Landscape Architecture Position at ETH Zurich
The Chair of Landscape Architecture, led by Prof. Teresa Galí-Izard at the Institute of Landscape and Urban Studies (LUS), is part of the Department of Architecture at ETH Zurich. The Chair of Being Alive investigates the relationship between landscape architecture, ecology, and territorial transformation through design-led research and teaching.
The Digital Design Methods I (DDM-I) module is a foundational component of the Master of Science in Landscape Architecture programme. It introduces incoming international students—from backgrounds in architecture and landscape architecture—to the computational tools and workflows essential for landscape design at ETH Zurich. The module follows a DDM curriculum designed by Zhao Ma.
This is a fixed-term position running from September through December each year. The role is structured in two phases:
- Intensive Teaching Phase (September – October): Regular weekly sessions focused on delivering lectures and hands-on exercises.
- Support Phase (November – December): Involvement on an as-needed basis for student follow-up, grading, and coordination.
Key Responsibilities
As a DDM-I Instructor, you will be responsible for:
- 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 with a focus on data structures, data manipulation, and parametric workflows for landscape design applications.
- Teaching 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 as defined in the DDM-I curriculum.
- Assessing student exercises throughout the teaching period.
- Coordinating with the Chair of Landscape Architecture on course delivery and pedagogical approach.
Qualifications Required
- Advanced proficiency in Rhinoceros 3D and Grasshopper, including a deep understanding of Grasshopper data structures and manipulation techniques.
- 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 (the language of instruction for the programme).
Additional Qualifications (Assets)
The following skills are not required but will strengthen your application:
- Active GitHub profile demonstrating software development practice and open-source contributions.
- Development experience with C#, especially in the context of Grasshopper plug-in development or Rhino scripting.
- Experience with agentic development, such as building 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 programme.
- 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.
Apply online using the form below. Only applications matching the job profile will be considered.
For further information about the ETH Master in Landscape Architecture, please visit our website. Questions regarding the position should be directed to Prof. Teresa Galí-Izard at gali-izard@arch.ethz.ch.
Please note that we exclusively accept applications submitted online. Applications via email or postal services will not be considered.
Pre-selection is carried out by responsible recruiters and not by artificial intelligence.