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PhD on Loneliness of Young Adults & the Built Environment - Job Opportunity at Eindhoven University of Technology

Eindhoven, Netherlands
Full-time
Entry-level
Posted: August 6, 2025
On-site
EUR 3,059-3,881 per month

Benefits

Comprehensive four-year employment contract with structured assessment milestones providing career security and professional development tracking
Competitive salary package aligned with Dutch Universities Collective Labour Agreement offering transparent and fair compensation standards
Substantial year-end bonus of 8.3% plus 8% annual vacation pay effectively increasing total compensation by over 16%
Comprehensive pension scheme ensuring long-term financial security and retirement planning
Progressive parental leave policies including fully paid pregnancy and maternity leave plus partially paid parental leave supporting work-life integration
High-quality specialized training programs designed to develop autonomous scientific research capabilities and academic leadership skills
World-class technical infrastructure and experimental facilities providing access to cutting-edge research tools and methodologies
On-campus convenience amenities including children's day care and sports facilities reducing commuting time and supporting family needs
Flexible work arrangements with allowances for commuting, home working, and internet costs acknowledging modern work patterns
International support services including Staff Immigration Team and 30% tax facility making global talent acquisition seamless
Beautiful green campus location within walking distance of central train station providing exceptional accessibility and work environment

Key Responsibilities

Lead groundbreaking interdisciplinary research combining experience sampling methodology, co-design workshops, and immersive virtual reality to address the global crisis of young adult loneliness through innovative built environment solutions
Develop and validate comprehensive measurement tools across three distinct research phases, establishing new methodological frameworks that bridge social psychology, urban planning, and digital technology applications
Design and execute large-scale data collection initiatives using experience sampling methods to capture real-time interactions between built environments and young adults' daily experiences, generating unprecedented insights into environmental psychology
Facilitate collaborative design workshops with young adult participants to co-create evidence-based public space interventions that directly address loneliness and social isolation at community scale
Pioneer the application of immersive virtual reality technology in urban planning research, creating interactive applications that enable participatory design of public spaces with measurable social and emotional outcomes
Produce high-impact peer-reviewed publications that advance scientific understanding of environment-behavior relationships and establish new theoretical frameworks for healthy urban design
Represent cutting-edge research findings to diverse stakeholder communities including urban planners, policymakers, and public health professionals, translating academic insights into actionable urban planning strategies
Contribute 10-15% of time to educational activities, mentoring future built environment professionals and disseminating research-informed teaching that shapes the next generation of urban planners and designers

Requirements

Education

Master's degree (or equivalent university degree) in Urban Planning, Social Geography, Innovation Sciences, Human-Computer Interaction, or related field

Experience

Research-oriented experience with strong background in data collection and handling

Required Skills

Interest in the area of health behavior, experiences and the built environment Strong experience in data collection and handling Affinity with digital tools Knowledge of advanced (big data) modeling approaches Excellent communications skills Good planning skills Fluent in spoken and written English (C1 level) Preferably fluent in spoken and written Dutch
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Sauge AI Market Intelligence

Industry Trends

The intersection of public health and urban planning is experiencing unprecedented growth as cities worldwide grapple with rising mental health challenges, particularly among young adults, creating substantial demand for researchers who can bridge built environment design with social and psychological outcomes. This trend is accelerated by post-pandemic recognition of how physical spaces fundamentally impact mental wellbeing and social connection. Virtual and augmented reality technologies are rapidly transforming urban planning and architectural design processes, with immersive technologies becoming standard tools for public participation and design visualization, positioning this role at the forefront of digital transformation in the built environment sector. Experience sampling methods and real-time data collection approaches are revolutionizing behavioral research in urban studies, with growing emphasis on capturing authentic daily experiences rather than relying on retrospective surveys, making expertise in these methodologies highly valuable across academic and consulting markets. Co-design and participatory planning approaches are becoming mandatory rather than optional in public space development, driven by increased emphasis on social equity, community engagement, and evidence-based design, creating strong career prospects for researchers skilled in collaborative methodologies.

Salary Evaluation

The provided salary range of EUR 3,059-3,881 per month (approximately USD 39,000-49,500 annually) aligns well with European PhD stipend standards and is competitive within the Dutch academic market. When combined with the 16.3% additional compensation from bonuses and vacation pay, plus comprehensive benefits, the total package reaches approximately USD 45,000-57,500 annually, which is excellent for a PhD position in this field and geographic location.

Role Significance

The candidate will likely work within a research team of 8-12 members including faculty supervisors, research assistants, and collaborating graduate students, while leading specific aspects of the CARE project and mentoring junior researchers.
This is a senior PhD research position with substantial independence and leadership responsibilities, involving original methodological development and multi-phase project management that positions the candidate as a future leader in interdisciplinary built environment research.

