PhD position on Ecodesign and Mitigation of Rebound Effects

Are you driven by the ambition to make sustainable design truly effective? We seek a motivated PhD candidate to investigate one of eco‑design's most overlooked challenges: rebound effects.

About the Role

TU Delft’s faculty of Industrial Design Engineering has an opening for a PhD candidate in the Design for Sustainability section, who will contribute to the research on the mitigation of rebound effects through design.

Eco‑design interventions do not always deliver the promised environmental benefits. Rebound effects, i.e. Systemic responses that partially or fully offset environmental gains, can undermine even the best‑intentioned designs. Beyond well‑known economic rebounds, such as increased consumption following energy savings, rebound effects can emerge through the interaction of behavioural, social, technological, infrastructural, and systemic dynamics. These effects often propagate across multiple scales, from individual user practices to broader societal transitions. Yet such interactions remain poorly understood. As a result, designers currently lack the conceptual frameworks and practical tools needed to recognise recurring rebound patterns, anticipate unintended consequences, and intervene more strategically at multiple levels of the system.

Your research: You will build a deeper understanding of rebound effects in eco‑design and develop practical methods to help designers recognise, predict and mitigate them. Starting with a systematic review of documented rebound cases, you will map the mechanisms behind rebounds and categorise their patterns. In‑depth studies of current eco‑design cases will uncover contextual factors and the interrelation of different rebound effects. Building on these insights, you will develop and refine a predictive method together with designers and stakeholders in real‑world case studies, in collaboration with European companies. The PhD includes two international secondments (2–3 months), providing direct exposure to industrial design practice and real‑world constraints.

This PhD position is part of the academic network working on Ecodesign, an international research and training initiative. The network aims to advance digital and ecodesign methodologies that enable circular economy practices at an industrial scale, in line with European sustainability and design objectives.

The research will be carried out in the Design for Sustainability section, part of TU Delft’s Department of Sustainable Design Engineering. The section focuses on sustainable and circular product design throughout the entire product life cycle, developing design methods that enable strategies such as reuse, repair, remanufacturing and recycling. The work spans design activities, material selection, implementation of emerging technologies, societal impact and sustainability assessment, frequently in close partnership with industry and public organisations.

Qualifications

• Master degree in Industrial Design, Industrial Ecology or a closely related field. Clear affinity with design engineering is required if you don’t have a design engineering background.
• Demonstrated strong interest in design for sustainability and/or circular economy.
• Scientific writing skills and effective communication in English, both orally and in writing.
• Motivated to collaborate in a multidisciplinary environment and to participate in (mandatory) international secondments.
• International mobility rule: At the time of recruitment, you must not have resided or carried out your main activity (work or studies) in the Netherlands for more than 12 months during the 36 months immediately preceding 01/10/2026.

Conditions of Employment

Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4‑year period of employment in principle, in the form of two 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 Promovendus gross per month, from the first year to the fourth year based on a full‑time 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 Doctoral Education Programme develops 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.

Relocation support is available. TU Delft’s Coming to Delft Service offers information and events to help you prepare your relocation and settle in the Netherlands, as well as a Dual Career Programme to support your partner’s job search.

Application Deadline and Required Documents

• Apply by 21 June 2026.
• Documents: CV.

Equal Opportunity and Diversity

We believe that ambitious research requires a variety of voices, and we view diversity as a core strength of our team. We are committed to equal opportunity and do not tolerate discrimination of any kind, including, but not limited to, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religious diversity, neurodiversity or socioeconomic background. In line with our commitment to gender balance, we particularly encourage applications from women. We welcome researchers from underrepresented backgrounds and new EU Member States to join our multidisciplinary environment.

#J-18808-Ljbffr