Postdoc Climate Change Wave Modelling for Marine Renewable Energies

Job description

Climate Change is expected to influence wave resources, marine renewable energies and coastal applications. This Post Doctoral position offers the opportunity to join the Marine Renewable Energies Lab, working on developing Digital Ocean Twin. Customised wave models are needed to properly assess different scenarios for wave resources, mitigation and adaptation strategies, marine renewables, coastal resilience, and blue economy such as aquaculture. The scenarios will be based on different realisations of Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP), in line with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) scenarios.

You will contribute to a recently awarded European Project, and you will work on developing robust wave hindcasts/forecasts at high spatial resolutions, analyse long-term metocean conditions, and extreme events, with a particular focus in marine renewables, specifically offshore wind and wave energy applications. You will also work into developing machine and deep learning frameworks to close the gap, needed for high quality wave information at shallower regions. Your will develop comprehensive high-fidelity wave datasets thoroughly validated, wave energy assessments, and frameworks for analysis of Climate Change on wave resources across the European Seas for marine renewables. You are expected to closely work on the project with internal and external project partners.

It is expected can conduct research (both independently and as part of a team), have excellent organisational and communication skills. We expect you to participate in the coordination of research activities, leading, contributing and ensure milestones and project deliverables are timely delivered. Writing scientific papers, attending international conferences, and the reporting to other project partners are an integral part of this job.

You will join the Marine Renewable Energies Lab (www.tudelft.nl/ceg/mrel), comprised by a vibrant team of researchers conducting interdisciplinary research in marine renewable, and is part of the Offshore Engineering Section, at the Hydraulic Engineering Department. The lab has a global outreach, and specialisation in all aspects of marine renewables covering resource, hydrodynamics, system integration and economics. You will be expected to contribute to the goals of the Lab overall research lines, actively participate in Lab meetings, take part in teaching and supervision activities with PhD and MSc students. You will be supervised by Dr. George Lavidas, and as part of this project, you will be given the opportunity to work with world leading academic and industrial partners. For this project you will also collaborate with colleagues from the Coastal Engineering Section.

Job requirements

• PhD in Civil Engineering, Physics, Oceanography, or with a body of work very close to the strict requirements of the position. Mandatory is expertise in numerical wave modelling (i.e WAM, WWIII, SWAN etc), High Performance Computing (HPC) and large dataset analysis.
• Knowledge and understanding of CMIP wind realisations are a positive.
• You have a strong interest in marine renewables and coastal adaptation pathways.
• Excellent programming skills in Python, Matlab, etc and knowledge with open-source practices.
• Excellent communication skills (written and oral), including proficiency in English.
• You have a passion for doing research in teamwork (including a strong collaboration with international partners)
• You are enthusiastic to share your ideas and findings via scientific papers, presentations at (inter)national conferences and where possible with a wider public.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences

The Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences (CEG) is committed to outstanding international research and education in the field of civil engineering, applied earth sciences, traffic and transport, water technology, and delta technology. Our research feeds into our educational programmes and covers societal challenges such as climate change, energy transition, resource availability, urbanisation and clean water. Our research projects are conducted in close cooperation with a wide range of research institutions. CEG is convinced of the importance of open science and supports its scientists in integrating open science in their research practice. The Faculty of CEG comprises 28 research groups in the following seven departments: Materials Mechanics Management & Design, Engineering Structures, Geoscience and Engineering, Geoscience and Remote Sensing, Transport & Planning, Hydraulic Engineering and Water Management.

& Geosciences.

Conditions of employment

• Duration of contract is 2 years.
• A job of 32-38 hours per week.

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.

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

The start date of the position is in October 2025.
If you would like more information about this vacancy or the selection procedure, please contact George Lavidas, via G.Lavidas@tudelft.nl.

Application procedure

Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 4 June 2025 upload the following documents:

• Motivation letter (1 pages): convince us why you are suited for this position: What attracts you? How do your knowledge and skills match with the position (and where not)? What is your ambition, and how does this position fit in?
• Curriculum Vitae - extensive with list of publications and prior activities.
• Contact details of two references, which we may contact if your application is considered.

You can address your application to George Lavidas.

Please note:

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
• A pre-employment screening can be part of the selection procedure.
• For the final candidates, a knowledge security check will be part of the application procedure. For more information on this check, please consult Chapter 8 of the National Knowledge Security Guidelines. We carry out this check on the basis of legitimate interest.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.