PhD Position on Digital twins and sensing for heat stress prediction for human health 100%
Empa, Materials Science and Technology
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"As Switzerland's incubator for innovation, Empa's research provides answers to the most pressing challenges facing
industry." Prof. Dr. Katharina Maniura, Biointerfaces "Empa's research on the highest international level plays a
leading role in the advancement of technology." Prof. Dr. Ayodhya Nath Tiwari, Thin Films and Photovoltaics "Empa's
materials science and technology research is of great benefit to society in the fields of energy, mobility,
environment, construction and health." Prof. Dr. Bernd Nowack, Technology and Society "For my research projects I use
first-class equipment. This is extremely important in dynamic 3D radiography." Dr. Ameet Aiyangar, Mechanical Systems
Engineering "Empa offers good employment conditions and supports equal opportunities. I consider this very important."
Irene Ferretto, Advanced Materials Processing "Empa has sites in three attractive regions in Switzerland. This also
ensures a good quality of life." Dr. Shanyu Zhao, Building Energy Materials and Components "We enjoy working in a team.
For us it is important that Empa pursues topics like sustainability and innovation." Michael Levy and Nikola Tatalovic,
Finances/Controlling "My work is exciting and highly diverse - and I am right there when research projects are being
implemented in NEST, Empa's research and innovation building." Yannic Trüb, Real Estate Management "At Empa I value the
good work environment and international collaboration." Subas Scheibler, Particles-Biology Interactions
PhD Position on Digital twins and sensing for heat stress prediction for human health
Share Apply now Materials science and technology are our passion. With our cutting-edge research, Empa's around 1,100
employees make essential contributions to the well-being of society for a future worth living. Empa is a research
institution of the ETH Domain.Empa's Laboratory of Biomimetic Membranes and Textiles pioneers in human manikin research
and physics-based modeling at multiple scales. We bridge the virtual to the real world by multi-parameter sensing and
creating digital twins that can live together with their real-world counterparts.
Knowledge of heat stress is essential for the health and performance of humans in several situations. A typical
example is firefighters, who are exposed to extreme heat or elderly people who are exposed to heat stress during heat
waves. Such knowledge can help improve clothing design or indoor air conditioning strategies. Currently, we rely at
Empa on the use of thermal manikins that have multiple sensors installed to predict heat stress in several environments
and to evaluate the impact of clothing.
Your tasks
This PhD project aims to advance further in the field of heat stress prediction by combining sensing with
textile-integrated physical sensors and complementing this with virtual sensing through digital human twins. That way,
we want to augment our knowledge of the spatially and temporally caring heat load on the human body. The results of
this work will be used by the textile or HVAC industry. This project is performed in close collaboration with
industrial partners.
The tasks for the PhD student will be:
- Develop and test a textile-based heat flux sensor for measurements in thermal manikins.
- Build a multiphysics model of the environment, clothing and skin (and body), including convection, radiation and
conduction in materials. Specific models for skin burn, heat stress and also for clothing aging for end-of-life
modeling are included.
- Integrate this model into a digital twin of the human to predict the risk of skin burn or heat stress prediction.
You use the input of one or a few textile-based heat flux sensors to have a prediction of more locations on the full
human body.
- Integrate the model into a digital twin of the clothing to predict the end-of-life of clothing for firefighters.
Apart from these subprojects, you will also work at a later stage on another related project that applies advanced
sensing on manikins or multiphysics modeling of heat and mass transfer.
Your profile
- Completed Master`s degree in mechanical engineering
- Demonstrated expert knowledge of the software COMSOL Multiphysics is essential
- Proven experience in continuum modeling (finite element modeling, computational fluid dynamics).
- Knowledge of heat and mass transport processes in materials and the human-body interface.
- Experience in thermal measurements (temperature, heat flux, infrared, anemometry).
- Excellent communication skills and fluency in English (both written and oral) are mandatory. Knowledge of German is
considered advantageous.
Our offer
The project is planned for a duration of 3 years and is envisaged to carry out the above research tasks in the form of
a PhD thesis. The project is supported by Empa under the supervision of Prof. René Rossi (academic supervisor), Martin
Camenzind (co-supervisor) and Prof. Thijs Defraeye (co-supervisor). It involves a joint affiliation with ETH Zürich
(D-HEST). The candidate will perform the research at Empa in St. Gallen. The desired starting date is 1st of February
2025 or upon mutual Agreement.We live a culture of inclusion and respect. We welcome all people who are interested in
innovative, sustainable and meaningful activities - that's what counts.We look forward to receiving your complete
online application including a letter of motivation, CV, certificates, diplomas and contact details of two reference
persons. Please submit these exclusively via our job portal. Applications by e-mail and by post will not be
considered.SarahStüdli, Bereichspersonalleiterin / HR Partner
Questions?
Prof. Dr.ThijsDefraeye
Group leader
Biomimetic Membranes and Textiles
Your future place of work
Empa
Lerchenfeldstrasse 5
9014St. Gallen
Empa as an employer
Innovative, sustainable, meaningful activities Creating added value for society International, multicultural working
environment Freedom to create and develop Culture of inclusion and respect Excellent balance between different areas of
life Multiple award-winning and certified employer Benefits for rail, mobile, childcare, catering, etc.
