PhD Adaptive Hyperspectral Imaging for Cultural Heritage

Passionate about imaging, machine learning, and cultural heritage? Join us in transforming how we explore historical paintings through adaptive imaging spectroscopy!

Job description

The investigation of cultural heritage objects, particularly historical paintings, has been revolutionized by imaging spectroscopy. In this approach a full spectrum for each pixel of an image is acquired. Over the past decades, imaging spectroscopy has provided unprecedented insights into authenticity, creation processes, and hidden layers by identifying materials at and below the surface of artworks.

Despite these advances, a significant challenge remains: the imaging spectroscopy techniques that offer the richest insights, such as X-Ray Fluorescence spectroscopy, are often slow, taking hours or even days to scan large objects. In contrast, faster imaging methods—like X-ray radiography and multi-wavelength photography—can be performed in minutes but yield limited information. Bridging this gap by leveraging fast techniques to accelerate slow ones holds the potential to fundamentally change the way we study cultural heritage objects.

We are offering a PhD position in instrumental and computational methods for multi-modal adaptive imaging, focusing on tangible cultural heritage, especially historical paintings. The project combines developing imaging spectroscopy instrumentation with engineering and machine learning.

As a PhD candidate, your responsibilities will include:

Acquire new data from historical paintings to ensure a comprehensive control over the data acquisition process.

Predict “slow” technique results using “fast” technique data, employing a combination of machine learning and physical simulations.

Design and implement efficient adaptive image acquisition patterns based on these predictions, utilizing in-house instruments.

Prepare scientific communications, including journal articles and conference presentations.

Department Material Science and Engineering

You’ll be working at the Department of Materials Science and Engineering from Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. The department is a dynamic work environment with fluent exchange between researchers, including PhD candidates, postdocs, and faculty members. Within the department the Alfeld Lab is developing cutting-edge instruments and dedicated data evaluation software for multimodal analysis and applies these technologies to cultural heritage research. You will work within a closely collaborating team, leveraging our strong connections with scientific and cultural heritage institutions across the Netherlands and Europe. Supervisior of the PhD project will be Dr. Matthias Alfeld.

You will have access to state-of-the-art facilities and equipment for your research. The environment is open and collaborative, promoting daily interaction and knowledge exchange. With minimal hierarchical barriers, you’ll benefit from strong mentorship and tailored training. Professional growth is a priority, ensuring your success in academia.

Please see Research Alfeld Lab for more information about the lab and our research. Please also refer to the following relevant publications:

Comparison of macro x-ray fluorescence and reflectance imaging spectroscopy for the semi-quantitative analysis of pigments in easel paintings: A study on lead white and blue verditer - TU Delft Research Portal

A Data Fusion Method For The Delayering Of X-Ray Fluorescence Images Of Painted Works Of Art - Amsterdam UMC

Joint data treatment for Vis–NIR reflectance imaging spectroscopy and XRF imaging acquired in the Theban Necropolis in Egypt by data fusion and t-SNE - ScienceDirect

Optimization of mobile scanning macro-XRF systems for the in situ investigation of historical paintings - ResearchGate

Job requirements

The applicant should have a MSc degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Systems & Control, Statistics, Computational Physics, Computational Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, or any field related to the labs’ research topics.

Candidates with experience in spectroscopy, material science, instrumental control, image & signal processing, machine learning, numerical analysis, or statistics are especially encouraged to apply.

Strong motivation to work in a multidisciplinary environment and interact with collaborators in chemistry, mathematical engineering, and material science is essential.

Strong written and oral communication skills in English.

The following will make you stand out:

While an interest in cultural heritage is beneficial, no formal training is expected.

Creative, open-minded, and proactive researcher.

Excellent experimental, analytical, and problem-solving skills.

Self-driven attitude, creativity and autonomy.

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 Mechanical Engineering

From chip to ship. From machine to human being. From idea to solution. Driven by a deep-rooted desire to understand our environment and discover its underlying mechanisms, research and education at the ME faculty focusses on fundamental understanding, design, production including application and product improvement, materials, processes and (mechanical) systems.

ME is a dynamic and innovative faculty with high-tech lab facilities and international reach. It’s a large faculty but also versatile, so we can often make unique connections by combining different disciplines. This is reflected in ME’s outstanding, state-of-the-art education, which trains students to become responsible and socially engaged engineers and scientists. We translate our knowledge and insights into solutions to societal issues, contributing to a sustainable society and to the development of prosperity and well-being. That is what unites us in pioneering research, inspiring education and (inter)national cooperation.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. Do you want to experience working at our faculty? These videos will introduce you to some of our researchers and their work.

Conditions of employment

Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1,5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2,5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from € 2872 per month in the first year to € 3670 in the fourth year. As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

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

If you would like more information about this vacancy or the selection procedure, please contact Matthias Alfeld, via

Application procedure

Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 8 June 2025 via the application button and upload the following documents:

A cover letter in which you describe your personal motivation and specific qualifications for this position (max 1 page).

Your CV.

Abstract of your MSc thesis.

Copies of two journal/conference publications (if applicable).

Contact information for up to 2 referees.

You can address your application to Matthias Alfeld.

Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis. For more details please check the Graduate Schools Admission Requirements.

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.