Background

The Daylight Integration Nexus (DINx) is an initiative of DARCH. Fellows will be hosted by the chair of Architecture and Building Systems (A/S) at the Institute of Technology in Architecture (ITA).

The Department of Architecture (DARCH) invites three postdoctoral fellows for 18 months each to form independent research fields at the Daylight Integration Nexus (DINx).

Proposals are sought in the areas of:

This research area focuses on understanding how occupants interact with and experience daylight in built environments, integrating user perspectives into daylighting design and research.

This research area explores the aesthetic, artistic, and design dimensions of daylight, examining how daylight can be creatively integrated into architectural and design practices.

This research area bridges scientific research on the health effects of daylight with practical applications in building design, translating findings into actionable design strategies.

A/S investigates passive and active systems for energy supply and climate control in buildings, focusing on how building systems and materials interact with architectural design and people.

The A/S Zero Carbon Building Systems (ZCBS) Lab offers a platform for experimentation under local or emulated global climates, complementing ITA's digital fabrication opportunities.

Supported by Velux Stiftung, the A/S group has partnered with the Chair of Architecture and Urban Design to form DINx, aiming to integrate daylighting into DARCH's research and teaching portfolio.

The Daylight Integration Nexus at the Department of Architecture

DINx is a platform to intersect and expand daylight research and teaching at ETH Zurich's DARCH. Over three years, it will explore the integration and translation of selected topics in daylighting into other active research domains at DARCH, especially at ITA, from a systemic perspective. In collaboration with the Chair of Architecture and Urban Design, and supported by Velux Stiftung, three post-doctoral fellows will be hosted. Fellows will explore novel approaches to integrate daylighting into other active research domains at DARCH and translate between research in health effects of daylight and building sciences. Coordinated by DINx, the fellowships will leverage and inform laboratories and workshops at the Institute of Technology in Architecture, where findings will be materialized and tested.

What we offer

Opportunity to join ETH Zurich, described as one of the world's leading universities in science and technology. Highlights include: 22 Nobel laureates, 2 Fields Medalists, 3 Pritzker Prize winners, and 1 Turing Award winner as alumni. DARCH is ranked 4th in the global 2025 QS World University Ranking by Subject. ITA is a leading multi-disciplinary platform for research and teaching of technology in architecture. ITA hosts unique experimental facilities, including the NCCR Digital Fabrication and the Zero Carbon Building System Laboratory for daylight and integrated systems research.

Application process

Applications are accepted until 15th February 2026.

Applications shall comprise:

  • Motivation letter including a statement of research area (occupant-centric daylighting, art and design of daylight, daylighting for human health and well-being).
  • Research proposal with a clear statement of objectives and schedule.
  • CV with selected publications relevant for the proposed research.

Link

jobs.ethz.ch