Postdoc in Urban Climate Morphology

Delft University of Technology (TU Delft); Delft; On-site; EUR 44,000 - 69,000; Full time

Job summary

TU Delft's CROSS-PED team seeks a postdoctoral researcher to develop data-driven methods for identifying cross-scale urban archetypes and to advance scalable passive cooling strategies for climate-resilient cities. You will apply quantitative morphological analysis and clustering to represent building stock and neighbourhood configurations.

You will collaborate across European partners, harmonise GIS datasets for The Hague, Bari and Bucharest, and connect urban morphology with microclimatic

Qualifications

• PhD in Urbanism, Urban Geography, Geoinformatics, Environmental Engineering, Urban Climate or related field.
• Advanced GIS, spatial data processing and quantitative urban morphological analysis.
• Experience with statistical analysis, unsupervised classification techniques and programming in Python and/or R.
• Knowledge of urban microclimatic modelling and relationship between urban form, climate and energy performance.
• Excellent written and spoken English; ability to collaborate in international teams.
• Willingness to travel internationally; Dutch knowledge is an advantage but not required.

Responsibilities

• Develop and apply a data-driven framework to identify cross-scale urban archetypes from buildings to neighbourhoods.
• Carry out quantitative morphological analyses and use clustering to identify representative urban types.
• Collect and harmonise GIS datasets for European case-study cities (The Hague, Bari, Bucharest).
• Contribute to microclimatic modelling and energy assessments for district-scale cooling strategies.
• Collaborate with municipalities, researchers and international partners within the CROSS-PED project.

Skills

GIS

Spatial data processing

Quantitative urban morphology

Python

R

Unsupervised classification

Urban microclimatic modelling

English scientific writing

Independent research

International travel

Education

PhD in Urbanism / Urban Geography / Geoinformatics / Environmental Engineering / Urban Climate

Tools

Python

R

GIS

Job description

Join the CROSS-PED team to develop innovative, data-driven methods for identifying cross-scale urban archetypes and advancing scalable passive cooling strategies for climate-resilient cities.

Job description

How can we design cooler, more climate-resilient cities by understanding the relationship between urban form, microclimate and energy performance?
If you are interested in advancing quantitative methods in urban morphology to address emerging challenges in urban climate and energy research, this is the right position for you!

As a postdoctoral researcher at TU Delft, your primary focus will be on developing and applying a data-driven methodological framework to identify cross-scale urban archetypes, from building façades and individual buildings to neighbourhood configurations. You will carry out quantitative morphological analyses and employ clustering techniques to identify representative urban types and their potential for integrating passive cooling strategies. Your research will contribute to scalable passive cooling strategies that help cities adapt to rising temperatures while reducing energy demand.

You will join CROSS-PED (Cross-scale Passive Cooling Strategies for Positive Energy Districts), an international research project exploring how passive cooling solutions can be adapted and replicated across different urban, climatic and socio-economic contexts. Your main challenge is to develop and test transferable unsupervised classification methods for identifying urban archetypes across multiple urban scales and assess their thermal performance.

Using GIS, you will collect and harmonise spatial datasets from three European case-study cities: The Hague, Bari and Bucharest. Focusing on building stock from 1980 to 2000, you will develop a database that supports comparative analysis and the development of context-sensitive cooling strategies.

Your research will also connect urban morphology with practical climate adaptation. You will contribute to microclimatic modelling, exploring solar radiation, wind flows and urban heat island effects, and support the integration of these findings into building and district-scale energy assessments. Through Urban Living Labs, you will collaborate with municipalities, professionals and citizens to co-create and evaluate cooling solutions.

Based at the Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment in Delft, you will work with an interdisciplinary consortium of European universities and municipalities. You will take a leading role in methodological development while collaborating with experts in urban climate, energy modelling and participatory planning.

This position offers opportunities to advance your independent research, publish scientific findings, develop transferable datasets and design guidelines, and build an international academic network. You will also participate in international project meetings, workshops and Urban Living Lab activities.

The anticipated starting date is March 2027, with some flexibility. Please indicate your earliest possible starting date in your application letter.

Job requirements

• You hold a PhD in Urbanism, Urban Geography, Geoinformatics, Environmental Engineering, Urban Climate or a related field before starting employment.
• You have advanced skills in GIS, spatial data processing and quantitative urban morphological analysis.
• You have experience with statistical analysis, unsupervised classification techniques and programming in Python and/or R.
• You have practical experience in urban microclimatic modelling and understand relationships between urban form, climate and energy performance.
• You communicate effectively in written and spoken English, including scientific writing, and enjoy collaborating in international, interdisciplinary research teams.
• You can independently develop research methods, manage complex datasets and contribute to scientific publications and collaborative research projects.
• Ideally, you have experience with passive cooling, building energy assessment, participatory research or Urban Living Labs.
• You are open to international travel for project activities; working knowledge of Dutch is an advantage, but not required.

We recognise that researchers bring different combinations of skills and experience. You do not need to meet every requirement to apply. We encourage you to demonstrate your relevant expertise through publications, research projects or other professional achievements.

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 Architecture & the Built Environment

The Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment has a leading role in education and research worldwide. The driving force behind the faculty’s success is its robust research profile combined with the energy and creativity of its student body and academic community. It is buzzing with energy, with four thousand peopleenthusiasticallystudying, working, designing, conductingresearchandacquiringanddisseminatingknowledge. Our faculty has a strong focus on 'design-oriented research’,which has given it a top position in world rankings.

Staff and students are working to improve the built environment with the help of a broad set of disciplines, including architectural design, urban planning, building technology, social sciences, process management, and geo-information science. The faculty works closely with other faculties, universities, private parties, and the public sector, and has an extensive network in the Netherlands as well as internationally.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment.

Conditions of employment

• Duration of contract is 32 Months. Temporary.
• A job of 36-40 hours per week.
• A salary based on Scale 10 of the CAO for Dutch Universities with a salary between €3706 - €5760 gross per month based on a fulltime contract (38 hours), plus 8% holiday allowance and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%.
• An excellent pension scheme via the ABP.
• The possibility to compile an individual employment package every year.
• Discount with health insurers on supplemental packages.
• Flexible working week.
• Every year, 232 leave hours (at 38 hours). You can also sell or buy additional leave hours via the individual choice budget.
• Plenty of opportunities for education, training and courses.
• Partially paid parental leave
• Attention for working healthy and energetically with the vitality program.

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 or the selection procedure, please contact: Dr. Daniela Maiullari. email: [e-mail].

Interviews will be conducted on December 14 and 16, 2026. Shortlisted candidates may be invited for a follow-up technical interview or assignment.