phd architecture ethz

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Chair Günther Vogt

Doctoral programme in landscape and urban studies.

The Doctoral programme in Landscape and Urban Studies at the Department of Architecture’s Institute of Landscape and Urban Studies addresses contemporary issues of urban and environmental transformation. Research spans the disciplines of architecture, landscape architecture, urban design, territorial planning and social sciences. Focusing on the production of landscape, territory and human settlements through a range of different scales, from the local to the global, this may include studies in landscape and designed ecologies, design strategies, energy and food production, material stocks and flows, health and socio-economic development.

The doctoral programme seeks to promote a critical discourse, qualitatively and quantitatively addressing pressing environmental and social challenges, and aspires to cultivate independent, inventive, and proactive research that engages with processes of environmental change within their broader cultural, economic, political, social, historical and theoretical context.

The programme is structured as an ongoing collective research, no two semesters are alike and it is recommended that candidates participate in at least two consecutive semesters (starting in the autumn semester, and the following spring semester). Acknowledging that landscapes are integrating socio-economic, infrastructural and ecological aspects, the autumn semester addresses an analytical perspective, which emphasizes social sciences, territorial planning, infrastructure and technology, while the spring semester introduces a design-oriented perspective, emphasizing dialogical, participatory and ecological practices.

Participating Chairs

• Chair of History and Theory of Urban Design, Prof. Dr. Tom Avermaete
• Chair of Landscape Architecture, Prof. Dr. Teresa Galí-Izard
• Chair of Landscape Architecture, Prof. Christophe Girot
• Chair of Architecture and Urban Design, Prof. Hubert Klumpner
• Chair of Architecture and Urban Transformation, Prof. Freek Persyn
• Chair of Sociology, Prof. Dr. Christian Schmid
• Chair of Architecture and Territorial Planning, Prof. Milica Topalovic
• Chair of Landscape Architecture, Prof. Günther Vogt

Further information and registration

Chair of / Cátedra de / Lehrstuhl für Archi- tecture & Urban Design

Prof. Hubert Klumpner

Chair of Architecture and Urban Design /   Institute of Landscape- and Urban Studies / LUS Member of Network City and Landscape / NSL Co-Director of ETH Wohnforum, Centre for Architecture Society and Environment / ETH Wohnforum / ETH CASE Co-Founder and Members of Institute of Science Technology and Policy / ISTP Member of the ETH Sustainability Steering Committee Informal Urbanism Regional Hub of UN-Habitat Universities

• Design Studio
• Seminar Week
• Urban Stories Lecture Series
• Master Thesis
• BAQ - Fábrica de Cultura
• Growing Schools Prototype
• Makers' Space
• Multi-functional Building
• Sarajevo Urban Transformation Project

rese- arch- ing

• Exhibitions
• Publications
• Digital Media
• PhD Research
• Klearjos Eduardo Papanicolaou
• Melanie Fessel
• Michael Walczak
• David Kretzer
• Haris Piplas

Doctoral Programme in Landscape and Urban Studies

The doctoral programme at the ETH Zurich Department of Architecture’s Institute of Landscape and Urban Studies (LUS) offers one fellowship position starting on 1 October 2024. 100%, Zurich-based, fixed-term. Job description

The LUS Doctoral Programme

The doctoral programme at the Institute of Landscape and Urban Studies (LUS), ETH Zurich D-ARCH, is dedicated to exploring contemporary challenges in urban and environmental transformation within broader socio-cultural, political-economic, and theoretical frameworks. This programme is designed to foster critical discourse and nurture independent, innovative, and proactive research that addresses pressing social and environmental issues.

The LUS Institute engages with the production of landscape, territory, and human settlements across various scales and diverse global geographies. Key research areas include landscape and designed ecologies, energy transition, agroecology, hydrology, regenerative agriculture, adaptive infrastructures, housing, and socio-economic development with a focus on urban inequality. Geographically, the LUS Institute’s research spans Switzerland, Europe, and the broader global South.

By bringing together disciplines such as architecture, landscape architecture, urban and territorial design, and planning, as well as the social sciences, the doctoral programme at the LUS Institute adopts an inter- and transdisciplinary approach. This approach encompasses a diverse range of methodological approaches, from qualitative and quantitative research to ethnography, critical cartography, design-based action research, systems research, and urban theory.

About the Programme

The doctoral programme is conducted in English. With a current enrollment of over 25 participants, the LUS doctoral programme encourages both individual research and collaborative engagement within the doctoral community. The programme offers multiple platforms for interaction, such as the LUS methods seminar, institute-wide colloquia, workshops, and doctoral reviews. Embedded in the vibrant doctoral education environment of the Department of Architecture at ETH Zurich, the LUS doctoral programme actively collaborates with the doctoral programme at the Institute of History and Theory of Architecture (gta) , ETH Zurich. This collaboration enhances interdisciplinary perspectives and provides enriched research opportunities.

