EngD in Designing Human-System Interaction

Introduction

Are you eager to work on the interactive Value Stream Transition Playbook for the circular semi-con chain business models, to develop a long-term vision on meaningful business models for the circular semi-con chain, in integration of the entire ecosystem, and to define a workable transition path?

Job Description

The context

The high-tech industry is a vital part of the Dutch economy and a driving force behind innovations that contribute to solving major societal challenges. In 2021, the sector generated €80.2 billion in gross added value and employed 784,000 FTEs, representing 10% of national employment. It is expected that by 2040, the Dutch high-tech industry will generate 50% of its turnover from value chains that do not yet exist (Van Kappen et al., 2023).

Brabant occupies a central position within the Dutch and broader European semiconductor ecosystem, with a network of leading companies, research institutions, and innovation hubs spanning the entire value chain – from process technology and equipment to design and packaging.

As outlined in the ‘Uitvoeringsagenda Economie, Kennis en Talentontwikkeling 2024–2027’, the Province of North Brabant is working towards an internationally competitive, circular, and prosperous economy. This includes reducing strategic dependencies, closing local material loops, and using raw materials more sustainably and efficiently. The semiconductor sector, which relies heavily on high-quality and scarce materials, has been explicitly identified as a priority in this agenda through the Circular Semiconductor Innovation Coalition. The Circular Business Program Semicon (CBPS) has been launched as a strategic multi-year partnership to accelerate circularity in the semiconductor value chain.

Bringing this ambition into practice requires collaboration across the ecosystem. CBPS connects ecosystem initiators (Brainport Industries, ImpactX and BOM), knowledge partners (Eindhoven Engine, Fontys, TU/e and TNO), and companies across the semiconductor supply chain (including ASML, VDL ETG, Prodrive Technologies, Neways, KMWE, ERIKS, HQ Pack, Meilink and Aalberts Advanced Mechatronics) to jointly identify opportunities, align circular ambitions, and translate them into scalable approaches for industry adoption.

Circularity in practice
The first implementation phase of the CBPS programme focuses on a structured approach to transition management, business model innovation and enabling technologies, and in this case specifically on Value Stream Models — a fundamental building block for realising circularity in practice.

Circularity has long been a central theme in the semiconductor industry, both in the Netherlands and internationally. However, achieving scalable results as part of a sustainable transition to a circular economy requires coordinated action between the various players within the semiconductor ecosystem.

A significant bottleneck remains: although many companies are launching initiatives and pilot projects focused on repair, reuse, and return flows, the lack of shared circular business models remains a significant barrier. There is a need for value propositions that are recognized by all stakeholders.

Furthermore, models are needed that integrate economic, ecological and social value (perspectives) – rather than focusing on just one of these aspects.

The challenge: interactive Value Stream Transition Playbook for the circular semi-con chain business models.

To develop a long-term vision on meaningful business models for the circular semi-con chain, in integration of the entire ecosystem, and to define a workable transition path, under the supervision of Eindhoven Engine.

The project will organize interactive co-creation sessions in which companies, researchers, and students collaborate on deepening and translating insights. Tools will be designed to facilitate these sessions. These sessions provide a platform for knowledge sharing, joint reflection, and strategy development. The output of this process will be an integrative report focusing on the translation of an overarching system vision into concrete implications for the relevant value streams. It will also map out short- and medium-term transition paths, supported by a modular roadmap framework. This framework is designed to be adaptive: it enables organizations to adjust and respond to changing circumstances and new insights through continuous feedback and learning evaluation. This process involves a backwards-thinking approach from the desirable and the future necessity to what is currently feasible and the transition between the two. An interactive Value Stream Transition Playbook that integrates these results will be created, iterated, and evaluated.

