Postdoc Circular & Re-Use Solar Panels in the City of Amsterdam

To explore the potential of re-use of solar panels the Municipality of Amsterdam has approved a project coordinated by Amsterdam Metropolitan Institute for Sustainable Solutions.

The growth of solar panel installations in Amsterdam is remarkable but also implies considerable challenges. It is expected that solar panel e-waste will increase later in this decade,  mainly from the first generation of installed solar panels that will reach the end of their lifetime. In addition, e-waste will also be caused by the replacement of relatively new solar panels.

To explore the potential of re-use of solar panels the Municipality of Amsterdam has approved a project coordinated by Amsterdam Metropolitan Institute for Sustainable Solutions (AMS) to study opportunities, conditions and constraints of re-using of solar panels, which combines a research part with practical implementation activities by project partners from practice.

The research part will be conducted by a postdoc who will partly work the ESS department of faculty of TPM in Delft and partly at the AMS institute in Amsterdam. The hired postdoc will contribute to the PV re-use project by (i) looking  into the state of the literature, (ii) identifying promising policy instruments and governance options, (iii) and by developing product-service concepts, business cases and options how re-use can be organised, to assess potential locations in Amsterdam, and to identify relevant cases and developments elsewhere in the Netherlands. It may include assessing how re-use may influence the environmental impact and user acceptance research, and a plan how replication to other locations in the Netherlands can take place.

15-20% of the position will be dedicated to (support on) teaching on sustainable innovations and transitions, supervision of relevant master thesis projects, and (contributing to) developing research proposals for the Circularity Lab at the department. This research part consists of a 10 months postdoctoral research position at the faculty of Technology, Policy, Management of TU Delft at the section of Energy of Industry in the Department of Engineering Services and Services, preferably starting at December 1, 2022, or as soon as possible after December 1.

The postdoc will conduct the following activities:

• review the current state in the literature
• identify promising policy instruments and governance options how re-use can be organised
• develop product-service concepts, business cases, to evaluate cases and developments elsewhere in the Netherlands and internationally
• develop customer journeys, to conduct user acceptance research, and to evaluate the project and its learnings
• supervise relevant student thesis projects relevant to the re-use project
• develop plans for follow-up research and turn results into (i) project deliverables for the municipality and (ii) scientific papers
• contribute to teaching on sustainable innovation and transitions, possibly to the development of a new advanced course on sustainable innovation and transitions, and to support the development of research proposals for the Circularity Lab at the ESS department. 

This is an interesting opportunity for researchers who have nearly or recently finished a PhD in innovation or transition studies and have an interest and expertise on sustainable innovation, transitions and Circular Economy.

• A (nearly) completed PhD relevant for the position in a relevant interdisciplinary field like Transition and Innovation Studies, Industrial Design, Sustainability Studies, Energy Science, System Engineering, Industrial Ecology, Governance & Policy Analysis, Environmental Studies or another relevant PhD qualification, or several years of experience as a junior or applied researcher;
• Experience with working interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary;
• Available at or before December 1, or asap afterwards;
• Willingness to conduct field work in Amsterdam and to collaborate with partners in the project;
• Understanding and speaking Dutch is considered as an advantage;
• Excellent skills in writing and speaking English.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities. The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, a discount on health insurance and sport memberships, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.

For international applicants we offer the Coming to Delft Service and Partner Career Advice to assist you with your relocation. An International Children’s Centre offers childcare and there is an international primary school.

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!

With its excellent education and research at the intersection of technology, society and policy, the Faculty of TPM makes an important contribution to solving complex technical-social issues, such as energy transition, mobility, digitalisation, water management and (cyber) security.
We combine insights from the engineering sciences, the social and the humanities. We develop robust models and designs, are internationally oriented and have an extensive network with knowledge institutions, companies, social organisations and governments.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management.

The successful candidate will be working with Dr Jaco Quist, and project partners of the Re-use Circular Solar Panels project coordinated by AMS in Amsterdam.

For any questions or inquiries, please contact Dr Jaco Quits, [email protected] .

Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply before 12 November 2022 via the application button and upload:

• Your detailed CV, including a list of publications, title of your thesis and contact details of two references. 
• A motivational letter

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.
• Contact by recruitment agencies is not appreciated.