Participating Chairs at the LUS

While the proposed research should align with the individual and collective research agendas of the participating chairs at the LUS Institute, candidates are welcome to apply with an independent research topic, provided it aligns with the collective competencies of the Institute. The LUS Institute currently comprises seven chairs, each contributing to its diverse research landscape:

• Chair of History and Theory of Urban Design, Prof. Dr. Tom Avermaete
• Chair of Architecture and Housing, Prof. Maria Conen
• Chair of Landscape Architecture, Prof. Dr. Teresa Galí-Izard
• Chair of Architecture and Urban Design, Prof. Hubert Klumpner
• Chair of Architecture and Urban Transformation, Prof. Freek Persyn
• Chair of Architecture and Territorial Planning, Prof. Milica Topalovic
• Chair of Landscape Architecture, Prof. Martina Voser

Job description

Conduct original doctoral research on an individually determined topic within the disciplines of landscape and urban studies. The fellowship places no restriction on the geography or time period of the proposed research project. You are expected to devote a small part of your time to community building activities at the LUS doctoral school and co-curate LUS Talks during the second year of your studies. See past LUS Talks here.

100% doctoral employment at the ETH standard rate, with an expected term of three-and-a-half years to completion, pending successful approval of the doctoral plan at the end of year one.

Your Profile

We are seeking individuals with a background in architecture, landscape architecture, urban and territorial design and planning, and social sciences, with strong research or design experience that can benefit from the inter- and transdisciplinary engagements offered by the institute.

You must hold a university diploma or master’s degree obtained at university level (equivalent to the FHEQ-Level 7) in architecture, landscape architecture, urban design, urban planning, and social science, or related fields.

You must additionally demonstrate excellent research and writing skills.

The programme provides funding for up to three-and-a-half years, with a potential extension. You will be employed at full employment (100% pensum), based on the ETH Zurich doctoral student contract, with monthly salaries according to the ‘standard rate’. For a detailed calculation of salaries, please refer to this link .

You are required to take up residency in Zurich during the period of the scholarship. Working, teaching and research at ETH Zurich

We value diversity

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.

Curious? So are we.

Applications must be addressed to the Institute of Landscape and Urban Studies rather than to individual professors. Applicants must note that the application will be solely evaluated for their content and the applicants are thus requested to not contact individual professors before applying.

We are looking forward to receiving your online application with the following documents by 15 March 2024, 23:59 CET:

• Letter of motivation (1 page).
• Outline for the Proposed Research Project (4 pages + addendums). The document should include the research title, a review of the current state-of-the-art related to the proposed topic, clearly defined research questions, articulated aims and objectives, anticipated formats for publication, and a demonstration of why the LUS Institute is an ideal host for the proposed research. The main content must adhere to a 4-page limit, utilizing 11pt. font and single-spacing. Supplementary pages may be used for up to three illustrations (maps, drawings, images), bibliography, and a project timeline.
• Curriculum vitae (including publications, portfolio, and work samples, max. 10 pages).
• Published piece of writing if available (1 text, max. 15 pages).
• Name, affiliation, and email addresses of 2 referees.

Please note that applications missing any of the documents listed above and/or exceeding specified page limits will not be considered for evaluation.

The programme exclusively accepts application documents submitted through the ETH online application portal. Applications submitted via email or postal services will not be considered.

Application Timeline

• 15 March 2024: Submission deadline (23:59 CET).
• Middle of April 2024: Notification to shortlisted candidates.
• End of April 2024: Interviews with shortlisted candidates.
• Beginning of May 2024: Notification to successful applicants.
• 1 October 2024: Start of programme.

Further information about the programme, the participating faculty and the application process.

Applicants are requested to refer to the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) before approaching the programme coordinator. Only for questions that cannot be addressed through the FAQs contact the doctoral programme coordinator Nitin Bathla . Requests sent to any other email will not be considered.

• Open Positions

2 Doctoral Positions in the History and Theory of Architecture

• Letter of motivation;
• Curriculum vitae;
• Contact details for two academic references (contacts only, please; no letters will be accepted);
• Outline of a research project to be completed during the fellowship

Doctoral Program in Architecture & Technology (A&T)

Doctoral Studies at the D-ARCH

Main content

A doctorate can be obtained within a maximum of six years at various institutes of the Department of Architecture (D-ARCH). It is possible to begin doctorate studies at any time in the academic year. The doctoral programme concludes with the title Dr. sc ETH Zurich.

