Postdoc in Assessment and Adaptation of Building Components for Extended Service Lifespans

Mission

Contribution

The Materials in Transition (MATR) Lab at the School of ENAC, EPFL, is seeking a self-driven and inquisitive post-doctoral researcher to start between August and October 2026, in the field of sustainable construction. The research integrates dynamic material value-chain analyses, ownership models, technical performance assessment, and design-for-disassembly strategies to support the reuse and adaptation of building components.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Analysis and synthesis of existing research on material value chains and building stock inventories to quantify the adaptation potential of construction elements
• Investigations into building ownership models that support the reuse of building elements
• Identification and analysis of underlying mechanisms for deterioration in building envelope performance
• Development of standardised test protocols for non-destructive assessment of building envelope elements
• Support for ongoing practical research on design for disassembly and engineered reversible connection systems

MATR Lab

The incoming candidate will be part of a growing and dynamic research team at the MATR lab, led by Prof. Rebecca Hartwell, where we seek to:

• Integrate resilience into the design and application of construction materials in response to evolving socio-economic challenges, such as climate change, social equity, occupant health, and strategic independence in material supply-chains.
• Develop comprehensive digital assessment methods to evaluate whole-life material flows and their associated impact across sectors to inform policy and practice.
• Engineer whole-life adaptability at the product-scale through material science and design. Main duties and responsibilities

As a research collaborator, you will be expected to:

• Conduct cutting-edge research including experimental design, data collection and analysis, and dissemination;
• Research in collaboration with academic partners and international collaborators;
• Lead and contribute to scientific articles for publication in peer-reviewed journals;
• Support in funding acquisition;
• Contribute to laboratory activities, including PhD and Master student supervision and teaching assistance. Profile

• PhD in architecture, civil engineering, building technology, material science or a related discipline. Candidates without a PhD but with equivalent research experience and expertise may also be considered for an alternative appointment as a scientific assistant
• Strong interest in emerging, interdisciplinary fields within architecture and material science
• Knowledge of building construction methods, materials, architectural design principles, and building lifecycle processes
• Hands-on experience in laboratory environment
• Creative and eager to explore and develop new methodological approaches
• Experience with quantitative research methods with a strong interest in contributing to both the conceptual and empirical dimensions of research
• Proficient in, or willing to learn, programming languages (e.g. MATLAB, Python, R)
• Experience with one or more of the following is an asset: building technology, LCA methods, computational design, structural design, material testing & characterisation, fabrication or prototyping
• Experience in building energy performance simulations is a plus
• Ability to communicate with researchers from different disciplines
• Self-driven with the ability to work both independently and collaboratively
• Fluency in English is essential [French would be an asset] We offer

• World-class and international research and training environment with access to state-of-the art experimental facilities and a rich and vibrant scientific and entrepreneurial community
• Competitive renumeration
• International collaboration and visiting opportunities through an excellent network of