CaSS Postdoc Advanced Sensing for Recovery of Critical Raw Materials from Alternative Sources

The global demand for Critical Raw Materials (CRMs), such as rare earth elements, cobalt, and lithium, is rapidly increasing due to their essential role in green technologies, digital infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing. However, conventional CRM sources are often concentrated in a limited number of geographic regions, creating significant vulnerabilities in global supply chains. Such dependencies increase vulnerability to price fluctuations and pose risks to the long-term sustainability of resource supply. To address these challenges, there is a pressing need to explore unconventional CRM sources, including urban mining of electronic waste, extraction from industrial residues (e.g., construction and demolition waste, or CDW), and re-mining of extractive waste. Despite their potential, these alternative sources face several barriers, such as low metal concentrations, technological limitations in extraction and separation, insufficient economic incentives, and regulatory uncertainty.

We aim to investigate the viability, efficiency, and environmental impact of sourcing CRMs from unconventional sources. The research will focus on identifying innovative characterization and extraction technologies, conducting pre-feasibility assessments to evaluate economic viability, and analyzing sustainability trade-offs. The ultimate goal is to support the diversification and resilience of CRM supply chains in line with circular economy principles and global sustainability objectives.

The position is inherently multi- and transdisciplinary. You will be based at the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences and collaborate closely with the Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment, the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, and the Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering. Your supervisory team includes: Dr. Feven Desta, Dr. Tobias Schmiedel, Dr. Fransje Hooimeijer, Dr. Shoshan Abrahami, Dr. Mike Buxton, and Prof. Dr. Ir. Timo Heimovaara.

This postdoc position is 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). The postdoc will contribute to the flagship Materials Security within CaSS. The successful candidate will work 1 day/week at Campus The Hague and will have the opportunity to collaborate with researchers from across TU Delft, as well as policy makers from (national) governments and (inter)national organisations in The Hague and beyond.