EPFL seeks a Scientific Assistant to research bio-inspired construction materials at the MATR Lab in Fribourg, focusing on sustainable material design and lifecycle efficiency.
Positioned within the Materials in Transition (MATR) Lab at EPFL’s School of ENAC, this role investigates how biological mechanisms can inspire next-generation natural materials for sustainable construction. The primary objective is to engineer materials that maintain functional performance while enhancing resource efficiency across multiple lifecycles, addressing evolving socio-economic and environmental challenges.
Responsibilities
- Explore new material formulations, fabrication techniques, and characterization methods.
- Analyze structure-property relationships to assess the suitability of novel materials for construction applications.
- Incorporate resilience into material design to address climate change and social equity issues.
- Create digital assessment tools to evaluate whole-life material flows and their cross-sector impacts.
- Design product-scale adaptability through material science and engineering principles.
Requirements
- Hold a Master’s degree in architecture, material science, civil engineering, building engineering, industrial design, or a closely related discipline.
- Demonstrate fluent proficiency in English.
- Possess strong analytical capabilities and problem-solving skills.
- Exhibit excellent scientific writing and communication abilities.
Nice to have
- A strong interest in interdisciplinary areas spanning architecture, material science, and biotechnology.
- Willingness to experiment with new testing methodologies.
- A practical, hands-on approach to conceptual design.
- Familiarity with contemporary digital design and manufacturing technologies.
- Prior experience in material fabrication, prototyping, computational design, or material science.
- Proficiency in French.
What the company offers
- Access to a world-class, international research environment featuring state-of-the-art experimental facilities.
- Competitive salary package.
- Support for attending and presenting research at international conferences.
- A stimulating work setting located at the Smart Living Lab in EPFL Fribourg.
About the company
The MATR Lab is a dynamic and expanding research team dedicated to integrating resilience into construction material design. The group actively responds to global challenges such as climate change and social equity by advancing sustainable building technologies.
- Part of a growing and dynamic research community.
- Focus on addressing climate change and social equity through material innovation.
How to apply
Documents to submit:
- CV
- Motivation letter
- References
Application language: English
Quelle: öffentlich zugängliche Karriereseite des Arbeitgebers. Batchly ist nicht der Arbeitgeber und steht nicht notwendigerweise in einem Vertragsverhältnis mit dem Unternehmen.