PhD Smart Agent-based Modelling Meets Green Steel System

Passionate about AI, system change, and sustainability? We’re seeking a skilled PhD researcher to optimise policy design through smart agent-based modelling and reinforcement learning, supporting more effective collaboration between stakeholders in the green steel value chain. Join us in driving the green transition of the Dutch steel sector!

Job description

The Dutch steel sector involves many stakeholders with different goals, including steel producers, recyclers, the government, employees, and local communities. Their interactions create a complex system that is difficult to understand. However, understanding this complexity is essential for identifying policies and actions that promote positive collaboration among them. To achieve this, the PhD project will develop customized agent-based models using reinforcement learning. These models will help map out agent interactions and provide a digital platform for exploring policies that enhance stakeholder relationships at both the system and value-chain levels.

This PhD position is part of the Groeien met Groen Staal national program. The Groeien met Groen Staal program is the enabler of a revolution in green steel production at national and international arenas. It will develop solutions to overcome technical, economic and societal bottlenecks towards the following overarching goals:

Make Dutch steel sector a leader in sustainable steel;

Quadrupling of scrap sorting activities;

Tripling of steel reuse and remanufacturing activities;

Reduce dependence on foreign steel/iron ore through scrap recycling;

Reduce industry CO2 emissions by 30% and reduce other emissions (including nitrogen oxides and particulate matter) by 50%.

As a PhD researcher, you will actively contribute to achieving the project’s goals by:

Equipping policymakers and industry leaders with the insights needed to regulate, support and promote green steel more effectively;

Mapping and analysing how different policies influence interactions between stakeholders across the green steel ecosystem;

Developing and applying innovative methodological best practices to model system change at both the contextual and value-chain levels.

Climate Safety & Security centre (CaSS)

This PhD position is also part of the interdisciplinary Climate Safety & Security centre (CaSS) at TU Delft Campus The Hague. This centre runs an ambitious and comprehensive programme that considers climate change and stability in an integrated manner, with focus on human security, security of supply of fundamental needs (water, food) and essential resources (energy, critical materials). You will contribute to the flagship materials security within CaSS and have the opportunity to collaborate with researchers from across TU Delft, as well as policy makers from (inter)national governments and organisations in The Hague and beyond.

You will have access to state-of-the-art facilities, labs and equipment to help develop 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.

The PhD-candidate will work one day a week at TU Delft The Hague Campus (current location Bezuidenhoutseweg 63, Den Haag), together with the other CaSS researchers.

For more information on the TU Delft Climate Safety & Security centre see:

Job requirements

For this PhD position, we are expecting the candidate with the following requisites:

MSc in engineering and policy, complex systems, data-science, materials science engineering or a related area.

Good expertise or strong interest in numerical modeling, machine learning, scientific programming.

Good communication skills in English, proficiency in report/paper writing and technical presentations.

A good team player, and willing to cooperate with partners and stakeholders (including other scientists, industry, civil organizations, policymakers) relevant to the project.

Experience in agent-based modeling and/or reinforcement learning, or willingness to learn this.

The following will make you stand out:

Creative, open-minded, and proactive researcher.

Excellent experimental, analytical, and problem-solving skills.

Self-driven attitude, creativity and autonomy.

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.

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

The PhD-candidate will work one day a week at TU Delft The Hague Campus (current location Bezuidenhoutseweg 63, Den Haag), together with the other CaSS researchers.

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 €2901 per month in the first year to €3707 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

For more information about this vacancy, please contact Dr. Kevin Rossi, Assistant professor Department of Materials Science and Engineering. Email: ue Campus (current location Bezuidenhoutseweg 63, Den Haag), together with the other CaSS researchers.

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:

Motivation letter.

Full CV, with publication list and at least 2 references.

A copy of BSc. and MSc. diploma/certificates, and the certified transcripts.

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.