Empa - the place where innovation starts
Empa is the research institute for materials science and technology of the ETH Domain and conducts cutting-edge research for the benefit of industry and the well-being of society.
Head of Laboratory for Urban Energy Systems
The Urban Energy Systems Laboratory focusses on the development of methods, strategies and solutions to transform buildings, neighbourhoods and cities into energy efficient and decarbonized systems. With our research we seek for solutions that significantly contribute in reaching national and global emission targets. Our core competences lie in the modelling, design, control and assessment of building and urban systems with focus on energy hubs, multi-energy grids, and integration of renewable energy and storage systems. Our strategy is to develop innovative building energy systems and technologies, to design relevant numerical models and analysis techniques for assessing the optimal integration, design and operation of multi-energy systems from building to district and higher scales, and to test and implement the developed strategies through demonstration in close collaboration with research and industry partners. More information can be found at
https://www.empa.ch/web/empa/urban-energy-systems.
Your tasks
As an inspirational research leader you will manage a highly interdisciplinary laboratory, develop projects, conduct research and obtain funding for national and international projects. Research topics include:
- Multi-energy systems: The aim is to model, design, analyse, and foster the realization of innovative decentralized energy systems and technologies from building to district and (inter-) national scale.
- Control of multi-energy systems: Development of innovative control methods and test them at Empa's research and technology transfer platforms ehub, NEST and move (https://www.empa.ch/web/empa/demonstrators).
- Urban informatics: Strengthening the urban digital layer as the primary interface between the physical urban elements of buildings, equipment and people, empowering more adaptive, integrated and optimized planning, commissioning and control.
You will establish collaborations on national and international level with scientific and industrial partners, actively contribute to the cutting edge research and technological innovations, provide mentorship to members of the lab including the supervision of PhD's, postdocs and master students for achieving excellence with impactful results, and organise local and international scientific events. Teaching at university level is encouraged.
Your Profile
You have a doctoral degree in Mechanical, Civil or Electrical Engineering, Computer Science or similar with an outstanding research track record and strong expertise in at least one of the core competences of the laboratory. Expertise in obtaining and leading externally funded research projects, maintaining long-term collaboration with scientific and industrial partners, organising scientific conferences are required. Excellent publishing and communication skills are essential together with an already existing broad professional national and international network. You are a team player and your strengths include taking personal responsibilities, high motivation for excellence, flair for elaborating out-of-the-box solutions.
We offer an executive position at a research institution with excellent infrastructure and broad interdisciplinary surroundings. You will work in close collaboration with other research groups at all three Empa sites and within the ETH domain.