Three Postdoctoral Positions in Circular Engineering for Architecture

The Chair of Circular Engineering for Architecture (CEA), led by Prof. Dr. Catherine De Wolf, is part of the Institute of Construction and Infrastructure Management (IBI) in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering (D-BAUG) at ETH Zurich. Our research focuses on digitalization towards a circular built environment, combining circular economy principles with digital innovation in construction.

We are seeking three Postdoctoral Researchers to join our team. Each will drive research within a major project and contribute to supervision and teaching at the Chair.

Project background

Position 1: Circular Construction
SWIRCULAR is a flagship Swiss project on circular construction funded by InnoSuisse and our industry partners. This position focuses on digital passports and matchmaking methods that connect reclaimed construction materials and components with new design demand.

Position 2: Circular Design
Civil Engineering and the Green Transition in the Built Environment (CEBE) is an international collaborative project funded by the Villum Foundation. This position focuses on computer vision and generative AI for designing a sustainable, future-ready built environment. Occasional international travel is required.

Position 3: LCA
This position focuses on circularity assessment and life cycle assessment (LCA) of structures, with particular emphasis on steel, and is funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF). The research examines how reusing structural elements can reduce the environmental impact of buildings and infrastructure.

All positions are offered at 100% workload.

Job description

• Conduct independent and collaborative research within your project (SWIRCULAR, CEBE, or SNSF)
• Publish results in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals and present them at international conferences
• Disseminate results to academic, industrial, and public audiences
• Collaborate with research and industry partners in the project consortium
• Providing scientific and methodological guidance to doctoral students
• Co-supervise Master’s and Bachelor's theses and projects
• Contribute to the Chair’s teaching, including course preparation, delivery, and student assessment

Profile

• PhD in civil engineering, architecture, computer science, or a related field
• Strong interest in sustainability and circularity in the built environment; prior experience is an advantage but not essential
• Strong record of scientific publications and conference presentations, experience in exhibitions or science communication is a plus
• Excellent communication skills in English and the ability to work in an interdisciplinary team
• Optional: German language skills are an advantage for Position 1, to support communication with industry partners

Solid expertise in at least one of the following areas, ideally several:

• Position 1: large language models, graph theory, design optimization, advanced programming skills
• Position 2: generative AI, computer vision for information extraction, design optimization models, real options or future-ready design
• Position 3: life cycle assessment, structural design and analysis, circular design strategies such as reuse of structural elements

We offer

• A stimulating, interdisciplinary research environment at one of the world’s leading technical universities
• Involvement in projects with strong industrial relevance and societal impact, within a network of national and international partners
• Close links to architecture, structural engineering, computer science, and industry
• Opportunities to build your academic profile through publishing, teaching, and supervision
• Access to ETH Zurich’s research infrastructure, professional development courses, and mentoring programmes

We value diversity and sustainability

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 online application with the following documents:

• Cover letter stating the position(s) you apply for (Position 1, 2, or 3), your motivation, and your research interests (max. 1 page)
• Curriculum vitae, including a list of publications
• Research statement (max. 2 pages)
• Short video (max. 2 minutes) in which you introduce yourself and present the research you would like to pursue at the Chair (please upload the video to YouTube or Vimeo (an unlisted link is sufficient) and submit the entire link in a PDF document)
• Contact details (email adress and phone number) of at least two referees
• Optional: portfolio or selected relevant publications

Further information about the Chair of Circular Engineering for Architecture can be found on our website. Questions regarding the positions should be directed to cea-recruiting@ibi.baug.ethz.ch (no applications).

Please note that we exclusively accept applications submitted through our online application portal. Applications via email or postal services will not be considered.

We would like to point out that the pre-selection is carried out by the responsible recruiters and not by artificial intelligence.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until the positions are filled. Applications in which one of the above items is missing will not be reviewed.