PhD: Orchestrating Infrastructure's Twin Transition

Delft University of Technology; Delft; On-site; EUR 36,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Delft University of Technology invites applications for a PhD position on Twin Transition of Infrastructure: Ecosystem Orchestration. Based in Delft, you will study how digitalisation and sustainability goals can be aligned across public-private infrastructure ecosystems, through interviews, document analysis and systems thinking.

You will examine paradoxes in the twin transition, engage with policymakers and practitioners, and produce outputs directly usable by stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Master's degree or equivalent in a relevant field (construction management, civil engineering, project management, business administration, information systems, innovation studies).
• Strong interest in infrastructure ecosystems, inter-organisational collaboration, governance, digitalisation and sustainability.
• Affinity with empirical research methods, especially qualitative case study research, interviews, document analysis and systems thinking.
• Interest in understanding how public and private actors coordinate across complex projects, policies and long-term transitions.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to connect organisational, technological and policy perspectives.
• Excellent written and spoken English (Dutch an advantage).
• Ability to work independently while collaborating with a multidisciplinary team.
• Willingness to conduct fieldwork and contribute to publications, presentations and stakeholder engagement.

Responsibilities

• Carry out interviews across the infrastructure ecosystem, analyze documents and strategies.
• Use systems thinking to map paradoxical tensions and their path-dependencies over time.
• Contribute to research on infrastructure governance, inter-organisational collaboration and socio-technical transitions.
• Publish findings and translate insights into practical knowledge for leaders and policymakers.
• Engage with practitioners and policymakers through collaborative activities.

Skills

Interdisciplinary research

Qualitative methods

Systems thinking

Interviews

Policy engagement

Education

Master’s degree in construction management, civil engineering, project management, business administration, information systems, innovation studies or related field

Job description

Delft University of Technology invites applications for a PhD position on Twin Transition of Infrastructure: Ecosystem Orchestration. Based in Delft, you will study how digitalisation and sustainability goals can be aligned across public-private infrastructure ecosystems, through interviews, document analysis and systems thinking.

You will examine paradoxes in the twin transition, engage with policymakers and practitioners, and produce outputs directly usable by stakeholders.