Adresse
Eidgenössisches Institut für Metrologie
Lindenweg 50
3003 Bern-Wabern
Arbeitsort
Eidgenössisches Institut für Metrologie METAS
3003 Bern-Wabern
Schweiz
Dieses Stelleninserat ist abgelaufen. Das letzte Datum, an dem dieses Inserat veröffentlicht wurde, war 11/7/25.
Das Eidgenässische Institut für Metrologie METAS erarbeitet international abgestimmte Referenzmasse und gibt sie in der erforderlichen Genauigkeit durch Kalibrierungen weiter an die Schweizer Wirtschaft, Forschung und Verwaltung. Dazu betreibt es eine hochstehende Laborinfrastruktur.
PhD Position in Metrology for Skyglow Measurement and Monitoring (4 years – 100%)

Project Overview

The research project "Spotlight", funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF), aims to standardize the measurement of outdoor lighting and to explore its ecological impact. It also investigates how mitigation strategies for artificial light at night affect both the environment and society.

 

Position Overview

PhD position is part of METAS's contribution to the broader research initiative on light pollution and its environmental impact. The focus is on the standardization of skyglow measurement and monitoring, aiming to establish traceable to SI methods and instrumentation for quantifying artificial light at night (ALAN) in the night sky. This project seeks to fill the standardization gap by developing robust, reproducible, and internationally comparable measurement protocols and metrics.

Aufgaben

·        Define SI-traceable quantities relevant to skyglow, including spectral radiance, angular distribution, and temporal variability.

·        Develop and validate measurement geometries and protocols for ground-based skyglow monitoring, including zenithal and hemispherical observations.

·        Design and prototype instrumentation clusters (e.g., imaging radiometers, spectroradiometers) for drone-based and fixed-site skyglow measurements.

·        Establish calibration procedures and uncertainty budgets for skyglow instrumentation in alignment with international metrology standards.

·        Contribute to international standardization efforts, including CIE, CEN, and ISO working groups on light pollution and environmental photometry.

·        Collaborate with interdisciplinary partners to assess the ecological and societal relevance of skyglow metrics.

Anforderung

·        Master’s degree in Physics, Engineering, Environmental Metrology, or related fields.

·        Strong background in optics, radiometry, and photometry.

·        Experience with Python and/or MATLAB for data analysis and instrumentation control.

·        Familiarity with machine vision, remote sensing is a plus.

·        Willingness to conduct nighttime fieldwork and travel within Switzerland and Europe.

·        Interest in standards development and international collaboration.

Benefit

·        Full-time PhD position for 4 years.

·        Based at METAS in Bern-Wabern, with at least 80% on-site presence.

·        Embedded in a multidisciplinary team with access to state-of-the-art metrology labs and drone platforms.

You facilitate the processing when you apply online. In the case you can't apply online, please send your application portfolio, to: Federal Institut of Metrology METAS, Human Resources, Lindenweg 50, 3003 Berne-Wabern. (www.metas.ch)