Researcher - Assessment of Urban Development for Decarbonation and Best Practice Design Recommendations
100%, Singapore, fixed-term
ETH Zurich is a leading global university renowned for its commitment to science and engineering. In 2010, it established the Singapore-ETH Centre (SEC) in collaboration with the National Research Foundation (NRF) to conduct interdisciplinary research on critical global challenges.
The centre currently hosts a variety of research programs, including the Future Cities Laboratory Global (FCL Global). Here, over 100 PhD, postdoctoral, and professorial researchers collaborate on diverse themes related to sustainable cities and resilient infrastructure systems. This vibrant community works with universities, research institutes, industry, and government agencies toward practical solutions.
Job Description
In this role, you will play a key part in developing best practice design recommendations and guidelines for decarbonization and climate-sensitive urban design. Your focus will be on assessing urban development projects to identify key sustainability strategies, while synthesizing research findings into actionable urban design principles.
Key Responsibilities:
- Evaluate urban design and planning strategies for decarbonization and climate resilience, utilizing global best practices and case studies.
- Develop best practice design recommendations that incorporate regenerative, mitigation, and adaptation strategies for climate-sensitive urban development.
- Assess urban-scale sustainability frameworks and design proposals to extract innovative solutions for resilient and low-carbon cities.
- Collaborate with researchers, government agencies, and industry stakeholders to refine and validate urban design strategies.
- Synthesize research findings into comprehensive design guidelines that are useful for policymakers, urban designers, and planners.
- Contribute to academic publications and technical reports as lead or co-author.
- Engage in workshops, presentations, and discussions with international experts, research institutions, and governmental agencies to effectively communicate findings.
Profile
Mandatory Requirements:
You should possess:
- A Master’s degree in Urban Design, Urban Planning, or a related field.
- At least five years of combined research and professional experience in urban design, strategic planning, and sustainability-driven development.
- Proven expertise in leading interdisciplinary research and synthesizing urban projects into best practice design recommendations.
- Demonstrable experience in high-level urban design evaluation, integrating climate adaptation, mitigation, and regenerative strategies.
- A proven ability to critically assess diverse urban projects, extract key insights, and develop comprehensive design guidelines for policymakers, planners, and urban designers.
- Extensive experience consulting for government agencies and international organizations on climate-sensitive urban strategies.
- A strong publication record contributing to academic research and technical reports on sustainable urban design, water-sensitive urban design (WSUD), and resilient city planning.
- Experience leading interdisciplinary collaborations with policymakers, designers, and researchers to develop best practice urban solutions and planning recommendations.
You are:
- A highly self-motivated and independent researcher with a proven track record in developing urban design strategies and policy-oriented recommendations.
- An effective communicator skilled at interdisciplinary collaboration.
- Proactive, with the ability to identify potential challenges, set clear research objectives, and consistently meet targets.
- Rational and clear, able to articulate complex urban design and planning concepts in an accessible manner.
- Interpersonal, excelling at constructive collaboration with diverse stakeholders, including policymakers, designers, and fellow researchers.
- Skilled at synthesizing diverse urban development scenarios into clear and actionable best-practice guidelines for decarbonization and climate adaptation.
- Flexible and curious, adept at applying suitable research methods and analytical tools based on project requirements.
- Comfortable engaging with international experts and policymakers, presenting findings through written reports, presentations, and workshops.
- Interested in innovative urban development concepts such as climate-sensitive urban design and sustainable urbanism.
Desirable Attributes:
- A confident and engaging presenter, able to communicate urban strategies effectively to policymakers, academics, and industry professionals.
- Experienced in policy advisory roles that contribute to global urban development discussions.
Workplace
The Singapore-ETH Centre is an equal opportunity and family-friendly employer. All candidates will be evaluated based on their merits and qualifications, without regard to gender, race, age, or religion.
We Offer
Why SEC is your employer of choice?
- Accredited with 5 Tripartite Standards by the Tripartite Alliance for Fair & Progressive Employment Practices (TAFEP) Singapore.
- A diverse workplace featuring 32 nationalities, providing ample opportunities for mutual learning.
- A positive and inclusive working environment.
- 25 days of annual leave for fixed-term contracts.
- 1 day of Birthday Leave.
- Annual dental benefits.
- Commitment to supporting your physical and mental wellness.
- Comprehensive healthcare insurance coverage.
- Flexible hybrid work arrangements (up to 2 days per week from home).
- Abundant networking opportunities across various disciplines.
We encourage you to apply online using the form below. Only applications matching the job profile will be considered.
Duration: Full-Time position (Contract), Salary: SGD 7325 - SGD 8425 /month
For further information about the Singapore-ETH Centre, please visit our website. For inquiries, reach out to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Rudi Stouffs at stouffs@nus.edu.sg.
Singapore-ETH Centre
The Singapore-ETH Centre provides a multicultural, interdisciplinary environment for researchers focused on sustainable and liveable cities, resilient urban systems, and patient-centric healthcare. We are home to a vibrant community of over 100 doctoral, postdoctoral, and professorial researchers working across three main programs: Future Cities Laboratory, Future Resilient Systems, and Future Health Technologies.