PhD Position in Circular Consumption & Value-Chain Integration

About the role

The CIVIC-4CE project at TU Delft offers a 4‑year PhD position focused on accelerating the Dutch transition to a circular society. The research investigates how changing consumer behaviour around e‑bikes and electronics can extend product lifetimes, retain material value, and reduce waste.

Key responsibilities

• Design and conduct qualitative and quantitative research on circular consumption.
• Organise and facilitate stakeholder workshops, interviews, and backcasting sessions.
• Develop transition pathways, policy mixes, and social simulation models.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary researchers, industry partners, and policymakers.
• Collect, analyse, and validate data to inform empirically grounded interventions.

Required profile

• Documented experience with qualitative, participatory, or quantitative socio‑technical modelling methods.
• Strong interest in circular economy, sustainable consumption, and transition studies.
• Ability to work in an interdisciplinary, transdisciplinary research environment.

Required skills

• Stakeholder workshop facilitation.
• Interview techniques and backcasting.
• Transition pathway analysis and policy mix design.
• Social simulation modelling.
• Participatory value evaluation or gamification (optional).

What we offer

• Fully funded 4‑year PhD contract.
• Opportunity to work with leading experts in circular consumption.
• Access to TU Delft facilities and industry collaborations.
• Potential for high‑impact publications and conference presentations.