Postdoc in Nature- Architectured Concrete

We are looking for a Postdoc in Nature‑Inspired Architectured Concrete.

Help us shape a more sustainable future for the building sector, where infrastructure is grown, not just built.

Concrete is a quasi-brittle material with low tensile strength, so engineers have to rely on steel reinforcement. This comes with a significant environmental cost, as steel production is resource- and carbon-intensive. But nature has already perfected the art of turning brittle minerals into tough materials, like the nacre in seashells, by combining them with soft organic polymers.

In this project, we explore a fundamentally different approach. Using 3D-printed concrete as a scaffold, we aim to guide the growth of a chitinous fungal network through the material. The result would be a new class of living composite materials that are not only structurally resilient but also inherently sustainable, moving us toward a future where infrastructure is grown, not just built.

The project aims to prove the concept of hard/soft concrete composites. Your work will build on research activities already underway in our Materials & Environment section, building up on existing numerical models providing a foundation from which you can build on and contribute your own expertise to shaping the next steps of the research.

As a postdoctoral researcher, you will:

• Use existing computational tools and research foundations to investigate promising concrete architectures.
• Design and perform simple experiments to test and validate the developed architectures.
• Combine modelling and experimental results to understand how architecture influences the mechanical performance of the composites.

You will join the section of Materials & Environment, Department of Materials, Mechanics, Management & Design of TU Delft, at the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences. The section specialises in construction materials, with several ongoing research projects on architectured concrete and concrete metamaterials. This project will be the first in our department focusing on hard/soft composites. Collaborating with leading international researchers in our team, this position offers a strong opportunity to expand your research profile at the intersection of computational modelling, sustainable construction materials, and nature-inspired design.

• You hold a PhD in Civil Engineering, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related engineering discipline, with a proven track record of scientific publishing. Experience with mechanical testing and/or numerical modelling (e.g., Abaqus) is a bonus.
• You can independently plan, execute and communicate your research effectively.
• You have excellent written and spoken English.

Since this is a focused and short research project, it is preferred if the candidate is already in the Netherlands.

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.

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.

• Duration of contract is 5.4 months. Temporary.
• A job of 38-40 hours per week.
• Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities.
• 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…