PhD researcher “Digital matching of stakeholders for reused construction materials” in Zürich

100%, Zurich, fixed-term

The Chair of Circular Engineering for Architecture at ETH Zurich is looking for two PhD students to address digitalization for a circular built environment. We intend to foster the exploration and adoption of digital technologies as well as the shift towards a circular paradigm in the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) sector. Buildings are complex, multi-variant problems addressed by numerous stakeholders. Automating reuse of materials in the built environment will connect actors across the value chain. Circular economy principles applied in the built environment through automated materials reuse can tackle challenges such as the scarcity of resources, waste treatment, and the climate crisis. By offering a viable automated circular design and construction management strategy towards the goal of carbon-free buildings by 2050, as set by the Climate Agreement, this project is in line with EU's strong ambition to create a new European Bauhaus to help Europe move towards circularity and digitialization. 

This PhD student will develop a digital matchmaking service for AEC stakeholders, building projects, and materials in order to increase the uptake of circular economy principles in design decisions for the built environment on a large scale, globally. To do so, digital innovations from other sectors will be applied to the AEC sector in order to augment the skills of AEC players, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms and blockchain technologies. The core idea is to connect the end-of-life of buildings with the start-of-life of other buildings by making the reuse of building materials more effective, user-friendly and wide-spread. Disrupting the current state of the construction sector's value chain, this project will develop a data-driven process towards a digital "de"fabrication design approach. 

In order to define an automated circular design procedure, scientific methods from different fields need to be combined, through inter- and intradepartmental as well as national and international collaboration. We offer working within a research group at ETH Zurich, with excellent computational and lab facilities, and in close collaboration with other labs in- and outside ETH, nationally and internationally. Digital innovation tools will be surveyed, life cycle processes analysed, and a metaplatform for circular design matchmaking will be developed. Collaboration routes with industry have already been established in the Circular Engineering for Architecture Lab. It is expected that the PhD student extends this industry-academia network and works closely with industry and applies findings to real-time construction sites through research-by-design. 

We welcome highly motivated and curious applicants in disciplines related to civil and environmental engineering, architecture, construction, material science or similar subjects and with a strong interest in the AEC sector as well as in applying circular economy principles to (building) materials. Fluency in spoken and written English is a requirement. Speaking German is an added value.

The ideal candidate should be able to work in a team, take initiative, be results-oriented, organized, and creative. Software engineering skills (experience in coding) are required.  Experience in the AEC sector (especially in practice), interest/experience in AI, blockhain technology, and digital fabrication will be an advantage.

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