Researcher in Safe Design Fuels

As a (junior) researcher, you contribute to a four year, practice‑oriented research on the safe application of new fuels in the maritime sector. You will work alongside experienced researchers, lecturers, students and project partners on current challenges that support the transition towards sustainable shipping. In this role, you combine research, knowledge sharing and collaboration with industry partners. You will have the opportunity to further develop your research skills while making a tangible contribution to innovative solutions for the maritime sector.

• Conducting literature reviews and collecting, processing and analysing research data;
• Supporting research activities within ongoing research projects;
• Translating practical challenges into research questions in collaboration with researchers and project partners;
• Sharing research insights with project partners, lecturers and other involved parties;
• Connecting research activities to educational projects;
• Collaborating with researchers from the Smart Logistics and Maritime Innovation (SLMI) research cluster, lecturers from various study programmes, and partners from other universities of applied sciences and vocational education institutions;
• Contributing to knowledge development within the maritime sector.

The transition to zero‑emission shipping brings new challenges. Alternative fuels and energy carriers introduce different safety risks that affect vessel design, shipbuilding, operations and maintenance. At the same time, the maritime sector is developing new regulations and standards to ensure these fuels can be used safely and responsibly.

In this research, you will investigate how safety can be achieved while remaining practical and feasible for the industry. You will explore questions related to regulations, safety assessments, the role of sensors and alarm systems, and alternative approaches to risk mitigation. The insights generated will contribute to the development of future maritime vessels, operations and safety practices.

For this project, you will become part of CoE HRTech, one of the research organisations within Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences. As part of CoE HRTech, you will collaborate with various researchers, lecturers, and professors on the challenges of the greater Rotterdam port area. Within the theme of smart logistics and maritime innovation, we work closely with the Rotterdam Mainport Institute, as well as with the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science.

Several major projects are underway within this theme, in which PhD candidates, professional doctorates, and lecturers conduct research into smart and sustainable transport and port activities.

More information about this CoE can be found here: http://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)./coehrtech

You will be part of the Maritime Masterplan, a national growth fund project for shipbuilding, within which 30 zero‑emission vessels are being realised.

Within the Human Capital Project, researchers, lecturers and students from maritime universities of applied sciences (HBOs) and secondary vocational schools (MBOs) collaborate to explore how technological innovations are changing the skills, knowledge and ways of working required in the maritime sector. Together, we help prepare both current and future professionals for the transition to sustainable shipping. This part of the project will start September 2026.