PhD brochure

PhD at TU Delft

Delft University of Technology

Delft University of Technology At TU Delft, approximately 2000 PhD candidates are working and studying in a variety of research areas in design, engineering and science. A full-time PhD trajectory will take 4 years.

TU Delft offers a stimulating environment for excellent PhD candidates who wish to obtain a doctoral degree with the highest possible value for their career. At our University you will have the opportunity to immerse yourself in highimpact research projects across a variety of disciplines and to benefit from close interaction with world-class researchers and educators.

The TU Delft Graduate School guarantees a high standard in supervision and doctoral education throughout your PhD programme.

Flood-Proof Holland: experimental site for flood prevention The TU Delft is involved in many areas of research concerning Hydraulic Engineering. Flood-Proof Holland is an experimental site for innovative temporary flood defences which provides the facilities to perform applied science. It enables businesses, public-sector organisations and knowledge institutions to test and demonstrate innovative flood measures - alternatives to sandbags. Given the floods now plaguing Central Europe, there is a great deal to be gained from such a facility. The site has been realised as part of the Valorisation Programme for Delta Technology & Water, of which TU Delft is the coordinating university.

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Quantum Computer In 2013 the Quantum Transport research group is opening a new lab, with one major ambition; to build the world’s first working quantum computer.

In a quantum computer, elementary particles have a quantum state. This enables the computer to rapidly solve mathematical problems with extremely large numbers of variables. During the past years, scientific research on the quantum computer has really taken off.

The Majorana particle, which was detected for the first time by Professor Van Kouwenhoven’s research group in Delft in 2012, can play an important role, as can the quantum entanglement at a distance, recently realised by the group of TU Delft Professor Ronald Hanson.

We carry out

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solutions for and future Research Society is our continuous incentive for research. We carry out research to find solutions to society’s present and future demands. Fundamental research is part of this, because we aim to find solutions to tomorrow’s problems as well as today’s.

Three examples of our successes (FloodProof Holland, Quantum Computer and Earth, Wind & Fire System) are given below.

For more information on our areas of expertise, please visit: www.research.tudelft.nl

Delft University of Technology has a range of research areas, allocated within eight faculties: • • • • •

Aerospace Engineering Applied Sciences Architecture Civil Engineering and Geosciences E lectrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Sciences • Industrial Design Engineering •M echanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering • Technology, Policy and Management

Earth, Wind & Fire system Buildings can be air-conditioned using entirely natural means, without mechanical ventilation systems, according to one of our scientists. The Earth, Wind & Fire system that has been created at our university has three main components: a Ventec roof, a 'climate cascade' and a 'solar chimney'. The Ventec roof uses underpressure and overpressure to draw in fresh air and expel stale air.

Air is drawn in via the climate cascade and expelled via a solar

chimney, in the form of an elevenmetre-high tower that uses heat from incoming sunlight to warm the ventilated air.

This system can not only improve the energy efficiency and cost efficiency of buildings, it can also help to create a better indoor climate; circulating air through buildings spreads bacteria and this system enables nature to inhabit the building through architectonic means, which is much more healthy.

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Graduate School The TU Delft Graduate School offers a stimulating

value for their career, whether you want to continue

environment for excellent PhD candidates who wish

in academia or go into industry. All TU Delft PhD

to obtain a doctoral degree with the highest possible

candidates are part of the Graduate School.

Inspiring elements The TU Delft Graduate School Programme comprises elements like an inspiring research environment and an excellent supervisory and support team that will guide you through your four-year programme.

You have the ability to take charge of your own development in the form of a training programme that you can tailor to your personal needs.

Doctoral Education Programme A PhD degree alone is often not enough in today’s competitive job market. You must be equipped with a number of competences too. In order to attain or improve these, the Graduate School offers you a range of courses. This is the basis for the Doctoral Education – Skills Training Programme.

