Doctoral Fellowship in Landscape and Urban Studies
The Institute of Landscape and Urban Studies (LUS) at ETH Zürich’s Department of Architecture is offering two fully funded doctoral fellowships in Landscape and Urban Studies, commencing 1 October 2026. These positions are based in Zurich and run for three and a half years, providing a unique opportunity to engage in cutting-edge research at one of the world’s leading universities for science and technology.
The LUS Doctoral Program is renowned for its interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approach, integrating architecture, landscape architecture, urban and territorial design, planning, urban theory and history, and the social sciences. The program fosters critical discourse and encourages innovative research addressing urgent spatial, socio-ecological, and political challenges. Research at LUS spans a wide array of topics, including territorial and urban transformation, post-industrial and resource-affected territories, global–local urbanisation processes, designed ecologies, energy transitions, housing, agroecology, hydrology, biodiversity, ecosystem processes, regenerative systems, and adaptive territorial infrastructures. Additional areas of focus include more-than-human landscapes, Indigenous territorialities, socio-ecological and socio-economic transitions, and climate adaptation.
The LUS Institute comprises seven distinguished chairs, each contributing to a vibrant research landscape: Prof. Dr. Tom Avermaete (History and Theory of Urban Design), Prof. Maria Conen (Architecture and Housing), Prof. Dr. Teresa Galí-Izard (Landscape Architecture), Prof. Hubert Klumpner (Architecture and Urban Design), Prof. Freek Persyn (Architecture and Urban Transformation), Prof. Milica Topalovic (Architecture and Territorial Planning), and Prof. Martina Voser (Landscape Architecture). The program is conducted in English and currently hosts 15 doctoral candidates, offering a collaborative and dynamic academic environment with seminars, colloquia, workshops, and reviews. LUS maintains active collaboration with the Institute of History and Theory of Architecture (gta), further enriching interdisciplinary perspectives.
Applicants should have a master’s degree in architecture, landscape architecture, urban design, urban planning, social sciences, or related fields, and demonstrate strong research or design experience along with excellent research and writing skills. Provisional acceptance requires successful completion of the master’s degree prior to registration. Residency in Zurich during the fellowship is mandatory.
Successful candidates will be employed at 100% under the ETH Zurich doctoral student contract, with monthly salaries based on standard ETH Zurich rates. The program values diversity, sustainability, and equality of opportunity, fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for all staff and students.
Applications must be submitted exclusively via the ETH online application portal by 2 March 2026, 23:59 CET. Required documents include a letter of motivation, a detailed research project outline, CV, published writing sample (if available), and contact details for two referees (not LUS faculty). Applications missing required documents or exceeding page limits will not be considered. For further information, consult the FAQs or contact the doctoral program coordinator, Nazlı Tümerdem, at [email protected].
Key dates: Submission deadline is 2 March 2026; shortlisted candidates will be notified in April, interviews held in early May, and final notifications by end of May. The program starts on 1 October 2026.
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