2 PhD Positions in Condition Assessment and Design Strategies for Reuse of Façade Glass and Glazing Products

The Steel and Composite Structures Group in the Institute of Structural Engineering (IBK, Prof. Taras) has two open positions for full-time (100%) PhD students in Condition Assessment and Design Strategies for Reuse of Façade Glass and Glazing Products.

The positions are available with a flexible start date, as soon as possible starting from February 2025.

The two available PhD positions are connected to a four-year research project, funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation and led by Dr Vlad Silvestru, Senior Researcher in the Steel and Composite Structures group at ETH Zurich. The project team also includes Prof Catherine De Wolf from the Circular Engineering for Architecture group, and an Advisory Board consisting of relevant stakeholders from practice.

The research project aims at developing solutions and guidelines for retrieving glass from and reusing glass in buildings and hereby at supporting the shift of the facade and glass industries towards a circular economy. This will be achieved by (i) evaluating the type and condition of the aged glass assemblies in windows and façades with metal framing from office and public buildings, (ii) analysing the separability of glass assemblies from other materials in such systems, and experimentally evaluating their condition from a functional and structural perspective, and (iii) developing facade design concepts that account for reuse of glass considering state-of-the-art functional and structural requirements and findings from this project, and showing the benefits that can be achieved with such concepts.

The two successful candidates will work together on the same research project. For some of the tasks they will work separately, while for others they will have to collaborate. The responsibilities will include:

• Analysing glass assemblies used in windows and facades in the past 3-4 decades in office and public buildings, along with the requirements they had to fulfil (primary focus on systems with metal framing from Zurich area);
• Gathering of data on glass assemblies and window and facade systems through surveys, field studies, and analysis of literature and existing datasets;
• Carrying out disassembly case studies on end-of-life façades to assess the separability of glass assemblies from other materials and to identify related challenges and limitations;
• Conducting experimental investigations (functional properties, mechanical performance, surface damages) on samples of aged glass and glass units obtained from the case studies;
• Deriving and analysing adaptation concepts for the current façade design and construction approaches to allow the reuse of glass in buildings;
• Conducting comparative life cycle assessment and cost case studies to highlight the benefits of glass reuse;
• Active participation in research activities, including publishing scientific journal papers and presenting findings at conferences and workshops.

The research project will be managed and coordinated by Dr Vlad Silvestru, while Prof Andreas Taras will be the thesis promoter and first supervisor.

More information about the doctorate at ETH Zurich can be found in the AVETH survival guide.

For the open positions we are looking for doctoral candidates who meet the following requirements:

• An MSc degree (or equivalent) in engineering (civil engineering or façade engineering) or architectural technology;
• A background and strong interest in façade construction and engineering, glass as a building material, structural engineering, building physics, and experimental methods;
• Fluent in English (oral and written);
• Experience with computer aided design and engineering software tools commonly used in façade research and design (e.g., structural and building physics simulations for glass assemblies and facades, parametric design tools, etc.);
• Deep enthusiasm for conducting original research in an interdisciplinary and international team, and strive for scientific excellence;
• Excellent communication abilities, social skills, and independent attitude paired with the ability to network and interact with relevant industry stakeholders.

Additional beneficial competences are:

• Good command of German (oral and written) is beneficial for the position and communication with local industry, but not mandatory;
• Experience in preparing and conducting surveys, data analysis, life cycle assessment and circular engineering;
• Experience and knowledge in steel construction are beneficial for engaging in teaching activities of the group.

The two open positions are full-time positions initially categorized as ETH rate Standard, with the possibility of an assignment to a higher salary rate (up to rate 5)  based on the candidates suitability and a willingness to engage in teaching and other scientific service activities within the research group.

Further, you can expect:

• Opportunity to work on a cutting-edge research project in a dynamic, young team together with leading academics and industry experts;
• Access to state-of-the-art facilities, equipment, and resources at ETH Zurich and partner institutions;
• An intellectually stimulating and collaborative research environment in a vibrant team dedicated to excellence at the Institute of Structural Engineering;
• Opportunities for collaboration with other groups from the Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering (D-BAUG) and the Department of Architecture (D-ARCH);
• Competitive salary, and flexible working hours;
• Professional development opportunities, including conference attendance and networking with industry professionals.

ETH Zurich is a family-friendly employer with excellent working conditions. You can look forward to an exciting working environment, cultural diversity and attractive offers and benefits.