Empa is the research institute for materials science and technology of the ETH Domain and conducts cutting-edge research for the benefit of industry and the well-being of society.
The Laboratory of Multiscale Studies in Building Physics is part of Empa’s Department of Engineering Sciences and focuses on developing technologies to support energy transition and a sustainable society by improving the performance of building materials, increasing the use of renewable energy sources, and ameliorating the quality of the built environment (indoor and outdoor). The laboratory has excellent experimental infrastructures (including large-scale experimental fluid measurements facilities, environmental chambers, and various equipment to investigate processes in porous materials) and extensive experience in investigating coupled multiphysics phenomena and complex multiscale processes, as well as in developing and using cutting-edge scientific computing techniques (including HPC, machine learning, multiscale algorithms).
The laboratory is currently undergoing restructuring and reorganization of its research activity focusing on three principal areas: physics of building materials and energy systems; data-driven modeling, machine learning, and smart monitoring; transport of contaminants and pathogens in the built environment.
To strengthen our scientific team in this process, we invite applications for a
We primarily welcome applicants with past postdoctoral experience to be hired at scientist level; however, younger applicants with an interesting profile may also be considered for hiring at post-doctoral level. We are seeking a curious, creative, critical individual committed to scientific excellence and high ethical standard. The candidate has a background in physics, mechanical or civil engineering, or related fields, and blends theoretical knowledge, programming skills and physical intuition. The ideal candidate has worked in fields such as porous media science, fluid and continuum mechanics (including interfacial processes), thermodynamics, scientific computing, building physics, energy storage and conversion, physics and chemistry of membranes. She/he has acquired experience in dealing with complex physicochemical processes and in modeling phenomena over multiple scales (e.g. molecular scales, pore scale, continuum scale, building and regional scales). Experience in developing, acquiring and managing research projects is also desirable for candidates to be hired at scientist level.
Possible research areas of interest include (but are not limited to): multiscale and multiphysics modeling of complex processes (including coupled heat and mass transfer, reactive transport, ad-/desorption); supermaterials (materials with enhanced physicochemical properties, including nano-porous materials and nanostructures); active building envelopes with tunable properties; energy production, conversion and storage; novel computational models for building physics; membrane and bioreactors; computational fluid dynamics.
We offer internationally competitive conditions, optimal computational and experimental facilities, the possibility to collaborate with several research groups at Empa, in Switzerland and abroad, and the opportunity to participate and contribute to the development of a research laboratory working on problems relevant for the future of our society.
The expected starting date is September or at a later date upon mutual agreement. The position is initially offered for two years with the possibility to be extended in case of reciprocal satisfaction.