Postdoc position on designing medical devices and services towards circular hospitals

Our project ESCH-R (Evidence-based Strategies to create Circular Hospitals: Applying the 10-Rs framework to healthcare) addresses this challenge with its mission to accelerate the adoption of circular interventions in hospitals. Our main research question is: How can hospitals move away from single use medical consumables to make the transition towards circularity? Together with societal partners, our interdisciplinary team will develop circular, safe and scalable strategies. For more information https://esch-r.org. Our Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering takes the lead in Work Package 5: Co-creation and Co-validation of Circular interventions for medical disposables with Stakeholders, in Living Labs in Medical Centres.
Within this Work Package, the TU Delft Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering, Department of Sustainable Design Engineering is seeking a highly motivated Postdoc to do research, develop and implement circular design cases within hospitals in co-creation with stakeholders in the healthcare sector, and to develop design methods that systematically engage them in this process.
The candidate will work in an exciting interdisciplinary environment within the NWO ESCH-R project, collaborating with experts in healthcare, design, and sustainability within the two Living Labs at Erasmus Medical Center (EMC) and University Medical Center Utrecht (UMCU).
We invite applications for a fully-funded Post-Doctoral Researcher to contribute to our pioneering research focused on Circular Design within the healthcare sector, specifically the ESCH-R project. The Postdoc will be positioned at the section Design for Sustainability at the Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering at the Delft University of Technology. In practice the Postdoc will be working at Delft University of Technology and the Erasmus Medical Center. As a Postdoc, you will work closely with the ESCH-R research group but you will take significant responsibility for planning and executing your research. Your findings are expected to be published in journals and shared through popular articles and reports (design manuals). You will also take part in organising and participating in meetings, and co-creation session, workshops, and attend international conferences and national seminars.
Activities
The Postdoc will be responsible for amongst others:

• Co-creating circular interventions for medical consumables in hospitals.
• Testing and validating theses interventions with stakeholders in healthcare setting and value chain.
• Quantifying the increased circularity and sustainability per intervention.

In addition, you will be responsible for

• Discussing the results within the ESCH-R research team and the sounding board group.
• Providing education for approximately 15% of the appointment, including supervising ma

Requirements:

You hold (or are close to finishing) a PhD degree in Industrial Design Engineering, Biomechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering or closely related discipline.

• You have a strong affinity with interdisciplinary research and working with academics as well as key stakeholders in the field, preferably in the healthcare sector.
• You have affinity and preferably experience with Design for Sustainability, Medical Device Design, Circular Economy, Co-creation and Human Centered Design.
• You have good social, communication and organization skills to work effectively in a university, healthcare and industry setting.
• Your verbal and written communication skills are excellent, your proficiency in English is good and knowledge of Dutch language is an advantage.
• You have the ability to work in a multidisciplinary team, and navigating and managing complex, multi-stakeholder settings involving technology experts, industrial partners, and other societal stakeholders.
• You are a team player who wants to contribute to the sustainable transition of the healthcare sector.

Salary Benefits:

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities. The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.
For international applicants, TU Delft has the Coming to Delft Service. This service provides information for new international employees to help you prepare the relocation and to settle in the Netherlands. The Coming to Delft Service offers a Dual Career Programme for partners and they organise events to expand your (social) network.

36 - 40 hours per week

Mekelweg 2