 Doctoral Program in Architecture & Technology (A&T), ETH Zurich

The Doctoral Program in Architecture & Technology is oriented toward the training of scholars in the fields of engineering, science and technology in architecture, with a focus on architecture, building engineering and digital and computational technologies.

We are offering 3 full-time (100%) PhD positions in the interdisciplinary Architecture & Technology (A&T) PhD program to start on October 1, 2019.

About the Program

The doctoral program in Architecture and Technology is a highly interdisciplinary PhD program, offered and managed collaboratively by the chairs at the Institute of Technology in Architecture (ITA) at the department of Architecture (D-ARCH), ETH Zurich. For more information about ITA please see the Institute’s website: http://www.ita.arch.ethz.ch/.

The following professors/chairs are currently involved in A&T PhD program. Successful applicants will join one of these chairs:

-Chairs of the Institute of Technology in Architecture

-Architecture and the Building Process

-Architecture and Digital Fabrication

-Computer Aided Architectural Design (CAAD)

-Structural Design

-Architecture and Building Systems

-Architecture and Structures (BRG)

-Digital Building Technologies

Applicants are strongly recommended to check the research focus of these chairs in order to find the chair whose research is most related and/or interesting to the applicant’s own. As part of the application process, all applicants must clearly mention the name of one professorship they wish to work with.

Although the successful applicant will work directly with one of the chairs/professors, because of the interdisciplinary nature of the program, there are several milestones at which PhD students need to present their works in progress for other professors as well for other researchers at ITA (Note that currently there are more than 50 PhD students working on various research topics at the ITA’s different chairs).

The application process is highly competitive. We are looking for “excellent young researchers” with a background in engineering and technology, as well as architects with experience in research and an interest in relating building technology or engineering to building practice. Research interests and directions should be matched to one of the above-mentioned research groups.

Suitable candidates must hold a Master’s degree acquired at university level (equivalent to the FHEQ-Level 7) in architecture, engineering or related fields.

The application process is as follows

1.- Until January 31, 2019: Applications (as requested below) must be submitted online.

2.- Applicants are asked to select one professorship as their preferred chair. After initial screening, the eligible application dossiers will be sent to the corresponding professorship. After internal assessments and interviews, each professorship may select a candidate for the shortlisted group.

3.- Around mid-March 2019: The shortlisted applicants will be invited for an online interview with all the participating professors.

4.- Latest by the 1st of April 2019: The successful applicants will be informed following the interviews.

Application package

Application packages must be submitted online. The submission deadline (including recommendation letters) is January 31, 2019. Incomplete submissions will not be considered.

Applications must consist of the following documents:

1.- A letter of motivation, stating his or her future career intentions, reasons for wanting to pursue a doctorate in Architecture & Technology at ETH Zurich, arguments why he/she would be a good candidate and how his/her background has prepared them for doctoral studies. The preferred professorship at ITA where the applicant would like to undertake his/her PhD research must be mentioned in this letter.

2.- A three-page (maximum) research statement, including

3.- The identification of the main research field(s) or topic(s) of interest,

4.- A summary and outline of the research proposal,

5.- Three letters of recommendation. Referees must send their recommendation letters directly by email to [email protected]. The letter must be received before the application deadline.

6.- An academic/long curriculum vitae, including a publication list and a portfolio or related work samples (please, provide a download link in your application for larger files).

What ETH Zurich offers to successful applicants:

The program provides funding for three years. There are well-​defined levels of PhD student contracts at ETH Zurich. Successful applicants will be employed 100% (based on a “Standard rate”) and will receive monthly salaries. For a detail calculation of salaries please refer here.

Additionally, applicants can find useful information about living and working in Zürich here.

For further questions, please contact Vahid Moosavi, PhD coordinator at ITA.

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Open positions at ETH Zurich

About 30’000 people from more than 120 countries study, carry out research and work at ETH Zurich. Find out about our current open positions here. Available professorships are advertised here:

Available professorships are advertised on the website Office for Faculty Affairs call_made

