Job Opportunity: DDM-I Instructor
The Chair of Landscape Architecture, led by Prof. Teresa Galí-Izard at the Institute of Landscape and Urban Studies (LUS) under the Department of Architecture at ETH Zurich, is seeking a DDM-I Instructor. This position explores the intersection of landscape architecture, ecology, and territorial transformation through design-led research and teaching.
About the Digital Design Methods I (DDM-I) Module
The DDM-I module serves as a foundational part of the Master of Science in Landscape Architecture program. It is designed for incoming international students from backgrounds in architecture and landscape architecture, equipping them with essential computational tools and workflows for landscape design at ETH Zurich. The curriculum is carefully developed by Zhao Ma.
Position Overview
This is a fixed-term position running from September through December each year. The role consists of two phases:
- Intensive Teaching Phase (September–October): Regular weekly sessions with lectures and hands-on exercises.
- Support Phase (November–December): Involvement on an as-needed basis for activities such as student follow-up and grading.
Responsibilities
As a DDM-I Instructor, your key responsibilities will include:
- Delivering lectures and hands-on exercises in Digital Design Methods I (DDM-I) for the first-semester MSc Landscape Architecture cohort.
- Teaching Rhinoceros 3D and Grasshopper, emphasizing data structures, manipulation, and parametric workflows for landscape design applications.
- Instructing on QGIS for geospatial analysis in the context of landscape and territorial design.
- Guiding students through the "Being Alive: Language" and "Being Alive: Terrain" exercise sequences.
- Assessing student submissions throughout the teaching period.
- Coordinating with the Chair of Landscape Architecture regarding course delivery and pedagogical approach.
Teaching Schedule
The classes will occur from mid-September through mid-October, on Monday afternoons (13:45–15:30) and Wednesday afternoons (15:45–17:30). Please note that the first week will run on Tuesday and Thursday at the same times. Detailed session dates will be provided upon appointment.
Support Phase
Involvement during November and December will be required on a sporadic, as-needed basis, which may include final assessment reviews, individual student consultations, grading support, and coordination with the Chair on course evaluation and documentation.
Qualifications Required
- Advanced proficiency in Rhinoceros 3D and Grasshopper, with a deep understanding of data structures and manipulation techniques.
- A background in landscape architecture with demonstrated experience in landscape design.
- Proficiency in QGIS or equivalent GIS tools for geospatial analysis.
- Experience in teaching, tutoring, or workshop facilitation in a higher education or professional setting.
- Excellent communication skills in English, which is the program’s language of instruction.
Additional Qualifications (Assets)
- An active GitHub profile showcasing a tracked commit history of software development practices and contributions.
- Development experience with C#, especially related to Grasshopper plug-in development or Rhino scripting (RhinoCommon).
- Demonstrated experience with agentic development, such as AI-assisted workflows or autonomous design agents.
What We Offer
- A stimulating academic environment at one of the world’s leading universities of science and technology.
- The opportunity to contribute to an innovative, design-led landscape architecture program.
- Collaboration with an internationally recognized research chair at the forefront of landscape and ecological design.
- Competitive compensation in accordance with ETH Zurich employment guidelines.
- Access to ETH Zurich’s state-of-the-art computational infrastructure and facilities.
We invite interested candidates to apply online using the form below. Only applications matching the job profile will be considered.
For more information about the ETH Master in Landscape Architecture, please visit our website. Questions regarding the position can be directed to Prof. Teresa Galí-Izard at gali-izard@arch.ethz.ch.