Student Assistant for the ArtEmis project and FEAR experiment in Bedretto Underground Laboratory

The BedrettoLab (Bedretto Underground Laboratory for Geosciences and Geoenergies) is an innovative research facility operated by ETH Zurich. It is situated in a 5.2 kilometers long tunnel with the entrance in the Bedretto Valley (TI). The BedrettoLab, which is outfitted with cutting-edge technology, provides perfect circumstances for conducting experimental study on geothermal energy exploitation and earthquake physics. The team consists of about 30 ETH scientists from different disciplines and collaborates with several research institutions from Switzerland, Europe and USA.

The advertised role requires significant time working in an underground tunnel and involves primarily three key tasks:

1. You will assist with general fieldwork in the BedrettoLab, particularly within the context of installations for the upcoming FEAR (Fault Activation and Earthquake Rupture) experiment. The core idea of FEAR is to gain an understanding of how earthquakes start and stop by using hydraulic stimulation to modify stress and initiate small, non-damaging earthquakes (magnitude ~1.0 events) on candidate faults in the vicinity of the Bedretto Tunnel.

2. Within the context of FEAR, specific instruments enabling understanding and measurement of the fluid dynamics pre- and post-earthquake stimulation are highly relevant. For this reason, one focus point is to measure both reactive and non-reactive dissolved gas species in the groundwater. The installation of a portable mass spectrometer (miniRuedi) in combination with a second instrument, the Rad8, helps determine continuously such gas specie concentrations during stimulation. Collectively these instruments can measure He, Ar, Kr, Rn, N2, CO2, and O2 continuously in groundwater within the monitoring area pre- and post-earthquake stimulation. Your role will be to help maintain the continuous monitoring of such equipment successfully and (with guidance) troubleshoot potential issues with running instruments. The ability of post-processing of data from this instrument in Python is considered a highly welcomed asset. This second point will constitute a larger part of the role you are employed for. 

3. Help install and maintain instruments for the ArtEmis project (Awareness and resilience through European multi sensor system). ArtEmis aims to deploy >100 Radon sensors throughout Europe with the long-term aim to also improve earthquake forecasting. While the ArtEmis project has a different objective in the larger picture than that of FEAR there is an overlap within the scope of the two projects in that one ArtEmis sensor will be placed within the vicinity of the FEAR experiment, to determine how and if Rn concentrations in groundwater change over the course of the induced seismicity within the Bedretto Laboratory. However, by spring 2025, help will also be needed to install sensors throughout various locations in Switzerland, with some focus on the Wallis.

We are looking for students preferably in their first master year in Physics, Engineering or Earth Sciences….

You will help the BedrettoLab team with:

• Maintenance specifically of the miniRuedi portable mass spectrometer, including replacement of spare parts and troubleshooting problems
• Maintenance of the Rad8 instrument (e.g., exchanging and reactivating Drierite)
• Development of data processing and analysis software with Python 
• Installation of ArtEmis sensors (scheduled spring/summer 2025)
• Data collection 
• Installation of other sensors and scientific instruments
• Data acquisition with borehole logging techniques and rock core scanning devices

You have a good interest in fieldwork skills and are ready to work in a peculiar environment. We would like to highlight that a significant amount of time will be spent working inside a tunnel in Bedretto ~2hours south of Zürich. We expect the candidate to be able to speak German and English and be happy to work in collaboration with many colleagues from different disciplines. Some coding experience and basic python understanding is a plus. Italian and/or French and having a valid drivers license are considerable assets. 

You can start as soon as possible. You must be enrolled at ETHZ or UniZurich and must be willing to work 15h/week on average during the semester. It is possible to work more during the semester breaks (up to 40 hours). We handle working time flexibly such that you can take time to study for exams or fulfil other obligations for your studies while coordinating with the team when tasks need to be completed. Ideally, we are looking for individuals who can stay employed as a student assistant for at least one year, and possibly longer.

• An interdisciplinary team with good support and a friendly learning environment.
• Standard ETH student RA salary