76 open positions

• Geschäftsführer:in Department D-GESS (m/w/d) 100%, Zürich, unbefristet 27.03.2024 | Departement Geistes-, Sozial- und Staatswissenschaften (D-GESS)
• Senior Accountant / Trustee – Stiftungsmandat (m/w/d) 80%-100%, Zürich, befristet 27.03.2024 | Abteilung Rechnungswesen
• PhD position in Computer Science for Circular Construction 100%, Zurich, fixed-term 27.03.2024 | D-BAUG - IBI - CEA
• Informatiker:in EFZ (m/w/d) 2024 - Applikationsentwicklung Zürich, Lehrstelle 27.03.2024 | Berufsbildung
• HR Sachbearbeiter:in (m/w/d) 80%-100%, Zürich, unbefristet 26.03.2024 | HR Operations
• Research Technician - Cell and Molecular Biology 100%, Zurich, fixed-term 26.03.2024 | Genome Engineering and Measurement Lab
• Scientific Researcher (w. PhD) / Senior Lecturer 70%, Zurich, fixed-term 26.03.2024 | Chair of the History and Theory of Urban Design, ETH Zurich
• Labortechniker:in / Manager:in für Soft- und Biohybrid Robotik Forschung (m/w/d) 50%-100%, Zürich, unbefristet 26.03.2024 | MAVT - Soft Robotics Lab
• Redaktionsmitglied beim Schweizer Weltatlas (m/w/d) 80%-100%, Zürich, befristet 26.03.2024 | Institut für Kartografie und Geoinformation
• Multiple PhD positions on "Single Cell Proteome Profiling" 100%, Zurich, fixed-term 26.03.2024 | Institute for Biomedical Engineering (D-ITET)
• Doctoral student – mycelium for faecal sludge degradation 100%, Zurich, fixed-term 26.03.2024 | Global Health Engineering (GHE)
• Praktikant:in für Mitarbeit in einem Forschungsprojekt mit Rindern (m/w/d) 100%, Zürich, befristet 25.03.2024 | Gruppe Tierphysiologie
• PhD Position in Experimental Cloud Physics 100%, Zurich, fixed-term 25.03.2024 | Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Science in the Departement of Environmental Systems Science
• Scientific Assistant in Systems Immunology 100%, Basel, fixed-term 25.03.2024 | D-BSSE
• Teaching Assistant for General Chemistry, Organic Part-1 10%-20%, Zurich, fixed-term 25.03.2024 | Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences
• Kaufmann/frau EBA (m/w/d) 2024 - Branche D&A Zürich, Lehrstelle 25.03.2024 | Berufsbildung
• Studentische Hilfskraft: Kommunikation und Social Media (m/w/d) 10%-20%, Zürich, befristet 22.03.2024 | Beratungs- & Coachingzentrum (Student Services)
• Administrative Assistenz (m/w/d) in der Gruppe Biomedizinische Informatik 40%-100%, Zürich, befristet 22.03.2024 | Die Gruppe Biomedizinische Informatik am Departement Informatik der ETH Zürich sucht eine/n Assistentin/Assistent der Geschäftsleitung/Verwaltung (40-100%) Job Sharing möglich
• PhD student in nonlinear optics for analog computing 100%, Zurich, fixed-term 22.03.2024 | Optical Nanomaterial Laboratory in the Physics Department at ETH Zurich
• PhD student to work on waveguide integrated single photon detectors 100%, Zurich, fixed-term 22.03.2024 | Physics Department at ETH Zurich
• Administrative Assistant at the Institute of Computing Platforms 100%, Zurich, permanent 21.03.2024 | Institute of Computing Platforms, Department of Computer Science
• Post-Doctoral Researcher / Senior Assistant in Energy Systems Analysis 100%, Zurich, fixed-term 20.03.2024 | D-MAVT
• Mitarbeiter:in Poststelle (m/w/d) 40%, Zürich, befristet 19.03.2024 | Abteilung Campus Services, Sektion Mobility and Logistics
• System/DevOps Engineering (m/w/d) 80%, Zürich, befristet 19.03.2024 | Departement Informatik
• Coordinator and tutor of the MAS ETH Architecture and digital fabrication 80%, Zurich, fixed-term 19.03.2024 | Please enter the institute or the departement
• Student Assistant at KOF Swiss Economic Institute 10%-20%, Zurich, fixed-term 19.03.2024 | KOF Swiss Economic Institute
• Hausmeister:in – Gebäudebereich HC (m/w/d) 100%, Zürich, unbefristet 19.03.2024 | Abteilung Facility Services
• Sachbearbeiter:in Doktoratsadministration (m/w/d) 80%, Zürich, befristet 19.03.2024 | Akademische Dienste | Doktoratsadministration
• Leiter:in Gebäudebereich HG (m/w/d) 100%, Zürich, unbefristet 19.03.2024 | Abt. Facility Services
• Teamleiter:in "Risiko und Resilienz" (m/w/d) 100%, Zürich, befristet 19.03.2024 | Center for Security Studies
• Administrative Assistenz (m/w/d) am Institut für Theoretische Physik 80%-100%, Zürich, unbefristet 19.03.2024 | Institut für Theoretische Physik
• Senior Projektmanager:in (m/w/d) 80%-100%, Zürich, unbefristet 19.03.2024 | Partner advertisement | UBS Schweiz
• Eiermann Postdoctoral Fellowship 100%, Zurich, fixed-term 18.03.2024 | The Institute for the History and Theory of Architecture (gta)
• Postdoctoral Researcher in the field of Microscale Robots 100%, Zurich, fixed-term 15.03.2024 | Laboratory for Mesocopic Systems
• Postdoctoral or Senior Researcher in Carbon Strategies and Innovations 100%, Zurich, fixed-term 15.03.2024 | Group for Sustainability and Technology (SusTec), Department of Management, Technology, and Economics (D-MTEC)
• Doctoral researcher (PhD Position) in Computer Science: Mental Resilience in the Digital Age 100%, Zurich, fixed-term 14.03.2024 | Department of Management, Technology, and Economics
• PhD position in Electrohydraulic Actuators for Robotic Systems 100%, Zurich, fixed-term 14.03.2024 | Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering
• Doctoral researcher (PhD Position) in Behavioural Science / Psychology: Mental Resilience in the Digital Age 100%, Zurich, fixed-term 14.03.2024 | Department of Management, Technology, and Economics
