PhD in Reversible Assemblies for Sustainable Construction

About the Project

The Materials in Transition (MATR) Lab at the School of ENAC, EPFL, is looking for a self-driven and inquisitive PhD candidate to start between July and September 2026, or upon agreement, in the field of sustainable construction.

The PhD research will focus on the development of design approaches for building elements that can meet functional performance criteria across multiple lifecycles enabling reuse; adaptability; and reduced environmental impact. This will involve the development of novel assessment methods for reuse under changing socio-economic conditions with a particular emphasis on reversible construction and practical methods for separation, reuse, and reconfiguration. Through this work, you will help redefine how building elements are designed, assembled and reused through the development and validation of practical and scalable approaches to multi-lifecycle design. Possible research directions include:

• Design for disassembly and reversible connection types
• Sustainable material technologies for construction
• Digital and/or parametric design methods for lifecycle-oriented design
• Strategies for building element service life extension
• Experimental validation through prototypes and demonstrator builds

The exact focus will be adapted to the candidate’s background and interests.

MATR Lab

The incoming PhD 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 PhD candidate, 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;
• Present your work at international conferences;
• Contribute to laboratory activities, including co-supervision of MSc students and teaching assistance.

Profile

• Masters’ degree in architecture, civil engineering, building technology, industrial design, material science or related field - Faq's
• Strong interest in emerging, interdisciplinary fields within architecture and material science
• Interest in conceptual design and a practical and hands-on mindset
• Strong analytical background and problem-solving abilities
• Creative and eager to explore and develop new methodological approaches
• Proficient in, or willing to learn, programming languages (e.g. MATLAB, Python, R)
• Experience with one or more of the following is an asset: LCA tools, computational design, structural design, material research, fabrication or prototyping
• 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 vibrant scientific and entrepreneurial community
• Fully funded PhD position with competitive renumeration
• Opportunities to attend and present your work at international conferences
• International collaboration and visiting opportunities through an excellent network of collaborations with industrial stakeholders and leading international universities
• Stimulating work environment based at the Smart Living Lab, EPFL Fribourg

Informations

Only applications submitted through the online platform are considered. Please apply by uploading a single PDF file that contains supporting information, including:

• Your detailed CV (including grades and links to relevant publications, if applicable)
• Brief motivation letter and research statement describing your research interests and experience (max. 2 pages)
• Names and contact information of 2-3 references willing to provide a reference supporting your application.

Important: Your application should demonstrate a genuine interest in the advertised topic or the broader research themes of the lab. We value original, personally written applications that reflect your own thinking and voice.

Pre-screening will start immediately and continue until suitable candidates have been found. The selection process involves multiple stages, and short-listed candidates will be requested to apply to a specific EPFL Doctoral Program to qualify for a PhD at EPFL, i.e. EDAR. Please check this page for additional information on admission. Please note that this parallel application process is necessary to be eligible for a PhD at EPFL.

Application deadline: 26/05/2026

For more information, please contact: Prof. Rebecca Hartwell (rebecca.hartwell@epfl.ch).