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

60%-100%, Zurich, fixed-term

The Chair of Sustainable Construction at ETH Zurich intends to ground sustainability in the disciplines of the built environment. We are targeting September 2026 as starting date (or upon agreement).

The climate crisis demands swift, systemic change in how we design, build, and learn. The Chair of Sustainable Construction at ETH Zurich, is a group of scientists, engineers and architects aiming to ground sustainability in the disciplines of the built environment. The objective is to identify the relevant parameters that influence the environmental impacts of buildings to implement regenerative practices throughout the development of innovative strategies adapted to each actor. It involves interdisciplinary works and draws on LCA, urban metabolism and material science.

Alongside research and industry collaborations, we deliver experimental workshops for students (BSc, MSc) and professionals (CAS, MAS) to raise awareness and train them on the use of regenerative materials. Over the last 10 years, we have developed teaching content that can be characterised as trans-material and trans-disciplinary.

Job description

We seek a colleague to strengthen pedagogical innovation and the hands-on education program in regenerative materials. The position combines pedagogy, experimentation, material practice, and coordination: design, coordinate, and deliver experimental learning formats (2h, half-day, full-day, one-week) that translate materials science into architectural and engineering practice.

• Develop a coherent pedagogy grounded in:
  • Learning by doing and iterative experimentation.
  • “Matter before material”: understanding granular, fibrous, binding, soft and water phases through intuitive, counter-intuitive, and phenomenological experiments.
  • Multisensory exercises that foster intuitive understanding.
  • Visible-invisible bridges: tools that reveal micro-to-macro behaviour (time-lapse, polarized light, macro imagery) to connect microstructure, material performance, and structural/architectural form.
  • Transdisciplinary intervention based on role play and design thinking
• Co-create and run workshops on earth/clay, mineral binders, fibres, and more, including preparation of materials, safe lab protocols, and logistics (space, tools, transport).
• Build and maintain a digital and physical library of teaching resources: experiment sheets, step-by-step explanations, and open educational modules.
• Train-the-trainer: support ETH staff, teaching assistants, and external partners to adopt and adapt the pedagogy; promote scalability and reproducibility.
• Contribute to research-aligned teaching: connect workshop insights with ongoing chair projects on mix design, characterization, and process optimization.
• Help to develop coherent teaching input for material development adapted to local resources and specific public (engineer, architect, construction company) Profile

• Passion for regenerative construction and the future of the built environment; enthusiasm for hands-on making.
• Interest in local resources, vernacular techniques, and contemporary reinterpretations that align with scale up, circular and low-carbon construction.
• Academic or professional background in one or more of: architecture, civil/material engineering, materials science, environmental design, design education, or a related field. Master or PhD degree is valued.
• Demonstrated experience in:
  • Designing and delivering experimental higher education or professional training.
  • Workshop facilitation with strong group dynamics and safety culture.
  • Material characterization and formulation (preferably earth/clay and biobased