Postdoctoral fellowship on translational research in daylighting for human health and well-being

The Department of Architecture (D-ARCH) invites an excellent postdoctoral fellow (18 months, starting 1st January to 1st April 2027 or upon agreement) to take the next step in his or her career, expanding expertise in daylighting for human health and well-being 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 daylighting into research and teaching at D-ARCH. The 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 D-ARCH. Over the course of three years, we will explore the integration and translation of selected topics in daylighting into other, active research domains at D-ARCH and especially at ITA from a systemic perspective. DINx will host three post-doctoral fellows. The fellows will explore novel approaches to integrate daylighting into other active research domains at D-ARCH; 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.

Job description

Key responsibilities:

• Independently conduct research at the intersection of health and building science
• Active role in teaching formats at D-ARCH, e.g. lectures and design studios, and supervision of theses
• Dissemination of results and contribution to outreach activities within and beyond D-ARCH, e.g., contributions to one Daylight Academy Conference, one symposium and one open lecture at D-ARCH

Profile

• PhD in the biomedical or health sciences, or other relevant disciplines
• Experience in relevant daylight research (demonstrated by publications or PhD thesis)

We offer

• Are you an excellent and highly motivated researcher, ready to define your very own field of research by questioning how we design buildings and cities of the future based on your cutting-edge findings about the role of daylight for human health and well-being?
• Can you translate your demonstrated expertise in the biomedical or health sciences so that you can not only collaborate with experts from other domains in building and urban design, but also guide students at the Department of Architecture (D-ARCH) at ETH Zurich?

Then our 18 months fellowship on translational research in daylighting for health and well-being presents a 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.

Apply with your independent research project idea, which you would like to pursue at the DINx at ETH Zürich starting 1st April 2027 or upon agreement!

D-ARCH 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.

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 complete online application, which shall include:

• Motivation letter outlining your interest in the position and relevant qualifications
• Research proposal with clear statement of objectives, expected outcomes, and schedule, including how your project would link to ongoing research and facilities at ITA or LUS (max. 2500 words excl. references), as a PDF
• CV and publication list, highlighting selected publications that are relevant for the proposed research
• Copies of relevant diplomas and work samples
• Two reference contacts or reference letters

Further information about the Department of Architecture can be found on our website. Questions regarding the position should be directed to Ms. Kindler-Gordon, kindler@arch.ethz.ch (no applications).

Applications are accepted until November 8th, 2026. 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.