• Doctoral researcher (PhD Position) in Data Science: Mental Resilience in the Digital Age 100%, Zurich, fixed-term 14.03.2024 | Department of Management, Technology, and Economics
• Mitarbeiter:in Campus Info (m/w/d) 60%-80%, Zürich, unbefristet 14.03.2024 | Campus Services
• Doktorierende in Baugeschichte/Bauforschung (m/w/d) 100%, Zürich, befristet 13.03.2024 | Professur Bauforschung und Konstruktionsgeschichte
• PostDoc in Baugeschichte/Bauforschung (m/w/d) 100%, Zürich, befristet 13.03.2024 | Professur Bauforschung und Konstruktionsgeschichte
• Creative Media Production Manager and Script Writer for Scientific-Educational Content 40%-80%, Zurich, fixed-term 12.03.2024 | EduMedia - Unit for Teaching and Learning (Former LET)
• ESA BIC Switzerland Programm & Start-up Manager:in (m/w/d) 80%-100%, Zürich, befristet 12.03.2024 | Vizepräsidium für Wissenstransfer und Wirtschaftsbeziehungen (VPWW)
• Postdoctoral position for research in mobile/wearable cardiac solutions and signals 80%-100%, Zurich, fixed-term 12.03.2024 | Department of Health Sciences and Technology
• Technologie-Manager:in Engineering/Informatik mit Berufserfahrung (m/w/d) 80%-100%, Zürich, befristet 12.03.2024 | ETH transfer - IP und Lizenzen
• Researcher – Circular BIM and Temporary Works 100%, Singapore, fixed-term 11.03.2024 | Singapore-ETH Centre
• PhD position: Study the cellular infection biology of Salmonella diarrhea with an in vivo-like tissue culture model 100%, Zurich, fixed-term 11.03.2024 | Institute of Microbiology
• Hilfsassistent:in für Projektmitarbeit (m/w/d) 20%-40%, Zürich, befristet 08.03.2024 | Arbeits- und Organisationspsychologie
• Design++ Postdoctoral Fellowship 2024 100%, Zurich, fixed-term 07.03.2024 | Center for Augmented Computational Design in Architecture, Engineering and Construction
• Postdoc position in political science 100%, Zurich, fixed-term 07.03.2024 | Department of Humanities, Social and Political Sciences (D-GESS)
• Two PhD positions in political science 100%, Zurich, fixed-term 07.03.2024 | Department of Humanities, Social and Political Sciences (D-GESS)
• Wissenschaftliche:r Mitarbeiter:in mit Fokus „Schweizer Aussen-, Sicherheits- und Verteidigungspolitik“ (m/w/d) 80%-100%, Zürich, befristet 06.03.2024 | Center for Security Studies
• Business Controller:in (m/w/d) 70%, Zürich, unbefristet 06.03.2024 | ETH-Bibliothek
• Post-Doctoral Researcher – Innovative Meat Substitutes to Support Human Nutrition and Health 100%, Zurich, fixed-term 06.03.2024 | Laboratory of Sustainable Food Processing, Laboratory of Nutrition and Metabolic Epigenetics, and ETH Laboratory of Translational Nutrition Biology
• Software Engineer with Experience in Computational Fluid Dynamics Modeling - EXCLAIM Project 80%-100%, Zurich, fixed-term 05.03.2024 | Center for Climate Systems Modeling
• 2 PhD positions: Real structure of materials with local lattice instabilities 100%, Zurich, fixed-term 05.03.2024 | Department of Materials
• Care and Complaint Officer 30%-40%, Zurich, fixed-term 04.03.2024 | Department Architectur (D-ARCH)
• PhD Position on “Secure Machine Learning on RISC-V Servers and Accelerators” 100%, Zurich, fixed-term 04.03.2024 | Digital Circuits and Systems Group
• Postdoctoral Researcher in Explainable Machine Learning for Health Status Monitoring and Modelling 80%-100%, Zurich, fixed-term 04.03.2024 | SCAI Lab
• PhD position: Development of an in vitro platform to investigate glioma – neuron interactions 100%, Basel, fixed-term 29.02.2024 | Bio Engineering Laboratory
• Elektronik-Ingenieur:in Mikrowellenspektroskopie (m/w/d) 80%-100%, Zürich, unbefristet 27.02.2024 | Institut für Molekulare Physikalische Wissenschaft (IMPS), D-CHAB
• Linux System-Administrator:in (m/w/d) 80%, Zürich, unbefristet 27.02.2024 | Sektion Applications, Gruppe Hosting
• PhD position: Computational mechanics 100%, Zurich, fixed-term 27.02.2024 | D-MAVT
• Robotics Engineer for Construction Mobile Robot at Gramazio Kohler Research 60%-100%, Zurich, fixed-term 27.02.2024 | Institute of Technology in Architecture
• Applikationssupport (m/w/d) 50%, Zürich, unbefristet 26.02.2024 | Informatikdienste
• Lab Automation Scientist 80%-100%, Zurich, permanent 23.02.2024 | NEXUS Personalized Health Technologies
• Haustechniker:in – HLK Gebäudebereich HC (m/w/d) 100%, Zürich, unbefristet 21.02.2024 | Abteilung Facility Services
• Programmer in Educational Technology 60%, Zurich, fixed-term 21.02.2024 | Unit for Educational Development and Technology (LET)
• Data Manager at the BedrettoLab 80%-100%, Zurich, fixed-term 20.02.2024 | BedrettoLab (Earth Science Department)
• Teamleiter:in Immobilienbewirtschaftung (m/w/d) 80%-100%, Zürich, unbefristet 12.02.2024 | Abteilung Immobilien
• Maturand:in für ein Praktikum im Bereich Administration (m/w/d) 100%, Zürich, befristet 07.02.2024 | Collegium Helveticum
• System Spezialist:in für grosse Speicherumgebungen und Datensicherung (m/w/d) 100%, Zürich, unbefristet 07.02.2024 | Informatikdienste
• Postdoc position in the professorship of history and philosophy of mathematical sciences 100%, Zurich, fixed-term 26.01.2024 | Professorship for history and philosophy of mathematical sciences
• PhD in Electrochemical and materials engineering for nerve regeneration 100%, Zurich, fixed-term 03.01.2024 | Electrochemical Systems Engineering
• PhD Position in Self-assembled Colloidal Micromachines 100%, Zurich, fixed-term 12.10.2023 | Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems

