PhD Position: Robotic Spraying for Biocementation

About the role

The Chair for Digital Building Technologies at ETH Zurich invites applications for a PhD position on robotic spraying as an additive manufacturing process for biocementation. The research combines two linked lines of work: developing an additive robotic fabrication system based on material deposition and microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP), with a focus on using MICP to make architectural elements. It is part of the SNSF-funded project "DFabuLis: Digital Fabrication Using Living Systems", run with Dr. Dimitrios Terzis, Senior Scientist in the Laloui group at EPFL.

Key responsibilities

• Develop a robotic fabrication process for biocementation, including adapting existing deposition hardware and the computational workflow linking design intent to material placement.
• Produce architectural components and investigate how graded biocementation informs structure, surface and assembly.
• Assess the environmental footprint of the process and use it to guide fabrication and design choices.
• Carry out research in close collaboration with project partners at ETH and EPFL and, where applicable, industry partners.
• Work closely with the Soil Mechanics Laboratory at EPFL, whose material characterisation will inform the process.
• Write scientific articles, present at international conferences and contribute to teaching by supervising semester and master's projects.

Required profile

• Masters' degree in architecture or a closely related discipline, with a demonstrated body of work in digital fabrication.
• Fluency in written and spoken English; conversational German is an advantage.
• Interest in biological or material processes; experience in a wet lab is welcome but not required.
• Interest in circular and low-impact construction; familiarity with life cycle assessment is an advantage.
• Strong communication skills and a collaborative disposition, as the project spans disciplines and research groups.

Required skills

• Competence in building and modifying fabrication equipment; experience with robotics, electronics or control software is a strong asset.
• Computational design, with experience moving between digital models and physical results.

Applications are submitted online through the university's application portal, with a cover letter, CV, portfolio of design and fabrication work (max. 20 MB), three references and a short two-minute video. The deadline is 15 December; the position is available to start as soon as possible.