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

ETH Zurich’s Department of Architecture (D-ARCH) is offering an 18-month postdoctoral fellowship in translational research in daylighting for human health and well-being, hosted within the Daylight Integration Nexus (DINx). The fellowship is designed for an excellent researcher who wants to develop an independent research direction at the intersection of daylight, health, and building science.

The fellow will be based in the Architecture and Building Systems (A/S) group 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). The role sits within DINx, a platform supported by Velux Stiftung that aims to integrate daylight research and teaching across D-ARCH and to connect health-related daylight research with active building-science domains.

Research activities will focus on translating findings about the health effects of daylight into architectural and building-science contexts. The fellow is expected to independently conduct research at this intersection, develop an original project idea, and make use of the labs, workshops, and design environments at ITA and LUS. The ZCBS Lab, digital fabrication facilities, and applied design projects offer opportunities for experimental and translational work under local or emulated global climate conditions.

The fellowship also includes an active teaching and outreach dimension. Responsibilities include contributing to lectures and design studios, supervising theses, disseminating results, and participating in outreach activities within and beyond D-ARCH, including a Daylight Academy Conference, a symposium, and an open lecture.

Applicants must hold a PhD in biomedical or health sciences, or in another relevant discipline, and should have relevant daylight research experience shown through publications or a doctoral thesis. ETH Zurich highlights its strong interdisciplinary environment, excellence in research and teaching, and access to leading facilities within architecture and technology. The fellowship is supported by Velux Stiftung and is scheduled to begin on 1 January to 1 April 2027, or by agreement.

Applications are accepted until 2026-10-18 and must be submitted online via ETH Zurich’s application portal. Required documents include a motivation letter, a research proposal with objectives, outcomes, schedule, and connection to ITA or LUS, a CV and publication list, relevant diplomas and work samples, and two reference contacts or reference letters. Questions about the position should be directed to Ms. Kindler-Gordon at [email protected].