Postdoctoral fellowship on integrative research in occupant-centric daylighting
Immigration Policy Lab
Postdoctoral fellowship on integrative research in occupant-centric daylighting
100%, Zurich, fixed-term
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 daylighting 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 DARCH. 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 DARCH, supported by the Velux Stiftung. Over the course of three years, we will explore the integration and translation of selected topics in daylighting 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 daylighting 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.
Job description
- Independently conduct research integrating occupant-centric daylighting 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 daylighting, 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 daylighting 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 daylighting 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
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.
- You can expect numerous benefits, such as public transport season tickets and car sharing, a wide range of sports offered by the ASVZ, childcare and attractive pension benefits
We value diversity and sustainability
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 February 28th, 2026. Please note that we exclusively accept applications submitted through our online application portal. Applications via email or postal services will not be considered. Apply with your independent research project idea, which you would like to pursue at the DINx at ETH Zürich!
We would like to point out that the pre-selection is carried out by the responsible recruiters and not by artificial intelligence.