PhD Position Safe and Effective Handover Practices in Sociotechnical Intensive Care Unit Context

The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is a highly complex and dynamic environment where critically ill patients require continuous monitoring and multidisciplinary care. Safe transfer of information during handovers between healthcare professionals is essential for maintaining continuity of care, reducing errors, and ensuring patient safety. ICU handovers occur frequently, including shift changes, transfers between units, and transitions of care involving physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals.

Despite increasing attention to patient safety, substantial variation exists in how handovers are performed across hospitals and clinical teams. Structured handover tools, electronic support systems, and standardized communication frameworks (e.g., SBAR, I-PASS) have been introduced to improve information transfer. However, the implementation and effectiveness of these interventions vary considerably, and handovers remain vulnerable to communication failures, interruptions, information loss, cognitive overload and sociotechnical challenges.

This PhD project aims to examine ICU handover practices in their sociotechnical context, how they are implemented and adapted in clinical settings, their impact on patient safety and care outcomes, and the system factors that facilitate or hinder effective communication during transitions of care.

Job requirements

• A background in Medicine, Health Sciences, Epidemiology, Clinical Technology, Technical Medicine, Biomedical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Management of Technology, Human Factors, Complex Systems Engineering and Management or related field
• A demonstrated affinity with Healthcare
• Preferably experience with Safety Science
• Willingness to work closely with stakeholders from healthcare organizations
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills
• Being open-minded, independent, eager to learn and a team player
• Dutch proficiency prioritized due to expected interactions in Dutch healthcare setting
• English proficiency - verbal and written

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)

Working at TU Delft means contributing to solutions that really make a difference. For over 180 years, we have been training engineers who make an impact worldwide in companies, government bodies, or as entrepreneurs. Our alumni turn knowledge into concrete solutions for the challenges of today and tomorrow. These challenges are changing rapidly. That is why we focus on themes such as energy, climate, digitalisation, artificial intelligence (AI), and smart mobility every day. Our education and research are directly aligned with what society needs now and in the future.

At TU Delft, our people make the difference. With their knowledge and curiosity, our staff provide a high-quality education and conduct pioneering research that extends beyond the campus. You will have the opportunity to take the initiative, work with others, and grow as a professional. Working at TU Delft means join an international community of professionals and students. Together, we create knowledge, innovations, and solutions that help move the world forward.

Faculty Technology, Policy & Management

The Faculty of TPM provides an important contribution to solving complex technical-social issues, such as energy transition, mobility, digitalisation, water management and (cyber) security. TPM does this with its excellent education and research at the intersection of technology, society and policy. We combine insights from both engineering and social sciences as well as the humanities. TPM develops robust models and designs, is internationally oriented and has an extensive network of knowledge institutions, companies, social organisations and governments.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management.

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 €3204 - €4051 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.

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. Ece Üreten (E.Uereten@tudelft.nl) or Dr. Perla Marang-van de Mheen (P.J.Marang-vandeMheen@tudelft.nl).

Application procedure

Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 19 October 2026 via the application button and upload the following documents:

• CV
• Motivational letter (1 page)
• Writing examples (max 2 pages)

You can address your application to Dr. Ece Üreten or Dr. Perla Marang-van de Mheen.

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.
• As part of knowledge security, TU Delft conducts a risk assessment during the recruitment of personnel. We do this, among other things, to prevent the unwanted transfer of sensitive knowledge and technology. The assessment is based on information provided by the candidates themselves, such as their motivation letter and CV, and takes place at the final stages of the selection process. When the outcome of the assessment is negative, the candidate will be informed. The processing of personal data in the context of the risk assessment is carried out on the legal basis of the GDPR: performing a public task in the public interest. You can find more information about this assessment on our website about knowledge security.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.

Working at TU Delft

Join the oldest and largest technical university in the Netherlands. Work on clever solutions for worldwide challenges, to change the world and make an impact. Ready to bring your energy to our research? Challenge, change, impact!