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35 PhD jobs in Switzerland

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• PhD positions in Zurich (19)
• PhD positions in Basel (11)
• PhD positions in Dübendorf (4)
• PhD positions in Villigen PSI (1)

Other countries

• PhD positions in Belgium (143)
• PhD positions in Netherlands (111)
• PhD positions in Finland (51)
• PhD positions in France (40)
• PhD positions in Sweden (37)

Search results (35)

International Fully Funded PhD Positions in the Life Sciences in Switzerland

*New application deadlines for two open calls per year: November 1 and May 1!Life Science Zurich Graduate School offers more than 100 funded PhD positions. With around 500 research groups and more than 1600 Ph.D. students, the Life Science Zurich ...

PhD student in nonlinear optics for analog computing

PhD student in nonlinear optics for analog computingThe Optical Nanomaterial Laboratory in the Physics Department at ETH Zurich is looking for a PhD student in nonlinear optics for analog computing...

PhD student to work on waveguide integrated single photon detectors

PhD student to work on waveguide integrated single photon detectorsThe Optical Nanomaterial Group & The Advanced Semiconductor Quantum Materials Group at ETH Zurich is looking for a PhD student to ...

PhD position in social acceptance of artificial and sustainable fuels

The Sustainability Research Group at the University of Basel is looking for one PhD candidate to investigate social acceptance of artificial and sustainable fuels.The political support of conventio...

PhD Position on “Secure Machine Learning on RISC-V Servers and Accelerators”

PhD Position on “Secure Machine Learning on RISC-V Servers and Accelerators”The Digital Circuits and Systems Group is a research group in the Department of Information Technology and Electrical Eng...

