JOB DESCRIPTION

The North Sea is becoming one of the most dynamic and high-stakes regions in Europe, not only as a vital maritime route, but also as a key player in the transition to renewable energy. With an increasing number of offshore wind parks planned and under development, a critical question arises: How can we safely integrate these new energy functions into one of the world’s busiest shipping corridors?
To tackle this challenge, Rijkswaterstaat, the Dutch Coastguard, and TU Delft have joined forces in a strategic and unique collaboration. This has led to the launch of the Sea and Shipping AI research program, a pioneering initiative that leverages artificial intelligence, machine learning, and advanced data analytics to reimagine how we manage maritime performance and infrastructure.
We are seeking a motivated and forward-thinking postdoctoral researcher for a unique 2-year position to work at the intersection of artificial intelligence, maritime infrastructure, and real-world decision-making. This postdoctoral position is one of two research roles within the program. While a PhD researcher will focus on the strategic and operational aspects of sea infrastructure, your primary mission will be to create a novel, AI-powered experimentation and development environment- a practical “sandbox” for refining and testing new methods and tools to improve maritime safety and performance.

You will:

• Design and build a collaborative AI environment where models can be developed, tested, and benchmarked.
• Develop structured, high-impact test cases that address real-world maritime challenges, such as:
• Reconstructing shipping incidents using data fusion.
• Detecting changes in maritime infrastructure via satellite imagery and CNNs.
• Creating digital twins of vessels to simulate energy use and behavior at sea.
• Developing reinforcement learning agents to emulate decision-making.
• Identifying abnormal vessel behavior using embeddings and manifold learning.

You will collaborate with a multidisciplinary team of researchers, government partners, and industry experts to establish transparent, reproducible workflows that lay the foundation for long-term system innovation. Your home base will be the Hydraulic Engineering department, renowned for its excellence in education, research, and career development. With cutting-edge facilities and an internationally diverse team we stand at the forefront of innovation. Our team fosters an open-minded, inclusive, and inspiring atmosphere where knowledge is shared freely. We are committed to a healthy, supportive work environment that values autonomy, professionalism, and work-life balance, offering the training and support needed to advance your career.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

We are looking for an excellent candidate who is eager to apply state-of-the-art analysis techniques in a real-world practical context. You thrive in a dynamic, impact-oriented research environment, and you put your communication skills to good use to inspire and convince your partners and stakeholders.

In particular, we look for a candidate with:

• A PhD degree in Civil Engineering, Maritime Engineering, Transport and Infrastructure, Logistics, or any other related field.
• Advanced skills in applying AI models and big data analytics to diverse data sources
• High proficiency in scripting in Python
• Affinity with maritime applications, including nautical traffic, safety, and hydrometeorological influences on ship behaviour
• Experience with agent-based or discrete-event simulation and/or AIS data is a plus
• Ability to work in a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment both with scientific partners and stakeholders from industry

Please refer the Job description for details