Create new smart molecules that illuminate invisible forces in polymers. In this PhD project, you will develop chemistry-based imaging tools to reveal how soft materials behave under mechanical stress, with direct impact on advanced materials and bio-applications.

Job description

Soft matter materials such as polymers and hydrogels are essential building blocks for applications including metamaterials, soft robotics and biomedical implants. In real-world use, materials are often exposed to complex mechanical loads, yet understanding their internal mechanics in real time remains a major scientific challenge. This limits our ability to understand, predict and improve material performance.

In this PhD project, you address that challenge by developing chemistry-based imaging approaches that make mechanical stresses inside soft materials directly visible. By integrating mechanochemistry with advanced imaging and mechanics, the research aims to bridge molecular-scale responses and macroscopic material behaviour. The outcomes of this work will enable new experimental tools for characterising soft matter and contribute to the rational design of high-performance, mechanically robust soft materials.

As a PhD you will:

• Develop chemical and physical understanding of chemistry-driven, mechanosensitive imaging concepts.
• Design and synthesize mechanosensitive molecules for application in soft matter systems.
• Develop experimental approaches for imaging-based characterization of soft materials.
• Combine synthesis, characterization and imaging to link molecular responses to continuum-scale mechanics.
• Collaborate across disciplines with researchers in mechanics, materials science and chemistry.
• Supervise and mentor MSc students working on related research projects.

Your work environment

The position is embedded in an interdisciplinary research environment at TU Delft, jointly hosted by the Functional Polymers and Sensors group (Dr. Georgy Filonenko) and the Mechanics, Materials, and Computing group (Dr. Sid Kumar). You will work closely with researchers across chemistry, materials science and mechanics, with access to state-of-the-art experimental and computational facilities and strong international collaborations. 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.

Job requirements

• Experience in synthetic organic chemistry. Knowledge of polymer science is advantageous for this position.
• Strong teamwork and communication skills. They are of very high importance to us as we foster inclusive and collaborative environment and look for applicants who share these values.
• Ability and motivation to learn across disciplines is central to the project and we offer extensive training to develop scientific and soft skills.
• Experience in hands-on experimental work (e.g., synthesis, prototyping and device fabrication).

Additional skills

• Experience in photophysics, optics and imaging is highly appreciated.
• Master’s degree in chemistry, chemical engineering, materials science, physics or a related field.
• Basic programming skills (e.g. Python, PyTorch, TensorFlow).
• Drive to tackle interdisciplinary challenges and communicate across fields.

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 Promovendus gross per month, from the first year to the fourth year based on a fulltime contract (38 hours), plus 8% holiday allowance and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%.

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.

Teaching activities are part of your PhD trajectory and may include, for example: supervising workgroups or lab sessions, assisting in courses, or mentoring BSc and MSc students. While teaching will not be your main responsibility, it offers valuable experience that supports your development and prepares you for future academic or professional roles.

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 Georgy Filonenko (G.A.Filonenko@tudelft.nl) and Sid Kumar (Sid.Kumar@tudelft.nl).

Application procedure
Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 28 February 2026 via the application button and upload the following documents:

• Curriculum vitae (CV).
• Transcript of grades and courses from both your Master's and Bachelor's degrees.
• Cover letter describing your interest in and motivation for this position.
• A sample of your original scientific writing (e.g., MSc thesis, scientific paper). If your MSc thesis is not yet complete and you do not have a published paper, you may instead provide a project report or other document that demonstrates your scientific writing.

You can address your application to Georgy Filonenko and Sid Kumar.

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