Phd Researcher

**PhD Researcher in Architectural Cognition in Practice**:
**100%, Singapore, fixed-term**

The centre currently runs several research programmes with the Future Cities Laboratory (FCL) as one of the programmes. It is home to a community of over 100 PhD, postdoctoral and Professorial researchers working on diverse themes related to sustainable cities and resilient infrastructure systems. In the course of their work, researchers actively collaborate with universities, research institutes, industry, and government agencies to offer practical solutions.

**Project background**

The Architectural Cognition in Practice (ACP) research group, within Future Cities Lab Global, Singapore-ETH Centre, aims to improve how architects conceptualise the end-users in the architectural and urban design process, by providing empirical knowledge and evaluation methods from the multidisciplinary field of Architectural Cognition. The project integrates a range of research techniques and methods from cognitive and behavioural science, implementation science, computer science, as well as from architectural research; these include, among others, behavioural mapping, eye-tracking, space syntax and others.

**Through this approach the project aims to**:

- increase our understanding of person-environment interactions, including the cognition, decision making in and experience of complex spaces by diverse user-groups;
- study movement through buildings and neighbourhoods, i.e. pedestrian activity, wayfinding, exploration and search for destinations; and

**Job description**

The PhD Researcher’s primary responsibility will be to carry out world-class research broadly within the group’s domain of interest and publishing in the top-tier international venues. As part of this responsibility, the PhD researcher will work closely with the Post-Doctoral researchers of the team, and support the supervision of undergraduate and masters students within the group. Furthermore, due to the nature of the project, the PhD researcher is expected to engage in external collaborations with both academic and industry partners at other institutions, this may include secondments and time spent abroad. The development of new promising collaborations with top external colleagues will be encouraged.

Furthermore, a strong involvement is expected in various other research aspects of the group's activities and projects, potentially including:

- Helping to explore and define new research opportunities for the group
- Contribute grant proposals and technical reports for funded projects
- Organisation of conferences and seminars within and beyond FCLG
- Assisting in the coordination of collaborative research projects
- Participation in teaching and outreach activities is optional but possible if desired

**Your profile**
- MSc degree in Architecture, Urbanism, Cognitive/Behavioural Psychology or a closely-related field;
- Strong research background in at least one and ideally several: architectural design, spatial cognition, wayfinding, behavioural science, geoinformatics, or user-experience;
- High motivation, ambition and enthusiasm about behavioural research, an analytical mindset, attention to detail, self-driven, and ability to work independently and as a research team member.
- Strong interpersonal skills and a desire to develop advising skills and help foster the next generation of researchers
- Outstanding communication skills in English, both oral and written

**Desirable**:

- Previous experience with conducting and/or analysing behavioural experiments in particular wayfinding experiments in both real-world and virtual environments;
- Computational skills (Python, R or other software language);
- Knowledge of computational methods for analytical and generative components for algorithmic architectural and urban planning;
- Knowledge in statistics and open-science.

**Your workplace**

We value diversity

In line with our values, ETH Zurich encourages an inclusive culture. We promote equality of opportunity, value diversity and nurture a working and learning environment in which the rights and dignity of all our staff and students are respected. Visit our Equal Opportunities and Diversity website to find out how we ensure a fair and open environment that allows everyone to grow and flourish.

Curious? So are we.
- Curriculum Vitae (CV) including educational history, full list of publications (if any), awards, etc
- Research statement of approx. 2 pages covering your interests, goals, and how they would relate to and fit in with the ACP group’s research domain and activities
- Portfolio (if coming from a design-related discipline) or copy of MSc Dissertation (if coming from non-design discipline)

Further information about the Future Cities Laboratory can be found on our website. Questions regarding the position should be directed to Dr Panos Mavros.