Postdoctoral Fellowship

The Design++ postdoctoral fellowship program, made possible via our Strategic Partnership with Halter Group AG, is a two-year fellowship designed to provide an opportunity for talented researchers who are interested in bringing promising technologies and solutions further into development in AEC and urban & landscape planning. The scope may include planning, construction, operation or an approach for better project integration across the full value chain. Proposed projects should promote a digital transformation encompassing technology and business processes, as well as actionable and scalable solutions towards the broad adoption of a circular economy, resource efficiency or reducing embodied carbon.

The annual fellowship application process is now open. All applications are due by May 31st.

Please apply through the official ETH Zurich Job Portal.

We invite candidates to propose research projects that focus on developing innovative methods, digital tools and advanced computational models - leveraging AI, machine learning, XR, robotics or other technologies - to enhance processes across the entire value chain of new construction or renovation projects. Potential topics may include, but are not limited to:

Data-driven planning for urban development, structural design, facades and building skins, and building services.
Information management and digital workflows on the construction site and across project phases, enabling seamless data transfer between the office and the construction site, with a focus on visualization, visual analytics, explainable ML/AI or Large Language Models.
Integrated and continuous information management throughout the entire project life cycle, fostering greater data transparency and improving collaboration across project phases and stakeholders, while enhancing productivity and decision-making.

Job description

The primary responsibility of the Postdoctoral researcher is to lead the research agenda outlined in their proposal within the two-year fellowship. The fellow is expected to provide a short annual report of the progress of their research project to Design++ (in the respective 10th and 22nd month of employment). As a fellow, you are also expected to actively participate and support the planning of industry exchanges to promote knowledge transfer in the AEC industry. Other obligations, such as teaching, defined by the fellow’s hosting professors should also be fulfilled and should not be more than 25% of the candidate’s workload.

Together with other Design++ affiliated researchers and staff, the postdoctoral fellows are responsible for supporting the organization of scientific exchanges, social events and participate in other Design++ activities such as workshops, summer/winter schools, conferences, etc.

Your profile

We are looking for highly motivated fellows who demonstrate scientific excellence and who have an innovative research proposal within one of the above outlined topics. The selection criteria may include:

competence for the proposed research area
novelty and scientific quality of the research proposal
track record relative to opportunities and career stage (publications, awards, etc.)
relevant industry experience
fit of the Design++ postdoctoral fellowship with the career goals of the applicant
the compatibility of the research proposal with the vision of Design++ and the center’s goal of knowledge transfer with industry and scientific exchange

We offer

At Design++, we offer a modern, dynamic, multidisciplinary and international working environment. You will be embedded within Design++ and therefore have access to the network of experts across ETH, the world leading Immersive Design Lab (IDL), Large-scale Virtualization and Modelling Lab (IVML), state-of-the-art XR equipment, and will join a growing cohort of motivated and talented researchers.

The duration of the Design++ postdoctoral fellowship is two years. Fellows will be employed and paid according to the standard regulations of ETH Zurich. The Design++ fellowship covers 75% of your salary and social costs, the remaining 25% should be covered by two hosting ETH professors over the two-year fellowship.

Eligibility Criteria

At the time of the submission deadline, candidates must hold or plan to complete their doctorate (PhD) within four months of the submission deadline. The doctorate may be in architecture, civil engineering, computer science, mechanical engineering, material science, or other relevant fields to the proposed research project. Applicants have preferably obtained their doctorate a maximum of six years prior to the submission deadline. The decisive date is the date of the oral examination or defense.

Curious? So are we.

Application Process: Calls for applications will be published once per year. One fellow will be selected per year for a two-year fellowship position. Applications are encouraged from candidates with a keen interest in advancing their research, validating the concept for market entrance, proposing new business models, or demonstrating a new process around the proposed research topics in urban planning, architecture, engineering, and construction. Applications must be submitted through the ETH job portal and should include:

a detailed CV including a list of publications and awards
transcripts of certificates (Doctorate, Master’s degree, other degrees)
a research statement (1-2 pages) outlining the intended research proposal, potential for commercialization, research fit with the two proposed ETH mentors, and any intended collaborators
a statement (1 page) outlining motivation, experience, research interests, and career goals
2 letters of recommendation from prior advisors, supervisors or mentors.
(optional) a signed letter from one or both hosting faculty mentors

Please see full job description on the ETH Zurich Job Portal.