Postdoc on Human-Centric Deployment Strategies for Technology Management in the Railway Sector

Job description

To meet the increasing demand for both passenger and freight transportation, the European Flagship 2 - R2DATO rail research programme leverages digitalisation and automation to develop Next Generation Trains and Infrastructure.

In this context, the 1-year Postdoc project sits at the intersection of business and technology management and aims to provide design guidelines for the migration and deployment of these advanced technologies. The primary objective is to support the development of migration scenarios and deployment processes from both technical and human perspectives. The transition to autonomous train operations requires careful consideration of how employees at all levels will be engaged, empowered, and supported throughout the change process, including the redefinition of their tasks, to ensure the long-term operational viability of the proposed solutions. A participatory design process will be central to developing migration strategies that are supported by infrastructure managers and railway operators.

Given the above, we are seeking an ambitious Postdoc researcher who is motivated to make a significant impact through their work on the WP-33 project. The ideal candidate should be empathetic and open to facilitating co-creation processes with the involved stakeholders, as a human-centric approach is central to this project. Additionally, the researcher should have a proactive and positive attitude toward uncovering lessons learned within the FP2-R2DATO research programme and applying these insights to develop guidelines for technological migration and deployment strategies.

Your profile

• A PhD degree, preferably in a field that combines design, engineering, and management such as industrial design engineering, industrial engineering management or other related fields.
• Excellent communication skills and command of English.
• A broad interest in the research fields of Asset Management and Participatory Processes.
• Ability to thrive in a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment, with a commitment to fostering a human-centric approach in your work.

Our offer

• An inspiring, multidisciplinary, and challenging international academic environment. The university provides a fun and dynamic atmosphere with enthusiastic colleagues, where collaboration with other researchers is highly encouraged.
• A full-time position for 1 year as a Postdoc researcher with a gross salary about between €4.020,- and €5.278,- euros per month depending on experience and qualifications), along with a robust pension scheme.
• Excellent research facilities and opportunities to collaborate with various departments.
• An international work environment.
• A holiday allowance of 8% of the gross annual salary and a year-end bonus of 8.3%.
• A minimum of 29 holidays per year for full-time employment, with the option to save holidays for sabbatical leave.
• Professional and personal development programs.
• This position is based at the University of Twente in Enschede, Netherlands.

Information and application

Are you interested in this position? Please send your application via the 'Apply now' button below before October 20th, 2024 and include your CV, motivation letter, and list of publications.

Applications will be considered by the recruitment committee and preliminarily shortlisted candidates will subsequently be invited for informal conversations with the University, after which a formal shortlist of candidates will be invited for interview

About the organisation

The Faculty of Engineering Technology (ET) engages in education and research of Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering and Industrial Design Engineering. We enable society and industry to innovate and create value using efficient, solid and sustainable technology. We are part of a ‘people-first' university of technology, taking our place as an internationally leading center for smart production, processes and devices in five domains: Health Technology, Maintenance, Smart Regions, Smart Industry and Sustainable Resources. Our faculty is home to about 2,900 Bachelor's and Master's students, 550 employees and 150 PhD candidates. Our educational and research programmes are closely connected with UT research institutes Mesa+ Institute, TechMed Center and Digital Society Institute.