PhD position titled: Human heat stress management

Materials science and technology are our passion. With our cutting-edge research, Empa's around 1,100 employees make essential contributions to the well-being of society for a future worth living. Empa is a research institution of the ETH Domain.

We are looking for a motivated researcher to join an interdisciplinary project focused on heat stress mitigation across multiple application domains, including buildings, sports, and occupational safety. The project will establish the scientific and methodological foundation for the development and validation of innovative strategies to protect people from heat stress and improve thermal safety, comfort, and performance in challenging environments.

• Develop, adapt, and validate experimental and computational methods for assessing heat stress and evaluating mitigation strategies
• Plan and perform experiments using thermal manikins, environmental sensors, physiological measurements, and climatic test facilities
• Analyse and interpret experimental and physiological data and contribute to the development of models and predictive approaches for human thermal responses.
• Communicate scientific results through peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, technical reports, and project meetings
• Contribute to the preparation of future national and international research proposals and collaborations with academic, industrial, and governmental partners

• Completed MSc degree in human physiology, mechanical, environmental, biomedical engineering or similar discipline
• Experience in physics-based and data-driven modeling and data-analysis skills (e.g. Python, MATLAB, or comparable tools) are an advantage
• High interest in interdisciplinary research
• Excellent communication skills and fluency in English (both written and oral) are mandatory

A project duration of 3 years is envisaged to carry out the above research tasks in the form of a PhD project. The candidate will perform his/her research at Empa in St. Gallen and will get the PhD degree from ETH Zürich (under Prof. René Rossi, Department of Health Science and Technology). The desired project start is as soon as possible or upon mutual agreement.

We live a culture of inclusion and respect. We welcome all people who are interested in innovative, sustainable and meaningful activities - that's what counts.

Sarah Stüdli, Bereichspersonalleiterin / HR Partner

Dr Agnes Psikuta
Group leader
Biomimetic Membranes and Textiles

Empa
Lerchenfeldstrasse 5
9014 St. Gallen

• Innovative, sustainable, meaningful activities
• Creating added value for society
• International, multicultural working environment
• Freedom to create and develop
• Culture of inclusion and respect
• Excellent balance between different areas of life
• Multiple award-winning and certified employer
• Benefits for rail, mobile, childcare, catering, etc.

Empa website
Working in Switzerland
Employment process
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