Materials science and technology are our passion. With our cutting-edge research, Empa's around 1,100 employees make essential contributions to the well-being of society for a future worth living. Empa is a research institution of the ETH Domain.
Within our focus research Digital Health Solutions, we develop technologies for continuous long-term monitoring of individuals. At the Biomimetic Membranes and Textiles laboratory, interdisciplinary teams work on the development, integration and validation of novel sensing systems - particularly for textile applications. The focus lies on the development of new sensor concepts, their experimental characterisation, the development of suitable methodologies and systematic validation under realistic operating conditions. This includes the setup of measurement systems, signal processing and analysis and the assessment of measurement accuracy, robustness and long-term stability. The resulting data form the basis for model-based approaches to evaluating physiological conditions concerning health and performance.
Your tasks
- Develop data processing pipelines for multimodal physiological signals (pre-processing, feature extrac-tion, and data fusion) from wearable sensing systems
- Design and validate machine learning models for predictive monitoring of physiological states
- Analyse large experimental datasets and quantify sensor performance (accuracy, robustness, signal in-tegrity) under varying physiological and environmental conditions
- Conduct statistical evaluation and model validation using controlled measurements and sensing-dummy reference data
- Collaborate with project partners and disseminate results through reports, visualisations, and scientific publications
Your profile
You hold an M.Sc. in Data Science, Computer Science, Engineering, Physics, Statistics or a related field and are motivated to apply advanced analytics to real-world digital health challenges. You have strong foundations in signal processing and are confident working in Python or MATLAB (e.g. NumPy, Pandas, SciPy). Experience with biomedical signals or signal quality assessment is an advantage.
- You bring initial experience in machine learning (e.g. scikit-learn, XGBoost, PyTorch) and statistical modelling (e.g. mixed models, ANOVA, power analysis). Curiosity and a willingness to learn are a pre-requisite and familiarity with physiological data (e.g., heart rate variability) is a plus.
- You enjoy working with complex, multimodal datasets and developing robust algorithms for continuous monitoring and predictive modelling. You are comfortable combining coding, data analysis, and experimental validation in lab and field settings.
- You work independently, think analytically, and take initiative.
- Excellent English skills are required; German is a plus.
Our offer
We offer you the opportunity to develop, deepen and apply your expertise in an application-oriented research environment at Empa. Working closely with interdisciplinary teams and national and international partners, you will expand your professional network and build a strong foundation for a future career in academia or industry. Empa actively supports your professional and personal development. The position is initially limited to three years, with a start date to be agreed upon mutually. The doctoral project will be carried out in close collaboration with the Department D-HEST at ETH Zurich. The doctoral degree will be awarded by ETH Zurich.
We live a culture of inclusion and respect. We welcome all people who are interested in innovative, sustainable and meaningful activities - that's what counts.
Sarah
Stüdli,
Bereichspersonalleiterin / HR Partner