To explore the potential of re-use of solar panels the Municipality of Amsterdam has approved a project coordinated by Amsterdam Metropolitan Institute for Sustainable Solutions.

The growth of solar panel installations in Amsterdam is remarkable but also implies considerable challenges. It is expected that solar panel e-waste will increase later in this decade,  mainly from the first generation of installed solar panels that will reach the end of their lifetime. In addition, e-waste will also be caused by the replacement of relatively new solar panels.

To explore the potential of re-use of solar panels the Municipality of Amsterdam has approved a project coordinated by Amsterdam Metropolitan Institute for Sustainable Solutions (AMS) to study opportunities, conditions and constraints of re-using of solar panels, which combines a research part with practical implementation activities by project partners from practice.

The research part will be conducted by a postdoc who will partly work the ESS department of faculty of TPM in Delft and partly at the AMS institute in Amsterdam. The hired postdoc will contribute to the PV re-use project by (i) looking  into the state of the literature, (ii) identifying promising policy instruments and governance options, (iii) and by developing product-service concepts, business cases and options how re-use can be organised, to assess potential locations in Amsterdam, and to identify relevant cases and developments elsewhere in the Netherlands. It may include assessing how re-use may influence the environmental impact and user acceptance research, and a plan how replication to other locations in the Netherlands can take place.

15-20% of the position will be dedicated to (support on) teaching on sustainable innovations and transitions, supervision of relevant master thesis projects, and (contributing to) developing research proposals for the Circularity Lab at the department. This research part consists of a 10 months postdoctoral research position at the faculty of Technology, Policy, Management of TU Delft at the section of Energy of Industry in the Department of Engineering Services and Services, preferably starting at December 1, 2022, or as soon as possible after December 1.

The postdoc will conduct the following activities:

• review the current state in the literature
• identify promising policy instruments and governance options how re-use can be organised
• develop product-service concepts, business cases, to evaluate cases and developments elsewhere in the Netherlands and internationally
• develop customer journeys, to conduct user acceptance research, and to evaluate the project and its learnings
• supervise relevant student thesis projects relevant to the re-use project
• develop plans for follow-up research and turn results into (i) project deliverables for the municipality and (ii) scientific papers
• contribute to teaching on sustainable innovation and transitions, possibly to the development of a new advanced course on sustainable innovation and transitions, and to support the development of research proposals for the Circularity Lab at the ESS department. 

This is an interesting opportunity for researchers who have nearly or recently finished a PhD in innovation or transition studies and have an interest and expertise on sustainable innovation, transitions and Circular Economy.

• A (nearly) completed PhD relevant for the position in a relevant interdisciplinary field like Transition and Innovation Studies, Industrial Design, Sustainability Studies, Energy Science, System Engineering, Industrial Ecology, Governance & Policy Analysis, Environmental Studies or another relevant PhD qualification, or several years of experience as a junior or applied researcher;
• Experience with working interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary;
• Available at or before December 1, or asap afterwards;
• Willingness to conduct field work in Amsterdam and to collaborate with partners in the project;
• Understanding and speaking Dutch is considered as an advantage;
• Excellent skills in writing and speaking English.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities. The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, a discount on health insurance and sport memberships, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.

For international applicants we offer the Coming to Delft Service and Partner Career Advice to assist you with your relocation. An International Children’s Centre offers childcare and there is an international primary school.

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!

With its excellent education and research at the intersection of technology, society and policy, the Faculty of TPM makes an important contribution to solving complex technical-social issues, such as energy transition, mobility, digitalisation, water management and (cyber) security.
We combine insights from the engineering sciences, the social and the humanities. We develop robust models and designs, are internationally oriented and have an extensive network with knowledge institutions, companies, social organisations and governments.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management.

The successful candidate will be working with Dr Jaco Quist, and project partners of the Re-use Circular Solar Panels project coordinated by AMS in Amsterdam.

For any questions or inquiries, please contact Dr Jaco Quits, [email protected] .

Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply before 12 November 2022 via the application button and upload:

• Your detailed CV, including a list of publications, title of your thesis and contact details of two references. 
• A motivational letter

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.
• Contact by recruitment agencies is not appreciated.