Postdoctoral researcher 'Human factors and service design for operational readiness'

Let’s shape the future
- University of Antwerp

The University of Antwerp is a dynamic, forward-thinking, European university.

We offer
an innovative academic education to more than 20 students, conduct pioneering scientific research and play an important service-providing role in society. We are one of the largest, most international and most innovative employers in the region. With more than employees from different countries, we are helping to build tomorrow's world every day. Through top scientific research, we push back boundaries and set a course for the future
- a future that you can help to shape.

The Department of Product Development in the Faculty of Design Sciences is looking for a full-time (%) postdoctoral researcher.

About the project

The University of Antwerp is seeking a motivated and independent postdoctoral researcher to contribute to WELL-OPS (WELLbeing for OPerational Superiority), a four-year collaborative research project focused on human factors, occupational wellbeing and operational readiness in sustained maritime operations, including naval deployments.

WELL-OPS aims to develop and validate a deployment readiness framework that connects human wellbeing and functioning to operational performance. The project combines longitudinal research in operational maritime settings with research conducted in the Dar Młodzieży living lab and controlled experiments in AMA’s MISSIM full-mission simulator. Together, these research settings enable the project to study human functioning and wellbeing over time and under varying operational conditions.

A central ambition of WELL-OPS is to move beyond observation and measurement towards the development of evidence-based solutions that can be implemented in operational environments. Research findings will therefore be translated into a Product-Service System (PSS) that integrates digital monitoring tools with services, workflows and decision support, enabling personnel and organisations to identify, interpret and act upon factors affecting wellbeing, readiness and operational performance.

The postdoctoral researcher will play a key role in connecting the different research activities within WELL-OPS. This includes contributing to the design and coordination of longitudinal and experimental research, analysing the relationships between human factors, wellbeing and operational performance, and translating research findings into actionable interventions, services and guidelines. Particular attention will be given to ensuring that the resulting solutions are both scientifically grounded and applicable within the constraints of real-world maritime operations.

The project brings together the University of Antwerp (UAntwerpen), Antwerp Maritime Academy (AMA) and other research and technology partners, including MADE, which contributes to the development of the project’s digital monitoring application. The research combines expertise in human factors, psychology, longitudinal data collection, experimental research, Product-Service System design and service design.

The postdoctoral researcher will work across these disciplines and research settings, helping to bridge scientific research, technological development and operational implementation.

Position

The postdoctoral researcher will support the scientific and operational coordination of WELL-OPS, working with the scientific leads, consortium partners and a PhD researcher. The position combines empirical research with day-to-day coordination, with guidance and support from the project team.

Key responsibilities
include:

Coordinating day-to-day scientific activities, facilitating communication between partners, monitoring progress and helping align research activities across work packages, under the guidance of the scientific leads.
Contributing to the design and implementation of longitudinal research methodologies to investigate human factors, occupational wellbeing and operational readiness in maritime and Defence environments.
Supporting the development, evaluation and refinement of measurement frameworks, research instruments and data collection protocols.
Providing day-to-day scientific guidance and methodological support to the jointly supervised PhD researcher, particularly in relation to research design, data analysis and integration of findings across work packages.
Supporting the management, documentation and quality assurance of research data, in accordance with agreed project data management protocols.
Contributing to the development, selection and validation of indicators and methodologies for assessing operational and deployment readiness.
Providing day-to-day scientific guidance and methodological support to the jointly supervised PhD researcher, particularly in relation to research design, data analysis and the integration of analy