Postdoctoral Researcher / Postdoctoral Researcher

Postdoctoral Researcher on Hybrid AI-Optimization Modelling

100%, Zurich, fixed-term

The Energy Science Center (ESC) at ETH Zurich is an interdepartmental competence center facilitating energy research and teaching activities across various fields and departments. We are seeking a highly qualified and motivated Postdoctoral Researcher to join our team at the forefront of hybrid AI-optimization modelling. This position will focus on designing AI-based surrogates for large-scale energy system models and will be integrated within the Nexus-e group, closely linked to the ETH AI Center and the Reliability and Risk Engineering Lab.

Job Description

• Collaborate with other researchers to develop high-fidelity emulators for large-scale energy system optimization models.
• Lead the design and implementation of innovative methods, which may include Kriging surrogates, Polynomial Chaos Expansion (PCE), and Physics-Informed Neural Networks (PINNs).
• Contribute to the strategic direction of research.
• Publish high-impact research in leading journals and present findings at international conferences on energy systems and machine learning.
• Work collaboratively with industry partners to tackle practical challenges.

Profile

Interested candidates should meet the following requirements to be eligible for this position:

• A PhD or Doctoral degree in Energy Systems, Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, or a related field focused on the intersection of Machine Learning and Optimization.
• Proven expertise in surrogate modelling, particularly in designing neural architectures for emulating constrained optimization problems.
• Advanced programming skills in Python, with deep experience in libraries such as PyTorch, Pyomo, and the broader scientific stack (Xarray, Pandas). Knowledge of MATLAB is a plus but not required.
• A strong track record of publications in peer-reviewed journals involving advanced emulation or physics-aware AI.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in interdisciplinary and multicultural research teams, bridging the gap between data science and energy engineering.
• Proficiency in English is required.

Workplace

The workplace will be centrally located in Zurich, within one of the world's leading universities.

We Offer

• A young, dynamic, and interdisciplinary research team addressing energy system challenges.
• An attractive research position in high-impact projects at ETH Zurich.
• Competitive salaries according to ETH standards.
• Numerous benefits and flexible, family-friendly working conditions.
• The opportunity to impact your career positively while contributing to societal progress.

The initial contract duration is one year, subject to extension based on continued funding and successful performance.

We Value Diversity and Sustainability

ETH Zurich is committed to promoting an inclusive culture, equality of opportunity, and sustainability. We nurture a working and learning environment that respects the rights and dignity of all staff and students. For more information on our commitment to diversity, please visit our Equal Opportunities and Diversity website.

Curious? So Are We.

We look forward to receiving your online application using the form below, including:

• A letter of motivation (maximum one page)
• Your CV, including publications
• Two key outputs, which could be publications, software code, or projects

Please note that only applications matching the job profile will be considered.

For further information, please contact Dr. Jonas Savelsberg, Head of the Nexus-e group, via email at jsavelsberg@esc.ethz.ch. More information about the Energy Science Center is available on our website.

About ETH Zurich

ETH Zurich is one of the world's leading universities specializing in science and technology. Renowned for excellent education, cutting-edge research, and the direct transfer of new knowledge into society, our community includes over 30,000 people from more than 120 countries, promoting independent thinking and inspiring excellence. Situated in the heart of Europe, we work together to develop solutions for today's and tomorrow's global challenges.