PhD Position in Architecture and Environmental Studies

Chair for Theory of Urbanization and Urban Environments,
Prof. Dr. Sascha Roesler.

Academy of Architecture, Mendrisio,
Università della Svizzera Italiana (USI), Switzerland.

The PhD Position:
The PhD candidate’s work will dialogue with the chair’s ongoing research into the architecture of urban climates, thermal governance, energy landscapes, and multi-scalar imaginaries of metabolism, advancing new theoretical and design-based approaches to urbanization processes. The successful candidate will develop an independent research project within the chair's broader agenda, which examines how architectural and urban practices engage with climate phenomena, metabolic systems and environmental transformations.

Prospective research directions may include:
- Climate adaptation and thermal governance through architecture and urban design
- Multi-scalar metabolic approaches to architecture and urban design
- The spatial dimensions of energy transition and architecture’s contribution to the decarbonization of the material culture,
- Ethnographic and other methods linking architecture, geography, and climate sciences

Candidates are encouraged to propose original topics that resonate with these themes at the intersection of architecture, environmental history, and climate.

Candidate Profile
We are looking for a candidate with a strong interest in research and writing and a background in architectural studies. The ideal candidate should satisfy the following requirements:
- Master's degree in architecture, architectural history, urban studies, environmental history / humanities, or a related discipline.
- Strong interest in interdisciplinary research bridging design, science, and environmental thinking.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; additional languages are an asset
- Ability to work independently while contributing to a collaborative research and teaching environment

General terms
The position is considered a full-time and fully funded position, integrated into the vibrant research and teaching community at the Academy of Architecture in Mendrisio. The PhD candidate will be affiliated with the Institute of Urban and Landscape Studies (ISUP).

- 75% of working hours are allocated to the doctoral dissertation; 15% of the position is dedicated to work as a teaching assistant.
- Start of the PhD position: January 1, 2027;
- Duration: 5 years;
- Salary levels correspond to those set by the Swiss National Science Foundation for PhD researchers;

The Application
Applications must be in English and should contain:
- A letter of motivation;
- Brief research proposal (1,500–2,000 words)
- A detailed CV;
- Contact details for two academic references

Applications should be sent to sascha.roeslerusi.ch. The deadline is June 15th, 2026. For informal inquiries, contact Prof. Sascha Roesler at sascha.roeslerusi.ch.