EPFL’s MATR Lab in Fribourg is hiring a postdoctoral researcher to study the reuse, adaptation, and extended service life of building components through sustainable construction research.
This position supports the MATR Lab’s mission to advance sustainable construction by focusing on how building elements can be reused and adapted over time. The researcher will join a dynamic team working at the intersection of material science, architectural design, and building performance to address challenges related to climate resilience and resource efficiency.
Responsibilities
- Review and synthesize existing studies on material value chains and building stock inventories to measure how construction components can be adapted for longer use.
- Explore building ownership structures that encourage the reuse of construction elements.
- Study the root causes of performance degradation in building envelopes.
- Create standardized non-destructive testing procedures for evaluating building envelope components.
- Assist with active research projects focused on design for disassembly and reversible connection systems.
- Design and execute experiments, collect and analyze data, and share findings through publications and presentations.
- Collaborate with academic peers and international research groups.
- Lead and co-author scientific papers for peer-reviewed journals.
- Participate in grant writing and funding applications.
- Provide teaching support and supervise doctoral and master’s students in laboratory activities.
Requirements
- A doctoral degree in architecture, civil engineering, building technology, material science, or a closely related field.
- Practical experience working in a laboratory setting.
- Proven ability to apply quantitative research methodologies.
- Professional fluency in English.
Nice to have
- Candidates lacking a PhD but possessing equivalent research experience may be considered for a scientific assistant role.
- A strong enthusiasm for interdisciplinary research bridging architecture and material science.
- Familiarity with building construction techniques, materials, design principles, and lifecycle processes.
- A proactive mindset with a willingness to experiment with new methodological approaches.
- Proficiency in programming tools such as MATLAB, Python, or R, or a readiness to learn them.
- Prior exposure to areas like building technology, life cycle assessment, computational design, structural analysis, material testing, or prototyping.
- Experience running building energy performance simulations is advantageous.
- Strong communication skills for collaborating across diverse research disciplines.
- Independence combined with collaborative teamwork abilities.
- Knowledge of French is considered a bonus.
What the company offers
- Access to a world-class research environment featuring cutting-edge experimental facilities and a vibrant scientific community.
- A competitive salary package.
- Opportunities for international collaboration and visits through established networks with industry partners and global universities.
- A stimulating work setting located at the Smart Living Lab in EPFL Fribourg.
About the company
The MATR Lab at EPFL is dedicated to embedding resilience into the design and use of construction materials. The team addresses pressing socio-economic issues, including climate change, social equity, occupant health, and supply chain independence. Their work focuses on creating digital assessment tools to track whole-life material flows and their impacts, while also engineering adaptability at the product level through advanced material science and design strategies.
- Focus on integrating resilience into construction material design to tackle climate change, social equity, and supply chain challenges.
- Development of digital methods to assess material flows and their cross-sector impacts to guide policy and practice.
- Engineering whole-life adaptability at the product scale using material science and design innovation.
How to apply
Documents to submit:
- Detailed CV
- Brief motivation letter and research statement
- Names and contact information of 2-3
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