EngD position: Occupational Health and Safety challenges for operators on the usage of AI, robots and UAVs in sewer management
The Humanitarian Engineering Research Group within the Department of Design, Production and Management, Faculty of Engineering Technology has an opening for an EngD position focused on Occupational Health and Safety challenges for workers raised by the usage of AI, robots and UAVs in sewers and underground confined spaces. The position is placed within the recently acquired Horizon Europe project AI Liner (https://www.ailiner.eu/)
The Challenge
Sewers and underground confined spaces inspection across the European Union (EU) continue to expose workers to toxic gases, confined spaces, biological contamination, and physically demanding tasks. In response, utilities are increasingly adopting digital tools to enhance safety and efficiency. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and unmanned systems, including drones and robotic crawlers, are being tested to identify structural problems and assess environmental conditions without requiring prolonged human entry underground. These technologies promise fewer hazardous exposures and better decision-making through data-driven insights, aligning with the EU’s broader digitalisation and occupational safety agenda.
However, technological integration does not eliminate risk—it redistributes it. Workers must now interact with autonomous systems that may fail, drift, or degrade, introducing new technical, cognitive, and cybersecurity challenges. Tasks shift from manual inspection to equipment operation and data interpretation, demanding new competencies and trust in automation.
This position examines these transformations through an occupational health & safety lens, and wants to uncover possible rising challenges for the workers.
Your Role
- Participate in cutting-edge research and design under the guidance of leading experts in the field.
- Assess the current state of health and safety in the sewers and underground confined spaces industry decision-making.
- Explore how digital innovation can improve current safety in both the global north and the global south.
- Analyse and demonstrate the potential of AI:Liner solutions to improve health and safety in operations (i.e. the role of renovation techniques versus traditional excavation for the construction industry, and mitigation measures to avoid the rise of new health and safety risks generated by the adoption of new technologies by utilities).
- Support the development of safety training and MOOC courses for workers in the field of sewer and underground confined spaces, focusing on occupational health and safety.
- Collaborate with an interdisciplinary team, including members of the University of Twente and members of the European consortium AI:Liner.
Information and application
Please submit your application before February 1st, 2026, using the "Apply now" button, and include the following:
- Curriculum vitae
- 3-minute video stating your motivation and why you are a good match with the project
- Transcripts from your MSc courses
- IELTS or TOEFL score
- Contact information of 2 references
First (online) interviews will be held in mid-February 2026.
For more information, you can contact Dr.Ir. Alberto Martinetti via mail: a.martinetti@utwente.nl
Screening will be part of the procedure
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About the organisation
The Faculty of Engineering Technology (ET) engages in education and research of Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering and Industrial Design Engineering. We enable society and industry to innovate and create value using efficient, solid and sustainable technology. We are part of a ‘people-first' university of technology, taking our place as an internationally leading center for smart production, processes and devices in five domains: Health Technology, Maintenance, Smart Regions, Smart Industry and Sustainable Resources. Our faculty is home to about 2,900 Bachelor's and Master's students, 550 employees and 150 PhD candidates. Our educational and research programmes are closely connected with UT research institutes Mesa+ Institute, TechMed Center and Digital Society Institute.
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