PhD Position in Human–Computer Interaction and Extended Reality in Architectural Design and Fabrication

As a PhD candidate, you will conduct original research, design and run studies, develop and evaluate prototypes, analyze data, and disseminate results through publications and presentations. You will collaborate closely with the research team and partners, contribute to lab life, and support teaching and student supervision. Tasks include: Conduct independent research within the project scope, Perform literature reviews and maintain awareness of related work, Design and run experiments/case studies, Document research thoroughly (version control, lab notebooks, protocols, datasets), Collect, clean, and analyze data using appropriate methods (e.g., qualitative coding, statistics, simulation, ML), Publish results in peer-reviewed venues (conferences/journals) and contribute to paper writing, Support lab operations as needed (maintaining equipment, onboarding, shared infrastructure). Assist with teaching (TA, tutorials, crit sessions) and supervise student projects, Mentor junior students (Bachelor/Master) and contribute to studio/course activities. Implement research code and maintain repositories (testing, documentation, reproducibility). Contribute to grant writing, progress reports, and project administration.

This fully funded, full-time PhD position spans four years and is embedded within the interdisciplinary research environment at the Professorship of Architecture and Human Augmentation at ETH Zürich. The research investigates how interactive computational tools, extended reality (XR), and robotic systems can augment human agency in architectural production. It examines the roles of interfaces, feedback systems, and embodied interaction in bridging design intent, material behaviour, and robotic execution across design-to-fabrication workflows.

• You hold an architectural or advanced technical degree corresponding to FHEQ Level 7

• You have a strong interest in programming and, ideally, experience with Python and C# coding language

• You are proficient in 3D modelling environments and XR software; experience with Rhinoceros, Grasshopper and Unity is an advantage

• Experience in robotic fabrication, digital fabrication, or human–robot interaction is highly desirable

• Familiarity with XR technologies, UX development, or experimental prototyping is an asset

• You are fluent in English (written and spoken)