PhD and Scientific Assistant positions in Digital Product Passports and Digital Tools for Circular Construction/

The Chair of Circular Engineering for Architecture (CEA) is seeking a highly motivated and qualified individual to fill a PhD position in the field of digital product passports (DPPs) and digital tools for inventory and tracking and tracing for circular economy in the construction sector. The successful candidate will join a dynamic research team working on innovative approaches to advance circular construction practices through digital technologies. These positions offer a unique opportunity to contribute to the development of tools and strategies that promote circular management of building components and projects, enabling a more sustainable and regenerative built environment.

The selected candidates will be involved in developing data templates, Building Information Modelling (BIM) workflows and other tools for automated generation of DPPs and building components inventory, as well as a digital and physical tracking and tracing system. The project operates at the intersection of civil engineering, architecture and computer science.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Development of both theoretical concepts and data templates for DPPs for circular construction, together with industry and research consortium partners in Switzerland
• Exploration of implementation possibilities for BIM workflows for DPPs generation in new and existing construction projects
• Development of a digital inventory tool for existing buildings using scanning technologies and machine learning
• Validation and testing of proposed and developed solutions in pilot projects
• Engagement and collaboration with stakeholders such as construction companies, standardization bodies, consultants, and other industry partners to promote the adoption of the developed data template and tools
• Active participation in research activities, including publishing scientific papers and presenting findings at conferences and workshops
• Supervision of Master, and/or Bachelor students

To be considered for these positions, you should meet the following qualifications:

• Masters in architecture, civil engineering with strong IT skills, or computer science with knowledge of the built environment, or related fields
• Possess strong research skills with an understanding of circular economy practices in the construction industry
• Knowledge and experience in data analysis and database management, as well as emerging technologies applied to the construction sector, such as BIM, scanning and machine learning
• Excellent organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and prioritize effectively, while also fostering interdisciplinary collaboration
• Strong communication and writing skills in English, enabling effective collaboration and the preparation of scientific publications and reports
• Fluency in spoken and written English is a requirement. Ability to work with industry partners in German is a plus
• Ability to work in a team and together with industry partners
• Take initiative, be results-oriented, organized, and creative

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