PhD Positions Human-Centered, Data-Centric Design of Soundscape Platform Healthcare Environment

Help revolutionize healthcare! Develop innovative technologies to improve soundscapes in critical care units, enhancing patient safety and nurse wellbeing through cutting‑edge acoustic solutions.

Neonatal and Paediatric Intensive Care Units (NPICU) represent particularly sensitive acoustic environments where sound exposure can negatively impact the physiological and emotional development of young patients and contribute to professional fatigue among nursing staff. Despite growing awareness of these issues, current technological solutions focus primarily on measuring sound pressure levels in decibels, which are difficult for non‑experts to interpret and fail to capture, even in decibel A, how sounds are actually perceived by humans in context.

This PhD position is part of the NWO‑funded project “Auditory Footprints: A novel soundscape assessment platform for neonatal and paediatric ICUs,” which aims to develop the first integrated technological solution that automatically evaluates the perceived quality of the NPICU sound environment and empowers nurses to actively mitigate indoor sound exposure.

The research will follow an iterative research and development process characterized by deep, on‑site engagement with NPICU nurses throughout all phases. The work begins by defining human‑centered design requirements through data probes combined with qualitative research methods including observations, interviews, and user diaries to understand the user journey and establish how occurring sounds relate to nurses' contextual needs and workflows. Building on these insights, the candidate will co‑create the platform prototype through participatory design sessions with nurses, integrating the computational models (developed by another PhD candidate working in parallel on sound modelling) with user experience requirements, while simultaneously collecting and analyzing behavioral data (e.g., activity levels and sleep patterns) and conducting iterative data reflections with stakeholders.

This co‑creation process will lead to an implementation and evaluation of a live prototype: a server‑based, functional digital platform that integrates the soundscape assessment algorithms and can be tested both in controlled environments and in‑situ within the actual NPICU context. The candidate will observe, capture and analyze how nurses respond to, appropriate, and potentially transform the platform in their daily practice, with each iteration informing the next phase of development and deepening our understanding of how data‑centric tools can meaningfully support healthcare professionals in addressing complex environmental challenges.

This PhD project offers a unique opportunity to contribute to a pioneering interdisciplinary initiative. The candidate will collaborate with experts from academia, hospitals, and industry to create a solution that has direct societal impact for improving healthcare environments and outcomes.

• MSc Degree in Human‑Computer Interaction, Industrial Design Engineering or related fields.
• Strong background in human‑centered design and qualitative research methods.
• Experience with data‑centric design approaches and data visualization.
• Proficiency in prototyping tools and methods (both digital and physical).
• Solid background in programming and experience with machine learning.
• Knowledge of participatory design and co‑creation methodologies.
• Ability to learn independently and passion for research.
• Strong communication skills in English and Dutch.
• Team player, open to discussion and constructive criticism.
• Previous involvement in scientific research is a plus.
• Open‑minded and excited for multidisciplinary input.
• Positive attitude to diverse approaches and inclusive behaviour.
• Interest in healthcare solutions is highly valued.

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…