SwitzerlandDoctoral Studies at the D-ARCH
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A doctorate can be obtained within a maximum of six years at various institutes of the Department of Architecture (D-ARCH). It is possible to begin doctorate studies at any time in the academic year. The doctoral programme concludes with the title Dr. sc ETH Zurich.
Doctoral Program in Architecture & Technology (A&T), ETH Zurich
The Doctoral Program in Architecture & Technology is oriented toward the training of scholars in the fields of engineering, science and technology in architecture, with a focus on architecture, building engineering and digital and computational technologies.
We are offering 3 full-time (100%) PhD positions in the interdisciplinary Architecture & Technology (A&T) PhD program to start on October 1, 2019.
About the Program
The doctoral program in Architecture and Technology is a highly interdisciplinary PhD program, offered and managed collaboratively by the chairs at the Institute of Technology in Architecture (ITA) at the department of Architecture (D-ARCH), ETH Zurich. For more information about ITA please see the Institute’s website: http://www.ita.arch.ethz.ch/.
The following professors/chairs are currently involved in A&T PhD program. Successful applicants will join one of these chairs:
-Chairs of the Institute of Technology in Architecture
-Architecture and the Building Process
-Architecture and Digital Fabrication
-Computer Aided Architectural Design (CAAD)
-Structural Design
-Architecture and Building Systems
-Architecture and Structures (BRG)
-Digital Building Technologies
Applicants are strongly recommended to check the research focus of these chairs in order to find the chair whose research is most related and/or interesting to the applicant’s own. As part of the application process, all applicants must clearly mention the name of one professorship they wish to work with.
Although the successful applicant will work directly with one of the chairs/professors, because of the interdisciplinary nature of the program, there are several milestones at which PhD students need to present their works in progress for other professors as well for other researchers at ITA (Note that currently there are more than 50 PhD students working on various research topics at the ITA’s different chairs).
The application process is highly competitive. We are looking for “excellent young researchers” with a background in engineering and technology, as well as architects with experience in research and an interest in relating building technology or engineering to building practice. Research interests and directions should be matched to one of the above-mentioned research groups.
Suitable candidates must hold a Master’s degree acquired at university level (equivalent to the FHEQ-Level 7) in architecture, engineering or related fields.
The application process is as follows
1.- Until January 31, 2019: Applications (as requested below) must be submitted online.
2.- Applicants are asked to select one professorship as their preferred chair. After initial screening, the eligible application dossiers will be sent to the corresponding professorship. After internal assessments and interviews, each professorship may select a candidate for the shortlisted group.
3.- Around mid-March 2019: The shortlisted applicants will be invited for an online interview with all the participating professors.
4.- Latest by the 1st of April 2019: The successful applicants will be informed following the interviews.
Application package
Application packages must be submitted online. The submission deadline (including recommendation letters) is January 31, 2019. Incomplete submissions will not be considered.
Applications must consist of the following documents:
1.- A letter of motivation, stating his or her future career intentions, reasons for wanting to pursue a doctorate in Architecture & Technology at ETH Zurich, arguments why he/she would be a good candidate and how his/her background has prepared them for doctoral studies. The preferred professorship at ITA where the applicant would like to undertake his/her PhD research must be mentioned in this letter.
2.- A three-page (maximum) research statement, including
3.- The identification of the main research field(s) or topic(s) of interest,
4.- A summary and outline of the research proposal,
5.- Three letters of recommendation. Referees must send their recommendation letters directly by email to ita-phd-fellowship@arch.ethz.ch. The letter must be received before the application deadline.
6.- An academic/long curriculum vitae, including a publication list and a portfolio or related work samples (please, provide a download link in your application for larger files).
What ETH Zurich offers to successful applicants:
The program provides funding for three years. There are well-defined levels of PhD student contracts at ETH Zurich. Successful applicants will be employed 100% (based on a “Standard rate”) and will receive monthly salaries. For a detail calculation of salaries please refer here.
Additionally, applicants can find useful information about living and working in Zürich here.
For further questions, please contact Vahid Moosavi, PhD coordinator at ITA.