Quote by Karel Luyben, Rector Magnificus

“In an increasingly complex world, more is expected of employees. With a PhD you obtain knowledge at the highest level in your field of expertise.

This will help you in your future career, be it in science or in another society”.

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PhD Start UP The PhD StartUp is a three-day training programme within the Doctoral Education for all PhD candidates who have recently joined TU Delft. The programme aims to provide insight into the following: 1) the doctoral programme at TU Delft, with an emphasis on the requirements and mutual expectations regarding project ownership and academic conduct, 2) professional and personal development, with a focus on selfawareness and –assessment of the skills and competences needed to start and complete the doctoral process in the best possible way and 3) scientific integrity and research community, with a focus on societal, moral and public engagement within the research community. In this way, the TU hopes to give its PhD candidates the best possible start to their doctoral programme.

Career opportunities As a PhD candidate you will be able to develop research and teaching skills, as well as management and entrepreneurial skills. These will benefit you not only in an academic environment but also when working in business or government.

Requirements To be considered for a PhD position at TU Delft, you need to have an outstanding academic record at Master’s level. You are genuinely interested in and enthousiastic about doing research in the specific field.

You need an excellent command of the English language. Besides these general requirements, each PhD position has its specific requirements.

Please see www.jobsindelft.com/phd for PhD vacancies with their own requirements.

Promood Promood is the independent representative body of the PhD candidates at TU Delft.

Visit www.promood.tudelft.nl for more information.

Curious?

For more information about the Graduate School please visit www.graduateschool.tudelft.nl

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The Netherlands

Amsterdam Den Haag Rotterdam

Quote by anastasia holovchenko, PhD candidate from ukrain

‘While being a PhD you challenge, explore and learn’

Delft The Netherlands is located in NorthWest Europe and is a geographically low-lying country. One fifth of the country lies below sea level, and half of it lies less than one metre above sea level. For a densely populated area, The Netherlands is very green, with 20 national parks and hundreds of other nature reserves. The country is divided into twelve administrative regions, called provinces. North Holland, South Holland and Utrecht together form the main business district of the Netherlands. Our University is situated in South Holland in the city of Delft.

Over 6,000 expats and students live and/or work in Delft, accounting for more than six percent of the population. The municipality of Delft is committed to improving its services to expats. At www.delft.nl/expats you can find all the information you may need about relocating to Delft, including information on housing, employment, health care, education and child care, social activities, and much more.

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Quote by Gaurav NAnda, PhD candidate from India

A PhD research is a commitment; a long rollercoaster ride that begins with enthusiastic minds working towards excellence, facing challenges and tackling them together. It's the passion, hope and drive for the end product that keeps you on your toes, what initially inspired you to embark on this beautiful journey. I feel fortunate to be part of this life-altering programme.

Visa and work permit Depending on your nationality and the duration of your stay, you may need a visa to enter the Netherlands. Our international office has an extensive website to help you with this: www.internationalstaff.tudelft.nl. And of course, the international office will assist you personally as well, once you have secured a position within TU Delft.

Accommodation Delft is a densely populated city with a high number of students and accommodation is scarce. Finding accommodation can be a bit of a challenge. TU Delft cooperates with a housing corporation, named DUWO, in order to provide you with short stay accommodation. The corporation reserves a number of furnished rooms and apartments especially for international students and TU Delft staff. There are several real estate agencies in Delft that can help you find appropriate accommodation as well. For more infomation please visit www.internationalstaff.tudelft.nl/ accommodation

Enthusiastic?

For more information about doing a phD at TU Delft please visit www.phd.tudelft.nl and check www.jobsindelft.com/phd for current PhD vacancies.

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Delft University of Technology Stevinweg 1 2628 CN Delft PO Box 5 2600 AA Delft T +31 (0)15 27 89111 F +31 (0)15 21 81855 E recruit@tudelft.nl www.tudelft.nl www.phd.tudelft.nl