This fully funded, full-time PhD position spans four years and is embedded within the interdisciplinary research environment at the Professorship of Architecture and Human Augmentation at ETH Zürich. We are looking for a highly self-driven and motivated researcher with a strong commitment to rigorous and applied research within an interdisciplinary academic environment. The research focuses on human–computer interaction (HCI) in architectural design and fabrication, with a particular emphasis on extended reality (XR), machine vision, and human-robot collaboration.

Project background

The research investigates how interactive computational tools, extended reality (XR), and robotic systems can augment human agency in architectural production. It examines the roles of interfaces, feedback systems, and embodied interaction in bridging design intent, material behaviour, and robotic execution across design-to-fabrication workflows. Specifically, the work will develop within those research streams:

developing tools and workflows to efficiently assess discarded materials

creating a digital inventory of reclaimed components

developing computational representations of assembly and disassembly processes

establishing a robust pipeline linking this inventory to CAD models

Job description

As a PhD candidate, you will conduct original research, design and run studies, develop and evaluate prototypes, analyze data, and disseminate results through publications and presentations. You will collaborate closely with the research team and partners, contribute to lab life, and support teaching and student supervision. Tasks include:

Conduct independent research within the project scope
Perform literature reviews and maintain awareness of related work
Design and run experiments/case studies
Document research thoroughly (version control, lab notebooks, protocols, datasets)
Collect, clean, and analyze data using appropriate methods (e.g., qualitative coding, statistics, simulation, ML)
Publish results in peer-reviewed venues (conferences/journals) and contribute to paper writing
Support lab operations as needed (maintaining equipment, onboarding, shared infrastructure)

Teaching:

Assist with teaching (TA, tutorials, crit sessions) and supervise student projects
Mentor junior students (Bachelor/Master) and contribute to studio/course activities

Software/Engineering:

Implement research code and maintain repositories (testing, documentation, reproducibility)

Grants/reporting:

Contribute to grant writing, progress reports, and project administration

Profile

You hold an architectural or advanced technical degree corresponding to FHEQ Level 7
You have a strong interest in programming and, ideally, experience with Python and C# coding language
You are proficient in 3D modelling environments and XR software; experience with Rhinoceros, Grasshopper and Unity is an advantage
Experience in robotic fabrication, digital fabrication, or human–robot interaction is highly desirable
Familiarity with XR technologies, UX development, or experimental prototyping is an asset
You are fluent in English (written and spoken)

Workplace

We offer

The opportunity to pursue doctoral research at a world-renowned academic institution
Access to state-of-the-art computational, XR, and robotic fabrication infrastructure
Close collaboration with researchers across architecture, robotics, computer science, and engineering
An engaged international community of researchers and educators
Professional development and networking opportunities through academic and industry collaborations

We value diversity and sustainability

In line with our values, ETH Zurich encourages an inclusive culture. We promote equality of opportunity, value diversity and nurture a working and learning environment in which the rights and dignity of all our staff and students are respected. Visit our Equal Opportunities and Diversity website to find out how we ensure a fair and open environment that allows everyone to grow and flourish. Sustainability is a core value for us – we are consistently working towards a climate-neutral future.

Curious? So are we.

We look forward to receiving your online application with the following documents:

Letter of motivation
CV and Portfolio
Two reference letters

Please apply exclusively via the ETH Zurich Job Board. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with an intended start date of August 1, 2026.

Please note that we accept applications only through our online application portal. Applications submitted by email or post will not be considered. For informal enquiries about the position, contact Fabio Scotto at [email protected] (no applications).

We would like to point out that pre-selection is carried out by the responsible recruiters, not by artificial intelligence.

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PhD Position in Human–Computer Interaction and Extended Reality in Architectural Design and Fabrication

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