Postdoctoral Fellowship at Design++

Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich; Zürich; Vor Ort; CHF 90.000 - 110.000; Vollzeit

Benefits dieser Stelle

Childcare support via kihz foundation

ETH subsidies

5 weeks vacation per year

Access to Design++ Labs and ETH-wide/院

Zusammenfassung

Design++ at ETH Zurich invites applications for two-year postdoctoral fellowships in AI and XR for Architecture, Engineering & Construction (AEC) and urban planning. Fellows will be co-mentored by ETH professors from two departments and work under a strategic partnership with Halter Group AG to bridge research and industry practice.

You will lead an independent research proposal, with quarterly progress updates, and contribute to the Design++ community through labs, seminars and workshops.

Qualifikationen

• PhD completed (or to be completed within 10 months of the deadline for a start date latest by September 2027).
• Strong fit to Design++ scope and impact goals.
• Experience with AI/ML, XR, robotics, simulation, or optimization.

Aufgaben

• Lead your proposed research.
• Share quarterly progress updates with Halter Group to support knowledge transfer.
• Deliver a mid-term and final presentation + report (approx. months 10 & 22).
• Engage with the Design++ community (industry exchanges, workshops, schools, events).
• Teaching/other duties set by co-hosts, up to 25%.

Kenntnisse

AI/ML

XR

Robotics

Simulation

Optimization

Ausbildung

PhD completed

Tools

LLMs

Jobbeschreibung

Design++ is the Center for Augmented Computational Design in Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) at ETH Zurich. The center's vision is to remove collaboration barriers in AEC and urban & landscape planning to address pressing sustainability challenges, boost productivity and simultaneously deliver high quality spaces. This is achieved through innovation in computational methods, artificial intelligence (AI), and extended reality (XR). Design++ fosters cross-departmental research, education, and industry collaboration to drive transformative change in the built environment.

ThePostdoctoral Fellowship Program, made possible via our Strategic Partnership withHalter Group AG , will fund two, two-year postdoc positions in this next round. The goal is to advance computational methods and AI/XR for Architecture, Engineering & Construction (AEC) and urban/landscape planning - bridging research to practice and expanding the potential for impact. As a fellow, you will be co-mentored by two ETH professors from two different departments.

Project background

You are a great fit if you’re excited to:
(a) frame a clear AEC challenge, (b) pick the right tools (not all of them), and (c) show how your work creates impact to improve resource efficiency, reduce carbon emissions, or increase productivity.

Some example research areasinclude, butare not limitedto:

• AI-Enhanced Design & Planning:Data-driven methods for urban development, architectural and structural design, or building systems simulation.
• XR-Augmented Workflows to create, build or inspect:Using Augmented, Virtual, or Mixed Reality to support spatial understanding, coordination, and decision-making in a given phase or AEC discipline.
• Seamless Digital Processes:Integrated information management from office to site, incl. visual analytics and LLM-enabled processes.
• Intelligent, Collaborative Project Delivery:Greater data transparency and multi-stakeholder collaboration across phases to improve decisions.

Methods may include AI/ML (incl. LLMs), XR, robotics, simulation, optimization, or others that fit your research question. We welcome foundational AI and XR proposals (e.g., representations, verification, interpretability for AEC) and applied AEC projects. If unsure, apply, and refine the scope with your co-hosts.

• Lead your proposed research.
• Share quarterly progress updates with Halter Group to support knowledge transfer.
• Deliver a mid-term and final presentation + report (approx. months 10 & 22).
• Engage with the Design++ community (industry exchanges, workshops, schools, events).
• Teaching/other duties set by co-hosts, up to 25%.

Profile

We are looking for highly motivated fellows who demonstrate scientific excellence and who have an innovative research proposal.

Must-haves

• PhD completed (or to be completed within 10 months of the deadline for a start date latest by September 2027) in a relevant field (e.g., architecture, civil, computer science, mechanical engineering, material science, etc.).
• Strong fit toDesign++ scope and impact goals.

Nice-to-haves

• Evidence of research excellence (publications/awards),
• Industry collaboration experience,
• Experience with one of AI/ML, XR, robotics, simulation, or optimization.

We offer

• Opportunity for groundbreaking interdisciplinary research: apply Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Extended Reality (XR) on a challenge of the built environment framed by you and co-mentored by two ETH Professors from two different departments.
• Employment & salary: Two-year ETH postdoc contract underETH regulations ; salary follows the standard for ETH postdocs.
• Community & development: You’ll join the Design++ network, with access to theDesign++ Labs theImmersive Design Lab (IDL) and Large-scale Virtualization & Modeling Lab (LVML), and take part in ETH-wide seminars, schools, and workshops.
• Collaboration with Halter AG: This fellowship is made possible through Design++’s Strategic Partnership with Halter Group AG. You will therefore have the opportunity to collaborate with Halter AG and its sister companies and deepen your proposed work by testing it in real-world environments.
• Family & wellbeing: Childcare support via the kihz foundation and ETH subsidies; paid maternity/paternity leave per ETH policy; 5 weeks’ vacation per year

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.

Further information about Design++can be found on our Website . Questions regarding the position should be directed to Danielle Griego, Tel [phone], or email [e-mail] (no applications).

The two co - hosting ETH professorsshould belong to two different departments where at least one is a member of theDesign++ Faculty Network . Please reach out to them with an abstract of the proposal prior to the deadline to get initial feedback and an agreement for support.

Furthermore, we aim to maintain and expand our diversity and thus, we encourage people from underrepresented groups to apply -your potential matters.

ETH Zurich is one of the world’s leading universities specialising inscience and technology. We are renowned for our excellent education,cutting-edge fundamental research and direct transfer of new knowledgeinto society. Over 30,000 people from more than 120 countries find ouruniversity to be a place that promotes independent thinking and anenvironment that inspires excellence. Located in the heart of Europe,yet forging connections all over the world, we work together todevelop solutions for the global challenges of today and tomorrow.