PhD Opening in 3D Printed Stone for Heritage Buildings
Develop a modular powder-bed 3D printer for graded stone deposition in historic architectural restoration.
Best for:Best for architecture or engineering graduates with strong digital fabrication and mechanical prototyping skills.
Overview
The Chair for Digital Building Technologies at ETH Zürich invites applications for a doctoral position focused on 3D printing stone for heritage building restoration. The candidate will design and build a laboratory-scale powder-bed printing system featuring dual powder and dual liquid feeds to produce spatially graded replacement elements. Working closely with a partner materials science research group, the project combines digital fabrication, material behavior, and conservation practice. The successful applicant will commission the printing hardware, fabricate architectural artifacts, and disseminate findings through academic publications and international conferences.
What you'll do
- Design, build, and commission a laboratory-scale powder-bed printer with dual powder and dual liquid feeds.
- Produce stone replacement components for historic buildings that satisfy strict conservation requirements.
- Develop tectonic strategies for integrating printed elements into existing structures using graded color, texture, and veining.
- Collaborate with the partner materials group by supplying printed samples with engineered defects for deterioration research.
- Publish research outcomes in leading academic venues and present findings at international conferences.
- Contribute to departmental teaching by supervising semester and master's student projects.
Requirements
Degree required: Master's degree in architecture or a closely related discipline
Degree offered: PhD
Language: English; excellent oral and written proficiency required
Instruction: English
- Substantial design work and strong background in digital fabrication
- Proficiency in mechanical design, prototyping, and building fabrication equipment
- Fluency in computational design and translating digital models into physical results
- Strong communication skills and ability to collaborate across research groups
Funding & terms
How to apply
Submit your application exclusively through the ETH Zürich online application portal. Include a cover letter with a link to a short introductory video, a CV, a design portfolio, and reference contact details.
- Cover letter
- CV
- Portfolio of design and fabrication work
- 3 reference letters
Contact
Create a free profile to unlock your personal match score, the full requirements, funding details and how to apply — in English or Persian.