Research / Teaching Assistant for Pedagogical Innovation and Hands-on Workshops on Regenerative Materials

ETH Zurich seeks a Junior Research/Teaching Assistant to support pedagogical innovation in regenerative materials through hands-on workshops and experimental learning. The role combines teaching, material experimentation, and coordination in an interdisciplinary team based in Zürich.

This position strengthens hands-on education in regenerative materials by developing a pedagogy rooted in learning by doing and iterative experimentation. It combines teaching, material practice, and coordination to advance sustainable construction education.

Responsibilities

• Design, coordinate, and deliver experimental learning formats—ranging from 2-hour sessions to full-week workshops—that connect materials science with architectural and engineering practice.
• Co-develop and lead workshops on earth/clay, mineral binders, fibres, and other regenerative materials, including material prep, lab safety, and logistical planning.
• Create and maintain a teaching resource library, including experiment guides, step-by-step instructions, and open educational modules in digital and physical formats.
• Support training for ETH staff, teaching assistants, and external partners to enable scalable and reproducible adoption of the pedagogy.
• Integrate workshop outcomes with ongoing research projects on mix design, material characterization, and process optimization.
• Help develop teaching content tailored to local resources and specific audiences such as engineers, architects, and construction firms.

Requirements

• Enthusiasm for regenerative construction and hands-on making in the built environment.
• Interest in local resources, vernacular building techniques, and their modern, circular, low-carbon applications.
• Academic or professional background in architecture, civil or materials engineering, materials science, environmental design, design education, or a related field.
• A Master’s or PhD degree is considered an advantage.
• Proven experience in designing and delivering experimental higher education or professional training programs.
• Experience facilitating workshops with strong group management and safety awareness.
• Skills in material characterization and formulation, especially with earth/clay or biobased materials, or the ability to learn quickly and work closely with researchers.
• Ability to produce engaging educational media such as protocols, visuals, short videos, time-lapses, and documentation.
• Pedagogical skills including comfort with design thinking and openness to counter-intuitive experiments as learning tools.
• Excellent communication skills in English.
• Strong organizational abilities in planning, logistics, supplier coordination, scheduling, and inventory management.
• Team-oriented mindset with empathy and the capacity to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Valid driving licence for local transport of materials and equipment.

Nice to have

• Proficiency in German and/or French.

What the company offers

• A collaborative, interdisciplinary team of architects, engineers, and scientists.
• The chance to shape a flagship hands-on education module at the intersection of material science, design, and sustainability.
• Access to labs, workshops, and prototyping spaces for developing and testing innovative teaching methods.
• A supportive culture based on trust, kindness, and co-creation, with opportunities for professional growth.
• Employment conditions aligned with ETH Zurich’s guidelines.

About the company

ETH Zurich’s team is interdisciplinary, bringing together architects, engineers, and scientists. The culture emphasizes trust, kindness, and collaborative creation, fostering an environment where innovation and education thrive together.

• Interdisciplinary collaboration among architects, engineers, and scientists.
• A culture built on trust, kindness, and co-creation.