PhD Position Transition Pathways and Innovation for Circular Consumption of E-bikes and Electronics

Do you want to understand how to organise the transition to circular consumption of e-bikes, employing stakeholder workshops, scenarios, and pathways, and diving into circular consumption ecosystems?

Job description

If this question sparks your interest and you are motivated to pursue a PhD in circular consumption niches and the transition to circular consumption, you might be our new colleague for the Circular Consumption through Value-Chain Integration and Co-Creation for the Circular Economy (CIVIC-4CE) project. We are seeking an excellent candidate for a 4-year PhD study as part of the CIVIC-4CE project, an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research project funded by NWO, the Netherlands Research Council, under the call on KIC Consumer behaviour for a circular system transition. See: Tpm researchers receive nwo kic consumer behaviour for a circular system transition grant.

The project includes 2 PhD positions, 2 Postdoc positions, and several researchers at Universities of Applied Sciences. CIVIC-4CE studies how changing consumer behaviour can accelerate the Dutch transition to a circular society. The project focuses on how changing circular consumption contributes to extending product lifetime, retaining material value, and reducing waste, with cases on e-bikes and electronics (washing machines). Using a transdisciplinary research approach that includes stakeholder engagement, behavioural science, design research, transition studies, and modelling, the project aims to develop empirically grounded interventions and governance strategies that enable lasting behavioural change towards circular consumption.

Within this PhD vacancy, you will work in the work package that focuses on systemic transitions towards circular consumption and production through integrating behavioural change, visions and transition pathways, modelling, and policy mixes. The work combines qualitative and quantitative methods, including stakeholder workshops, interviews, backcasting, transition pathways, policy mixes, social simulation modelling, and possibly participatory value evaluation or gamification. You will collaborate with other early-career and senior researchers in the project, as well as other consortium partners. You will also reach out to relevant stakeholders, innovating companies, and policymakers to gather data and validate results. Your main supervisors will be Assistant Professor Jaco Quist and Associate Professor Emile Chappin.

Job requirements

The following further qualifications will be considered in the assessment, while the profile of the candidate will be taken into account for developing the direction of the research:

• Documented experiences and skills in one or several types of methods, e.g., qualitative research, participatory research, quantitative socio-technical modelling.
• Strong background and interest in the transition to a circular economy, circular innovation ecosystems, circular/sustainable consumption and participatory approaches.
• Ability to thrive in an interdisciplinary and technical environment.
• Excellent writing, presenting, and communication skills.
• Open-minded team player, able to work in multidisciplinary teams and to collaborate with stakeholders.

The working language in the project is English, so the candidate must have strong skills in both written and spoken English, while sufficient proficiency in Dutch is considered an advantage for stakeholder interactions and research into relevant circular consumption niches.

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 Technology, Policy & Management

The Faculty of TPM provides an important contribution to solving complex technical-social issues, such as energy transition, mobility, digitalisation, water management and (cyber) security. TPM does this with its excellent education and research at the intersection of technology, society and policy. We combine insights from both engineering and social sciences as well as the humanities. TPM develops robust models and designs, is internationally oriented and has an extensive network of knowledge institutions, companies, social organisations and governments.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management.

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 €3204 - €4051 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
For more information about this vacancy, you can contact Dr Jaco Quist (j.n.quist@tudelft.nl).

Application procedure
Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 30 September 2026 via the application button and upload the following documents:

• CV,
• cover letter,
• BSc/MSc diploma (in English),
• and grade transcripts, including an official description of the grading scale

The first round of interviews will take place on 7 and 9 October, and the second round of interviews is scheduled for 21 October 2026.

A concise overview of the project and a description of the WP on “Systemic Transitions towards Circular Consumption and Production: Integrating Behavioural Change, Modelling, and Policy using stakeholder dialogue, pathways and backcasting” are available upon request. Candidates who are invited for an interview will be asked to submit two writing samples, e.g., a paper or a thesis. Candidates who are invited will be requested to prepare first ideas for the PhD project proposal (maximum 2 pages), including a possible research objective, theoretical framework, phases and intended methodological approach.

If the applicants are selected for an interview, they will be asked to provide contact details of two referees with their consent.

You can address your application to Dr Jaco Quist.

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.
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