PhD in landscape modeling (landscape design - landscape science)

The Chair for Planning of Landscape and Urban Systems (PLUS) at the Institute for Spatial and Landscape Development, ETH Zurich, is a young, dynamic and interdisciplinary research team addressing problems of sustainable spatial and landscape development. Starting in Mai 2025 or under agreement, we are looking for a PhD in landscape modeling (interaction landscape design - landscape science)

Social and economic globalization is leading to unprecedented trivialization of Baukultur. The 4-year PhD position will work in the frame of the Swiss National Research Program NRP81 Baukultur on the QUALISCAPES project. The main aim of QUALISCAPES is to assess critical tipping points in Baukultur qualities as a basis for activating placemaking, i.e., an intentional change in the cultural landscape to create sense of place. To achieve this, the interdisciplinary team proposes an unconventional, transdisciplinary approach that integrates design, land system science, cognitive-psychology, geography, and social science using advanced 3D digital technologies. Through empirical and experimental investigations, QUALISCAPES aims to (1) unravel established and new elements of Baukultur qualities crucial for fostering a sense of place, and (2) activate Baukultur to secure co-evolutionary processes between people and place to reduce vulnerability to global processes.

The PhD student will investigate tipping points in Baukultur qualities related to the sense of place by leveraging 3D point cloud technologies within a design-science loop across three case studies in Switzerland. In particular, the candidate will co-develop 3D point cloud models with stakeholders in the case studies and assess their performance in terms of Baukultur qualities contributing to sense of place. To assess the performance of the designs, the candidate will develop a model linking Baukultur qualities and sense of place utilizing Large Language Models and use cognitive-psychological methods to assess impacts on sense of place. Additionally, the candidate will contribute to identifying both enablers and barriers to Baukultur processes through participation in various workshops. 

We are seeking a highly motivated candidate with a MSc degree in Landscape Planning, Digital Architecture, Ecological Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Geography or related discipline, who has a deep understanding of landscape and/or Baukultur and is skilled in programming. Ideal candidates have experience with LiDAR data and point cloud data manipulations. Furthermore, the applicant should have a good command of English (both written and spoken) and should be willing to communicate with and work in a large interdisciplinary project. German is an advantage as a second language.

With the social and leadership competencies, ETH Zurich has developed a common understanding for a shared work culture. Kindly try to incorporate these six competencies into your recruitment.

• Your career with impact: Become part of ETH Zurich, which not only supports your professional development, but also actively contributes to positive change in society.
• We are actively committed to a sustainable and climate-neutral university.
• You can expect numerous benefits, such as public transport season tickets and car sharing, a wide range of sports offered by the ASVZ, childcare and attractive pension benefits.