Postdoctoral position in the physics of porous materials and energy applications (a)

Materials science and technology are our passion. With our cutting-edge research, Empa's around 1,100 employees make essential contributions to the well-being of society for a future worth living. Empa is a research institution of the ETH Domain.

The 

Laboratory of Multiscale Studies in Building Physics

 focuses on developing technologies that support energy transition and a sustainable society by improving the performance of porous media and building materials, increasing the use of renewable energy sources, and ameliorating the quality of the built environment both for human comfort and public health. The laboratory has excellent experimental infrastructures (including cutting-edge experimental fluid dynamics facilities, environmental chambers, and various equipment to investigate processes in porous materials) and an 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 of Multiscale Studies in Building Physics

focuses on developing technologies that support energy transition and a sustainable society by improving the performance of porous media and building materials, increasing the use of renewable energy sources, and ameliorating the quality of the built environment both for human comfort and public health. The laboratory has excellent experimental infrastructures (including cutting-edge experimental fluid dynamics facilities, environmental chambers, and various equipment to investigate processes in porous materials) and an 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).

To strengthen our scientific team, we invite applications for a

Your tasks

The postdoctoral researcher will work on fundamental processes and methods that are relevant for engineering applications such as energy production, energy harvesting, negative carbon emission, functional building materials, and a variety of industrial processes. 

Possible research areas of interest include: fundamental processes in porous materials (instabilities, mixture theory for multiphase flow systems, mechanical stability); multiscale and multiphysics modeling of complex processes; porous membrane, biofilms, and bioreactors; reactive transport and carbon negative materials; supermaterials (enhanced physicochemical properties, self-healing materials, metamaterials).

Your profile

The applicants must hold a recent PhD degree, preferably in physics, mechanical engineering, materials science, chemical engineering, or related fields. The ideal candidate has previously worked in fields such as porous media science, fluid and continuum mechanics (including interface processes), physics and chemistry of membranes, and biofilms. She/he is skilled in modeling phenomena over multiple scales (e.g., molecular scales, pore scale, continuum scale, building and regional scales) and working with real data; experience in performing experiments is an asset.  

Our offer

We offer internationally competitive conditions, optimal computational and experimental facilities, and the opportunity to work in a multidisciplinary environment where communication and interaction to create synergies and develop novel ideas are highly valued. The position is offered for two years, start date is upon mutual agreement.

(a) stands for «all» in our job advertisements. We live a culture of inclusion and respect. We welcome all people who are interested in innovative, sustainable and meaningful activities. That's what counts - not age, gender, origin, religion, sexual orientation, etc....

PatriciaNitzsche, Stv. Leiterin Personal / Dep. Head Human Resources