ETH Zürich

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

📍 Zurich

Role and 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.

Team / description

The Department of Architecture (D-ARCH) invites an excellent postdoctoral fellow to expand expertise in daylighting for human health and well-being and 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.

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.

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.

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.

Qualifications and Skills

  • PhD in the biomedical or health sciences, or other relevant disciplines

  • Experience in relevant daylight research (demonstrated by publications or PhD thesis)