Ph.D. Position/Assistantship in Urban Studies

About Urban Studies in BaselUrban Studies at the University of Basel is rooted in disciplinary approaches of architecture, geography, anthropology, social and political theory, and history, and ori...

2 PhD positions: Real structure of materials with local lattice instabilities

2 PhD positions: Real structure of materials with local lattice instabilitiesThe research group of Prof. Simonov is looking for two highly motivated candidates with a strong interest in material de...

PhD Position in Experimental Cloud Physics

PhD Position in Experimental Cloud PhysicsThe Atmospheric Physics group of Prof. Ulrike Lohmann at the Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Science (IAC) at ETH Zurich invites applications for a 3...

PhD in Electrochemical and materials engineering for nerve regeneration

PhD in Electrochemical and materials engineering for nerve regenerationAre you passionate about pushing the boundaries of biomedical and electrochemical engineering? The Lukatskaya and Herrmann Lab...

PhD student position in CO2 electrocatalysis

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. ...

Multiple PhD positions on "Single Cell Proteome Profiling"

Multiple PhD positions on "Single Cell Proteome Profiling"The laboratory of Single-Molecule and Single-Cell Biophysics (BMC) is a research group in the Department of Information Technology and Elec...

PhD position in computational chemistry (reaction dynamics)

A PhD position is available at the Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, Switzerland, jointly supervised by Prof. Stefan Willitsch and Prof. Markus Meuwly to study theoretically the reaction and collision dynamics of quantum-controlled col...

PhD position in molecular-ion quantum technologies

A PhD position is available in the group of Prof. Stefan Willitsch at the University of Basel (Switzerland) on the development of quantum technologies for single trapped molecular ions and their application in precision spectroscopy.Project descri...

Doctoral student – mycelium for faecal sludge degradation

Doctoral student – mycelium for faecal sludge degradationThe Global Health Engineering (GHE) group is based within the Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering at ETH. Our group is mainly c...

Doctoral researcher (PhD Position) in Computer Science: Mental Resilience in the Digital Age

Doctoral researcher (PhD Position) in Computer Science: Mental Resilience in the Digital AgeThe Mobiliar Lab for Analytics at ETH Zurich develops and tests digital interactions using emerging techn...

PhD position in Electrohydraulic Actuators for Robotic Systems

PhD position in Electrohydraulic Actuators for Robotic SystemsThe Soft Robotics Laboratory offers a fully funded doctoral position on the topic of electrohydraulic actuators and muscles for robotic...

Doctoral researcher (PhD Position) in Behavioural Science / Psychology: Mental Resilience in the Digital Age

Doctoral researcher (PhD Position) in Behavioural Science / Psychology: Mental Resilience in the Digital AgeThe Mobiliar Lab for Analytics at ETH Zurich develops and tests digital interactions usin...

Doctoral researcher (PhD Position) in Data Science: Mental Resilience in the Digital Age

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Applications are invited to 11 PhD positions within the Doctoral Network NanoRAM.NanoRAM is funded under the Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions and incorporates 19 organisations across 12 countries with the goal of training a new genera...

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Programming functional fabrics

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Encouraged by her family, Lavender Tessmer explored various creative pursuits from a young age, particularly textiles, including knitting and crocheting. When she came to MIT, she figured that working with textiles would remain just a hobby; she never expected them to become integral to her career path.

However, when she interviewed for a research assistant position in Self Assembly Lab , it just so happened that the lab had recently received funding from the Advanced Functional Fabrics of America, one of the manufacturing institutes launched during the Obama administration , for a textile-based project.

Tessmer, now a fifth-year doctoral student in design and computation within the School of Architecture of Planning, took on the project, working with Skylar Tibbits , associate professor of design research, and Caitlin Muller , associate professor in building technology. “At MIT, my interest in textiles really exploded and became the center of everything,” Tessmer says.

While textiles may appear commonplace, the Covid-19 pandemic underscored the need for textile products in safeguarding our general health and safety, particularly through the filtration necessary for masks. Recognizing the importance of manufacturing capabilities for textiles, Tessmer’s research has focused on programming textiles with specific functional properties while also considering the feasibility of large-scale manufacturing of such products.

A nonlinear path to MIT

Tessmer studied music as an undergraduate student at Duquesne University, pursuing a passion that bloomed as a high schooler. One assignment opened her eyes to a different career path: She was told to compare a piece of music to some other artistic medium. Through this assignment, she discovered the world of architecture by underscoring the systematic nature of both disciplines, emphasizing the need for repetition and structure to unleash creativity. “I immediately realized that’s what I want to do,” she says.

Tessmer switched gears and decided to devote the year after college to architecture, instead of auditioning for music ensembles. She says, “I always liked making things, and then, with architecture, I realized that you can make things as part of your profession.” She relied on the basic drafting skills that her father had taught her, and channeled these into building her architecture portfolio.