Key Projects

Development of integrated research methodologies combining quantitative experience sampling with qualitative co-design approaches Creation of virtual reality applications for participatory urban planning and public space design Large-scale longitudinal studies examining relationships between built environment characteristics and mental health outcomes among young adults Community-based participatory research initiatives focused on public space redesign and social inclusion

Success Factors

Ability to navigate complex interdisciplinary research requiring expertise across urban planning, psychology, technology, and public health domains while maintaining methodological rigor and theoretical coherence Strong project management and stakeholder engagement skills essential for coordinating multi-phase research involving diverse community participants, academic collaborators, and technology development partners Proficiency in both quantitative data analysis methods for experience sampling data and qualitative research approaches for co-design workshops, requiring versatility in mixed-methods research design Communication skills capable of translating complex research findings for diverse audiences including academic peers, community members, policymakers, and urban planning practitioners

Market Demand

High demand exists for researchers combining built environment expertise with social psychology and digital technology skills, particularly those focused on mental health applications, as this represents a critical emerging field with substantial public health and urban planning implications.

Important Skills

Critical Skills

Experience sampling methodology expertise is absolutely essential as this represents the primary data collection approach for understanding real-time environment-behavior relationships, with this skill being increasingly demanded across environmental psychology, public health, and urban planning research domains Co-design and participatory research skills are critical for conducting meaningful community engagement and ensuring research relevance and applicability, representing core competencies for contemporary urban planning and public health intervention development Virtual reality and digital tool proficiency is essential given the project's technological components and the rapidly growing integration of immersive technologies in urban planning and design processes Advanced data modeling and analysis capabilities are crucial for handling complex longitudinal and multi-modal datasets typical of experience sampling studies and for generating actionable insights from large-scale behavioral data

Beneficial Skills

Dutch language proficiency would significantly enhance community engagement capabilities and expand career opportunities within the Netherlands' urban planning and public health sectors Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and spatial analysis skills would complement the built environment focus and enhance research capability for analyzing environmental context and spatial relationships Public health research experience would strengthen understanding of health behavior theory and intervention development approaches relevant to loneliness and mental health outcomes Project management and grant writing experience would be valuable for future independent research career development and leadership in large-scale interdisciplinary research initiatives

Unique Aspects

This position uniquely combines three cutting-edge methodological approaches - experience sampling, co-design, and virtual reality - in a single research project, providing unprecedented breadth of technical and methodological expertise highly valued in both academic and industry contexts
The focus on young adult loneliness addresses one of the most pressing public health challenges of the current generation, positioning the research at the intersection of multiple high-impact fields including mental health, urban planning, and social policy
Integration of community-based participatory research with advanced digital technologies creates a distinctive skill set bridging traditional community engagement approaches with emerging technological applications in urban planning
The project's emphasis on translating research findings into actionable design guidelines and policy recommendations provides direct pathways for real-world impact and professional networking across academic, government, and consulting sectors

Career Growth

Career progression typically occurs within 4-6 years post-PhD completion, with immediate postdoctoral opportunities available upon dissertation completion, and assistant professor or senior research roles accessible within 2-3 years of postdoctoral experience.

Potential Next Roles

Postdoctoral Research Fellow specializing in environmental psychology and urban health interventions at leading international research institutions Assistant Professor positions in Urban Planning, Environmental Psychology, or Public Health departments with focus on built environment and wellbeing research Senior Research Scientist roles in urban planning consultancies or public health organizations developing evidence-based design guidelines and policy recommendations Technology Development Manager positions in emerging sectors focused on smart city applications, virtual reality urban planning tools, or digital health interventions

Company Overview

Eindhoven University of Technology

Eindhoven University of Technology represents one of Europe's premier technical universities with particular strength in applied research and industry collaboration, consistently ranking in global top-tier institutions for engineering and technology education. The university's Department of Built Environment houses comprehensive expertise spanning technology, engineering, design, and human behavior disciplines, providing unique interdisciplinary research capabilities.

TU/e maintains a top-five position in industry collaboration within the Netherlands and holds international recognition for innovative approaches to sustainability and built environment research, positioning it as a leading institution for career development in technical and applied research fields.
Located in the Brainport Eindhoven region, one of Europe's most innovative technology hubs, the university benefits from proximity to major technology companies including Philips, ASML, and numerous startups, creating exceptional opportunities for research collaboration and career transition into industry roles.
The university promotes an open, collaborative culture that encourages international perspectives and interdisciplinary research, with strong emphasis on practical application of fundamental research and direct engagement with societal challenges, fostering an environment conducive to impactful career development.
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