Good to know
Empa website
Working in Switzerland
Employment process
Conditions of employment
Apply now
industry." Prof. Dr. Katharina Maniura, Biointerfaces "Empa's research on the highest international level plays a
leading role in the advancement of technology." Prof. Dr. Ayodhya Nath Tiwari, Thin Films and Photovoltaics "Empa's
materials science and technology research is of great benefit to society in the fields of energy, mobility,
environment, construction and health." Prof. Dr. Bernd Nowack, Technology and Society "For my research projects I use
first-class equipment. This is extremely important in dynamic 3D radiography." Dr. Ameet Aiyangar, Mechanical Systems
Engineering "Empa offers good employment conditions and supports equal opportunities. I consider this very important."
Irene Ferretto, Advanced Materials Processing "Empa has sites in three attractive regions in Switzerland. This also
ensures a good quality of life." Dr. Shanyu Zhao, Building Energy Materials and Components "We enjoy working in a team.
For us it is important that Empa pursues topics like sustainability and innovation." Michael Levy and Nikola Tatalovic,
Finances/Controlling "My work is exciting and highly diverse - and I am right there when research projects are being
implemented in NEST, Empa's research and innovation building." Yannic Trüb, Real Estate Management "At Empa I value the
good work environment and international collaboration." Subas Scheibler, Particles-Biology Interactions
PhD Position on Digital twins and sensing for heat stress prediction for human health
Share Apply now Materials science and technology are our passion. With our cutting-edge research, Empa's around 1,100
employees make essential contributions to the well-being of society for a future worth living. Empa is a research
institution of the ETH Domain.Empa's Laboratory of Biomimetic Membranes and Textiles pioneers in human manikin research
and physics-based modeling at multiple scales. We bridge the virtual to the real world by multi-parameter sensing and
creating digital twins that can live together with their real-world counterparts.
Knowledge of heat stress is essential for the health and performance of humans in several situations. A typical
example is firefighters, who are exposed to extreme heat or elderly people who are exposed to heat stress during heat
waves. Such knowledge can help improve clothing design or indoor air conditioning strategies. Currently, we rely at
Empa on the use of thermal manikins that have multiple sensors installed to predict heat stress in several environments
and to evaluate the impact of clothing.
Your tasks
This PhD project aims to advance further in the field of heat stress prediction by combining sensing with
textile-integrated physical sensors and complementing this with virtual sensing through digital human twins. That way,
we want to augment our knowledge of the spatially and temporally caring heat load on the human body. The results of
this work will be used by the textile or HVAC industry. This project is performed in close collaboration with
industrial partners.
The tasks for the PhD student will be:
- Develop and test a textile-based heat flux sensor for measurements in thermal manikins.
- Build a multiphysics model of the environment, clothing and skin (and body), including convection, radiation and
conduction in materials. Specific models for skin burn, heat stress and also for clothing aging for end-of-life
modeling are included.
- Integrate this model into a digital twin of the human to predict the risk of skin burn or heat stress prediction.
You use the input of one or a few textile-based heat flux sensors to have a prediction of more locations on the full
human body.
- Integrate the model into a digital twin of the clothing to predict the end-of-life of clothing for firefighters.
Apart from these subprojects, you will also work at a later stage on another related project that applies advanced
sensing on manikins or multiphysics modeling of heat and mass transfer.
Your profile
- Completed Master`s degree in mechanical engineering
- Demonstrated expert knowledge of the software COMSOL Multiphysics is essential
- Proven experience in continuum modeling (finite element modeling, computational fluid dynamics).
- Knowledge of heat and mass transport processes in materials and the human-body interface.
- Experience in thermal measurements (temperature, heat flux, infrared, anemometry).
- Excellent communication skills and fluency in English (both written and oral) are mandatory. Knowledge of German is
considered advantageous.
Our offer
The project is planned for a duration of 3 years and is envisaged to carry out the above research tasks in the form of
a PhD thesis. The project is supported by Empa under the supervision of Prof. René Rossi (academic supervisor), Martin
Camenzind (co-supervisor) and Prof. Thijs Defraeye (co-supervisor). It involves a joint affiliation with ETH Zürich
(D-HEST). The candidate will perform the research at Empa in St. Gallen. The desired starting date is 1st of February
2025 or upon mutual Agreement.We live a culture of inclusion and respect. We welcome all people who are interested in
innovative, sustainable and meaningful activities - that's what counts.We look forward to receiving your complete
online application including a letter of motivation, CV, certificates, diplomas and contact details of two reference
persons. Please submit these exclusively via our job portal. Applications by e-mail and by post will not be
considered.SarahStüdli, Bereichspersonalleiterin / HR Partner
Questions?
Prof. Dr.ThijsDefraeye
Group leader
Biomimetic Membranes and Textiles
Your future place of work
Empa
Lerchenfeldstrasse 5
9014St. Gallen
Empa as an employer
Innovative, sustainable, meaningful activities Creating added value for society International, multicultural working
environment Freedom to create and develop Culture of inclusion and respect Excellent balance between different areas of
life Multiple award-winning and certified employer Benefits for rail, mobile, childcare, catering, etc.
Good to know
Empa website
Working in Switzerland
Employment process
Conditions of employment
Apply now