Ultimately, she decided to pursue a master’s degree in architecture at Washington University in St. Louis. She graduated with her master’s at the end of the 2007 economic recession, a time when jobs in architecture were scarce. She eagerly accepted a part-time role teaching at WashU. Over the next five years, this role evolved into a full-time lecturer role, where she taught students while also independently establishing her own design practice and leading various installation design projects. Fittingly, all of the installations were inspired by textiles. “They were these high-performance carbon-fiber braided structures that we hand-made into large-scale braided nets with specific geometries,” Tessmer explains.

“Squeezing everything” out of graduate school

Teaching at WashU was a great experience, but the practice-oriented nature of the architecture department motivated Tessmer to seek complementary perspectives on design. “I wanted a totally new venue that was supportive of research and pushing the boundaries of design. I wanted to see what other approaches were out there,” she says. As her interests continued to grow in that direction, she learned that MIT has some renowned researchers in the field. She decided to apply for a master’s degree in architecture studies, and ultimately a doctorate in design and computation, within the School of Architecture and Planning.

MIT’s program stood out to Tessmer because of the interdisciplinary approach of the architecture department. She says, “If you are an architect or designer, it is not strange to end up in a class full of people who are not architects, and that’s totally normal and even expected.” The integrated nature of her program is a shift from her previous academic experiences, where each discipline had been distinct and separate. She also values the lack of hierarchy between different disciplines within the architecture department here. “There is respect across disciplines for the contribution from each participant,” she says.

As an older student, Tessmer has a slightly different approach to graduate school, compared to her peers. She says, “MIT is amazing because there is so much variety and so many things that you can get involved in. But my style is to be hyperfocused on my interests. For me, there have been huge benefits to focusing on this specific thing and squeezing everything I can out of it, even in the face of all of these other opportunities.”

Tessmer has devoted herself to several projects throughout grad school, but all share a common thread: an emphasis on fiber development and textile programming. As a master’s student in the Self Assembly Lab, she utilized the inherent properties of materials and optimized their configurations for specific functions by integrating computation into the material itself. “At MIT, I learned a much broader definition of computation,” she says. “For example, in the Self Assembly Lab, we believe that material is a storage format of information and that you can program material to behave in certain ways.”  

The first project Tessmer worked on was designing a fiber that could respond to temperature fluctuations. Another project focused on embedding many different properties within a single fabric, potentially for astronauts. “The human body is so varied in the number of properties that you need to match,” she says. In conjunction with collaborators across multiple MIT departments, she designed a spacesuit sleeve with embedded padding, stretchable areas, a compression gradient, and various sensors. Her third project has focused on embedding shapechange behavior into fabric structures to enhance human comfort or fit, as an alternative to manual tailoring. Finally, in a return to her architectural roots, she is also working on designing a reinforced concrete beam using textiles, a more sustainable solution to building with concrete, which has a significant carbon footprint.

Another crucial aspect of Tessmer’s research is her focus on the feasibility of large-scale manufacturing for a product. She regularly relies on industrial-scale machinery and consults with manufacturing partners. She says, “The way research is being conducted in the lab is a close parallel to how it would be made in real life. The potential for a direct bridge between one and the other is a high priority for me and a constraint that I have tried to layer on to all of my projects.”

Dabbling in entrepreneurship

Tessmer says with a laugh, “My entire hobby [textiles] has now been absorbed into my research. So I am in the market for a new hobby.” For now, that hobby has taken the form of entrepreneurship. She has been exploring the commercialization potential of her technologies, having filed multiple patents and completed the Blueprint program with The Engine Accelerator. She hopes that one day her method for embedding properties in textiles, while also reducing manufacturing process steps, will be used for commercial fabrics.

As an example, she points to shoe manufacturing. “Your shoes are normally an assembly of lots of different materials and lots of different layers. Instead, my proposal to The Engine focused on embedding all of these properties in an automated way, eliminating the need for an extensive assembly process.” Tessmer envisions entrepreneurship as one of her potential future paths.

For the time being, however, she plans to remain in academia. “From the outside, being a professor seems like an unattainable position. However, I keep being surprised at my ability to get to the next level of the academic hierarchy.” She aims to integrate all her past experiences into a future research career, designing textiles within an architectural context, while also weaving in the constraints of manufacturing scalability.

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• Lavender Tessmer
• Self-Assembly Lab
• Department of Architecture
• School of Architecture and Planning

Related Topics

• Graduate, postdoctoral
• Manufacturing
• Sustainability
• Innovation and Entrepreneurship (I&E)

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