Postdoctoral Research Position: Sustainable and Participatory Asset Management Practices for Inner-City Bridges and Quay Walls

Job description

The Challenge

Accelerated deterioration, deferred maintenance, and changed social, technological, and environmental conditions have drastically decreased the technical and functional performance of historic quay walls and bridges in many Dutch cities. Maintaining the cultural heritage of inner-city quay walls and bridges and at the same time preparing them for the future is a huge challenge. Municipalities need to move to a circular, less conservative, and more proactive management approach for these assets while considering other societal challenges and values. However, the grown institutional and organizational logics often hamper the implementation of more sustainable and participatory asset management practices.

We are seeking a Postdoctoral researcher for the Urbiquay Research Program of the Dutch National Research Agenda (NWA). The program is funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO) and collaboration of several universities, municipalities, contractors and engineering firms.

As part of an interdisciplinary team, you will analyze current management processes at municipalities and reveal the underlying logic of these processes. In close interaction with Urbiquay partners, you will propose strategies for implementing tools and approaches that lead to more sustainable and participatory asset management practices. This includes strategies for presenting the failure risks of inner city bridges and quay walls to citizens and other urban stakeholders. Your role as broker between academia and industry will ensure the impact of the program.

Your profile

• You have obtained a master’s degree in construction management, business administration or another relevant interdisciplinary specialization.
• You have proven experience in one or more of the following areas: infrastructure asset management, organizational change, stakeholder participation, management of risk attitudes, institutional logics.
• You like working at the intersection of technical, management and social sciences.
• You are proficient in spoken and written English. A good command of Dutch is an asset.
• You have the ability to work independently.
• You look forward collaborating with researchers from different academic fields and practitioners from municipalities, contractors and engineering firms.
• You have a passion for understanding the management of historical civil structures.

Our offer

• We offer a two-year fulltime Postdoctoral research position.
• We provide a stimulating, modern research environment.
• You will be part of a dedicated team and you will collaborate extensively with industry.
• A starting salary of €2.960,-  gross per month in the first year and increasing to € 4.670,-  gross per month in the fourth year.
• An annual holiday allowance of 8% of the gross annual salary, and an annual year-end bonus of 8.3%.
• A solid pension scheme.
• Minimum of 29 leave days in case of full-time employment.
• We provide excellent mentorship and a stimulating research environment to accelerate your further professional and personal growth.
• During this cross-disciplinary project you will acquire unique expertise and outstanding skills through close contact with academic collaborators.
• We offer a dynamic ecosystem with enthusiastic colleagues in which internationalization is an important part of the strategic agenda.

Information and application

Please submit your application before April 30, 2023 using the “Apply now” button, and include:

• A cover letter of 1 page A4, explaining specific interests, the motivation for the application, and why you qualify for this position.
• A detailed Curriculum Vitae including a list of relevant publications and contact details of at least two references.

Additional information about this position can be acquired from Andreas Hartmann (a.hartmann@utwente.nl) and Joanne Vinke-de Kruijf (joanne.vinke@utwente.nl).

If you expect to finish your PhD soon, you are also invited to apply.

Interviews will be held following the submission closure.

About the organisation

The Faculty of Engineering Technology (ET) engages in education and research of Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering and Industrial Design Engineering. We enable society and industry to innovate and create value using efficient, solid and sustainable technology. We are part of a ‘people-first' university of technology, taking our place as an internationally leading center for smart production, processes and devices in five domains: Health Technology, Maintenance, Smart Regions, Smart Industry and Sustainable Resources. Our faculty is home to about 2,900 Bachelor's and Master's students, 550 employees and 150 PhD candidates. Our educational and research programmes are closely connected with UT research institutes Mesa+ Institute, TechMed Center and Digital Society Institute.