Design++ is the Center for Augmented Computational Design in Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) at ETH Zurich. The center’s vision is to remove collaboration barriers in AEC and urban & landscape planning to address pressing sustainability challenges, boost productivity and simultaneously deliver high quality spaces. This is achieved through innovation in computational methods, artificial intelligence (AI), and extended reality (XR). Design++ fosters cross-departmental research, education, and industry collaboration to drive transformative change in the built environment.
The Postdoctoral Fellowship Program, made possible via our Strategic Partnership with Halter Group AG, funds a two-year postdoc position annually over 5 years. The goal is to advance computational methods and AI/XR for Architecture, Engineering & Construction (AEC) and urban/landscape planning – bridging research to practice and expanding the potential for impact. As a fellow, you will be co-mentored by two ETH professors from two different departments. If you don’t have hosts yet, Design++ can help match you based on your proposal.
Project background
You are a great fit if you’re excited to:
(a) frame a clear AEC challenge, (b) pick the right tools (not all of them), and (c) show how your work creates impact to improve resource efficiency, reduce carbon emissions, or increase productivity.
Some example research areas include, but are not limited to:
- AI-Enhanced Design & Planning: Data-driven methods for urban development, architectural and structural design, or building systems simulation.
- XR-Augmented Workflows to create, build or inspect: Using Augmented, Virtual, or Mixed Reality to support spatial understanding, coordination, and decision-making in a given phase or AEC discipline.
- Seamless Digital Processes: Integrated information management from office to site, incl. visual analytics and LLM-enabled processes.
- Intelligent, Collaborative Project Delivery: Greater data transparency and multi-stakeholder collaboration across phases to improve decisions.
Methods may include AI/ML (incl. LLMs), XR, robotics, simulation, optimization, or others that fit your research question. We welcome foundational AI and XR proposals (e.g., representations, verification, interpretability for AEC) and applied AEC projects. If unsure, apply, and refine the scope with your co-hosts.
Job description
- Lead your proposed research.
- Share quarterly progress updates with Halter Group to support knowledge transfer.
- Deliver a mid-term and final presentation + report (approx. months 10 & 22).
- Engage with the Design++ community (industry exchanges, workshops, schools, events).
- Teaching/other duties set by hosts, up to ~25% FTE.
Profile
We are looking for highly motivated fellows who demonstrate scientific excellence and who have an innovative research proposal.
Must-haves
- PhD completed (or to be completed within 10 months of the deadline for an approximate start date in September 2026) in a relevant field (e.g., architecture, civil, computer science, mechanical engineering, material science, etc.).
- Strong fit to Design++ scope and impact goals.
Nice-to-haves
- Evidence of research excellence (publications/awards),
- Industry collaboration experience,
- Experience with one of AI/ML, XR, robotics, simulation, or optimization.
We offer
- Opportunity for groundbreaking interdisciplinary research: apply Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Extended Reality (XR) on a challenge of the built environment framed by you and co-mentored by two ETH Professors from two different departments.
- Employment & salary: Two-year ETH postdoc contract under ETH regulations; salary follows the ETH postdoc standard.
- Community & development: You’ll join the Design++ network, with access to the Design++ Labs the Immersive Design Lab (IDL) and Large-scale Virtualization & Modeling Lab (LVML), and take part in ETH-wide seminars, schools, and workshops.
- Collaboration with Halter AG: This fellowship is made possible through Design++’s Strategic Partnership with Halter Group AG. You will therefore have the opportunity to collaborate with Halter AG and its sister companies and deepen your proposed work by testing it in real-world environments.
- Family & wellbeing: Childcare support via the kihz foundation and ETH subsidies; paid maternity/paternity leave per ETH policy; 5 weeks’ vacation per year