Job Requirements

• A relevant Master degree, in an area related to the fields of Human-Computer Interaction, Interaction Design, and System Design (e.g., business model innovation, complexity thinking and wicked problems solving).
• They need to be creative, imaginative and entrepreneurial and to have an innovative mind. They need the necessary social skills to organize and lead brainstorm sessions on high level and integrate student contributions.
• Candidates will be embedded in a multidisciplinary team consisting of people from industry, knowledge institutes and governmental organisations.
• Candidaes should have sufficient proficiency in reading, writing, speaking and comprehension of English.
  
  

Conditions of Employment

A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an international setting with a close relationship to industry. You will work on a beautiful, green campus within walking distance of the central train station. In addition, we offer you:

• Full-time employment for two years.
• Salary and benefits (such as a pension scheme, paid pregnancy and maternity leave, partially paid parental leave) in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, scale TOIO (€ 3,029).
• A year-end bonus of 8.3% and annual vacation pay of 8%.
• To support you during your EngD and to prepare you for the rest of your career, you will have free access to a personal development program for EngD trainees.
• An excellent technical infrastructure, on-campus children's day care and sports facilities.
• Unlimited access to the modern on‑campus TU/e Student Sports Center at an exceptionally affordable rate.
• An allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs.
• A Staff Immigration Team and a tax compensation scheme (the 30% facility) for international candidates.

On our website you can discover even more information about our conditions of employment. Build on your career at TU/e!

About us

We are a leading international university where scientific curiosity meets a hands-on mindset. We work in an open and collaborative way with high-tech industries to tackle complex societal challenges. Our responsible and respectful approach ensures impact — today and in the future. TU/e is home to over 13,000 students and more than 7,000 staff, forming a diverse and vibrant academic community.

Our university is located in Brainport Eindhoven — a world‑leading tech region with more than 7,000 high‑tech companies and strong R&D activity. Known for breakthroughs in AI, photonics, semiconductors and advanced manufacturing, Brainport is a place where technology serves people and society. Learn more about the Brainport region here.

The Department of Industrial Design conducts research on and education in the design of systems with emerging technologies in a social context. We excel at integrating various academic disciplines, including engineering, design, business, and social sciences.

Engineering Doctorate Program

The EngD program in Human-System Interaction trains professionals who already have a Master’s degree in design or engineering to develop competencies in designing and evaluating interactive, intelligent, and innovative systems, services, and products. The HSI program is based on design thinking and system thinking, as well as scientifically founded and methodologically sound user-centered and data-driven approaches, paying special attention to the frontier of the complex systems enabled by artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies and their impact on individuals, organizations, and society. Candidates will spend about one-fourth of their time in courses and the rest on the research project and related activities. Program participants have backgrounds in the engineering, behavioral and physical sciences and work in small interdisciplinary teams, together with other EngD, PhD, and Master students with different national and cultural backgrounds.

Information

Do you recognize yourself in this profile and would you like to know more? Please contact the hiring managers Jun Hu (J.Hu@tue.nl) or Walter Baets (w.r.j.baets@tue.nl).

Visit our website for more information about the application process and about the HSI EngD program or About HSI.

Are you inspired and would like to know more about working at TU/e? Please visit our career page.

Application

We invite you to submit a complete application by using the apply button. The application should include:

• A cover letter in which you describe your motivation and qualifications for the position.
• A curriculum vitae, including a list of your publications and the contact information of three references. Kindly note that we may reach out to references at any stage of the recruitment process. We recommend notifying your references upon submitting your application.
• Copies of relevant BSc and MSc diplomas and grade transcripts.
• The result of an English proficiency test such as IELTS or TOEFL or other equivalent evidence of English level. See here for more information.

Candidates will be selected based on graduation mark and proficiency at university including consideration of the reputation of the university, relevant experience, and skills, writing skills and publications, work experience as well as performance in relevant modeling exercises and interviews.

Ensure that you submit all the requested application documents. We give priority to complete applications. We look forward to receiving your application and will screen it as soon as possible. The vacancy will remain open until the position is filled.

Please note

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post. 
• A pre-employment screening (e.g. knowledge security check) can be part of the selection procedure. For more information on the knowledge security check, please consult the National Knowledge Security Guidelines.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.