Postdoctoral fellowship integrative research in occupant-centric daylighting

Position: Postdoctoral fellowship on integrative research in occupant-centric day lighting
Location: Zürich

Postdoctoral fellowship on integrative research in occupant-centric day lighting

The Department of Architecture (DARCH) invites an excellent postdoctoral fellow to take the next step in his or her career, expanding expertise in occupant-centric day lighting to form an independent research field at the Daylight Integration Nexus (DINx).

Supported by Velux Stiftung, the Architecture and Building Systems (A/S) group together with the Chair of Architecture and Urban Design form the DINx, a platform to integrate day lighting into research and teaching  fellow will be hosted by the chair of Architecture and Building Systems (A/S) at the Institute of Technology in Architecture (ITA) in collaboration with the Chair of Architecture and Urban Design at the Institute of Landscape and Urban Studies (LUS).

A/S investigates passive and active systems for energy supply and climate control in buildings, aiming for an understanding of how building systems and materials interact with architectural design and the human occupant. The A/S Zero Carbon Building Systems (ZCBS) Lab provides a unique platform for experimental research under local or emulated global climates, that complements the ample opportunities offered by the ITA, in particular in the area of digital fabrication, and applied projects and design case studies conducted by LUS.

Project

background

DINx is a platform to intersect and expand daylight research and teaching at ETH Zurich’s DARCH, supported by the Velux Stiftung. Over the course of three years, we will explore the integration and translation of selected topics in day lighting into other, active research domains at DARCH and especially at ITA from a systemic perspective. DINx will host three post-doctoral fellows. The fellows will explore novel approaches to integrate day lighting into other active research domains at DARCH;

and to translate between research on health effects of daylight and building sciences. Coordinated by the DINx, the fellowships leverage and inform the laboratories and workshops at the Institute of Technology in Architecture, where findings shall materialize and be tested.

• Independently conduct research integrating occupant-centric day lighting in other active research domains at DARCH, in particular at ITA and LUS
• Active role in teaching formats at DARCH, e.g., lectures and design studios, and supervision of theses
• Dissemination of results and contribution to outreach activities within and beyond DARCH, e.g., contributions to one Daylight Academy Conference, one symposium and one open lecture at DARCH

Profile

• Are you an excellent and highly motivated researcher in occupant-centric day lighting, ready to expand and integrate your expertise into the wider context of pressing research domains in building and urban design, and thriving to formulate and develop your own research field?
• Have you identified a compelling research opportunity by intersecting your demonstrated expertise in day lighting with other active research domains at the Institute of Technology in Architecture (ITA) at ETH Zurich's Department of Architecture (DARCH), i.e., digital fabrication, adaptive building components, or building envelopes?
• Then our 18-month fellowship on integrative research in occupant-centric day lighting and building and urban design presents an unique opportunity to independently design and carry out systemic research and teaching in a field that is set by you, as part of the Daylight Integration Nexus (DINx) initiative at D-ARCH.
• PhD in engineering, architecture, or another relevant discipline
• Experience in relevant daylight research (demonstrated by publications or PhD thesis)

Workplace We offer

• Your job with impact:
  Become part of ETH Zurich, which not only supports your professional development, but also actively contributes to positive change in society
• DARCH is ranked 4th in the global 2025 QS World University Ranking by Subject, with ITA as a leading multi-disciplinary institute for research and teaching technology in architecture. ITA hosts unique experimental facilities, including the Robotic Fabrication Laboratory (RFL) and the Zero Carbon Building System Laboratory (ZCBS) for daylight and integrated systems research, and the Digital Design Lab. LUS provides access to unique design and applied project frameworks in urban transformation.

In

line with our values , ETH Zurich encourages an inclusive culture. We promote equality of opportunity, value diversity and nurture a working and learning environment in which the rights and dignity of all our staff and students are respected. Visit our Equal Opportunities and Diversity website to find out how we ensure a fair and open environment that allows everyone to grow and flourish.

Sustainability is a core value for us – we are consistently working towards a climate-neutral future . Curious? So are we.

We look forward to receiving your complete online application, which shall include:

• Motivation letter outlining your interest in the position and relevant…