners
You will be based at the Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering, and become a member of the Seamless Personal Mobility Lab at IDE as well as the Smart Public Transport Lab at CEG, where you can easily connect with other mobility and transport related PhDs and (post-doc) researchers. You are expected to work 1-2 days per week at the 'OV Campus' (DOVA office) in Utrecht, the place for transport operators, governments and researchers to connect.
Job requirements
We are looking for candidates that have:
A Master's degree in a relevant field, such as industrial design engineering, business or innovation studies, transportation, mobility or a related field.
A strong interest in mobility, traveller behaviour, and user-centred design.
Affinity with design for policy (position A) or design for behaviour change (position B).
Experience with participatory research methods, co-creation or co-design approaches.
Strong skills in both qualitative and quantitative research methods.
Excellent communication skills and a strong motivation to collaborate across disciplines with diverse stakeholders from academia and industry (e.g. public transport operators, local governments, travellers).
Scientific writing skills
Strong written and spoken communication skills in Dutch and English, given that fieldwork and pilots will largely take place in the Netherlands.
TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)
Working at TU Delft means contributing to solutions that really make a difference.
For over 180 years, we have been training engineers who make an impact worldwide in companies, government bodies, or as entrepreneurs. Our alumni turn knowledge into concrete solutions for the challenges of today and tomorrow. These challenges are changing rapidly. That is why we focus on themes such as energy, climate, digitalisation, artificial intelligence (AI), and smart mobility every day. Our education and research are directly aligned with what society needs now and in the future.
At TU Delft, our people make the difference. With their knowledge and curiosity, our staff provide a high-quality education and conduct pioneering research that extends beyond the campus. You will have the opportunity to take the initiative, work with others, and grow as a professional. Working at TU Delft means join an international community of professionals and students. Together, we create knowledge, innovations, and solutions that help move the world forward.
Faculty Industrial Design Engineering
Matching the evolution of people with the speed of the revolution of technology. This is the focus of the Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering (IDE). Delft designers act as a bridge between advances in technology and the needs of people, organisations and society to create products, services and systems with purpose.IDE is a leader in design research across the application areas of mobility, sustainability and health, as well as its development of design tools and methods. A 350-strong research team and over 2,000 students work together in our inspiring hall, labs and studios.In close cooperation with industry, the public sector and NGOs we rehearse possible futures in research and education to design for a complex future..
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 Promovendus 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 Suzanne Hiemstra-van Mastrigt (
[email protected])
For information about the application procedure, please contact Hanneke Sosef-de Haan (
[email protected] )
Application procedure
Are you interested in this position? Please apply no later than August 17, 2026 upload the following documents:
A motivation letter (max. 2 pages) explaining your interest in this PhD position. Also indicate which of the two positions has your preference.
Your Curriculum Vitae (max. 2 pages)
A sample of academic writing (e.g., your Master thesis, an article or report)
Ideas for how you would approach the PhD research in max. 3 slides/pages
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.
Faculty/Department: Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering
Salary range: €3059 - €3881
Submission is possible until: 17 Aug 2026
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