EMPA

Die Abteilung Informatik unterstützt die Forschungs- und Supportabteilungen an allen drei Standorten der Empa (Dübendorf, St. Gallen und Thun) mit professionellen und zeitgemässen Informatik-Dienstleistungen. Dabei orientiert sie sich an den Bedürfnissen der internen Kunden und setzt ihre Mittel effizient und nachhaltig ein.Ihre AufgabeSicherstellen des Betriebs der Server Services: Client- und Server-Management Suite und DruckerservicesBetrieb und Unterhalt von DSM OSD (OS-Deployment), Aufbereiten von BS und Treiber für die automatisierte BS VerteilungBetrieb und Unterhalt von DSM NetInstall (Softwareshop)Entwickelung und Umsetzung der verschiedenen Richtlinien für die Client-SecurityEmpfang, Kontrolle und Inventarisierung der durch die Informatik verwalteten SoftwareVerwaltung der Softwarelizenzen, Betrieb und Unterhalt des Empa LizenzserversPlanung und Koordination von Change-, Problem- und ReleasemanagementAutomatisierung von Prozessen mittels geeigneter Tools (Scripting, Power Shell, Policies, Programmierung)Mitarbeit in verschiedenen IT ProjektenProfessionelle Beratung und Unterstützung der internen Kunden

Your tasksYou lead a research team in the field of nanomaterials spectroscopy.You establish an original and creative research portfolio, striving for excellence, develop novel experimental methods and develop your team according to the research portfolio.You actively collaborate with other Empa units, with national and international research teams and with industrial partners.You communicate your results in peer-reviewed scientific journals and at international conferences.You secure external funding and support the laboratory mission.

Ihre HauptaufgabenMitverantwortlichkeit für die Planverwaltung (digital und analog) aller Gebäude beim Bau3FI für die drei Forschungsinstitute Empa, WSL und EawagModifizieren von Plänen bei kleineren Umbau- und Erweiterungsbauten in den Gebäuden derEmpa zwecks Integration in das CAFM-SystemMitwirkung bei der Eingliederung von CAD – Daten in das CAFM System des Bau3FI bei GrossprojektenVerwaltung von Sicherheitsplänen Mitarbeit bei der Erarbeitung und Einrichtung eines Archivierungssystems beim Bau3FIVerwaltung Papierarchiv beim Bau3FIVorbereitung von CAD-Plänen für die Nutzung in der CAFM-Software des FlächenmanagementsAnsprechpartner bzgl. CAD für den Flächenmanager/in Unterstützung des BIM Managers bei der Betreuung von Bauprojekten

Wir arbeiten seit einigen Jahren an der Entwicklung von selbst-heizenden Beschichtungen für medizinische Geräte. Die Beschichtung sollte benutzt werden, um Infusionsschläuche ohne externe Energiezufuhr heizen zu können. Die Heizung sollte durch die Oxidation von metallischen Partikeln erfolgen. Die Partikel werden in einer speziell dafür entwickelten Polymermatrix eingebettet und die Schläuche damit beschichtet.

Novel precast concrete elements were developed by Empa in 2013-2016, utilizing high-strength, self-consolidating concrete (SCC) in which prestress is introduced by high-strength and modulus, lightweight, and non-corroding carbon fiber reinforced polymer tendons (UHM CFRP tendons). These precast FRP pretensioned SCC panels are intended as e.g. load-bearing panels for concrete building facades. It is known that the bond strength between both steel and FRP reinforcing tendons and concrete deteriorates at elevated temperature and that high strength concrete tends to an explosive spalling failure mode when subjected to a fire. The bond strength reductions in fire, their impacts on the load-bearing capacity of prestressed concrete structures, and the spalling behaviour of high-strength concrete remain poorly understood and are the researched topics in this project. Here the expertize of the University of Edinburgh BRE center for fire safety engineering comes into play and will allow to study the fire behavior of the novel prestressed concrete. CFRP prestressing and mechanical characterization of the specimens will be done at Empa while fire experiments and numerical modelling are planned at the University of Edinburgh.

Our laboratory. Empa’s Laboratory of Biomimetic Membranes and Textilesaims to develop materials and systems for the protection of the human body and its health. The products developed in collaboration with industry are used in the fields of occupational safety, sport, medical applications, and health-tech.Background.Optimizing postharvest cold chains of fruits and vegetables across all unit operations is of key importance to maintain fresh food quality and to reduce food losses. Temperature and the gas composition in the air are affecting decay and food quality, so they need to be controlled during precooling, refrigerated transport, and cold storage. By optimizing these environmental parameters, shelf life can be maximized. Currently, extensive monitoring is performed on the environmental conditions in food supply chains (air temperature and humidity). However, often, such sensing only covers a part of the cold chain and not the entire journey from farm to fork. Taking into account the entire journey is essential to quantify how the fresh-food quality evolves, and what the final quality and shelf life are that the retailers, and thus the consumer, receive. In addition, only simplified analyses are performed on these huge datasets. This makes that there is most probably a lot of unexplored information in the data. Objective. The key objective is to better use this sensor data to identify when and where the quality loss occurs, and how commercial cold chains can be improved, to reduce food loss.To this end, data-driven and physics-based modeling are used, among others by integration into digital twins.This project is performed in collaboration with a Swiss retailer. In this project, you will be able to improve future supply chains of fruits and vegetables in order to reduce the environmental impact of the food we consume.Your tasks:Organize experiments in commercial cold chains, process the measured sensor data statistically, reformat data in databases, and analyze data for variability.Analyze the data with statistical techniques (e.g. PCA, Monte Carlo) to identify critical problem locations in the cold chain. As a next step, more advanced data-driven techniques, such as machine learning, can be explored.Use this data to build up and use physics-based and/or data-driven digital twinsPropose solutions to improve the shelf life and reduce food losses and test these solutions in the field by full-scale trails.Support other physics-based and data-driven projects in the lab and set up a framework for quality assurance in modeling & simulationSupport in the organization of modeling and simulation events.The work will be performed at the facilities of Empa (St. Gallen). Regular visits to the facilities of the Swiss retailer company are likely to be required.

This research project is part of the European Flagship project Graphene and aims to explore the bio-response of graphene and graphene related materials (GRM) on different exposure routes such as the lung, and correlate the biological effects with physico-chemical properties of GRM and selected benchmark materials. You will acquire an in depth understanding of the interaction of nanomaterials with human advanced in vitro cell cultures, risk assessment and the interactions with professional regulatory consultants. You will design, conduct and analyse scientific experiments in an interdisciplinary environment and in collaboration with other academic partners. In addition you will be involved in writing scientific publications, presenting results at national and international scientific meetings, leading projects and acquiring project funding.We are looking for a well-organized, highly self-motivated, excellent candidate interested in nanosafety research. The candidate should hold a PhD degree either in biology, life science or a related field with expert know-how in in vitro cell culture preferentially related to the lung and gastrointestinal tract. Additional assets include experience in project management and acquisition as well as in student supervision.

Ihre AufgabeSicherstellen des Betriebs der virtuellen Infrastruktur (VMware) und der Storage (NetApp) UmgebungVerantwortlich für Konzeption, Evaluation, Konfiguration und InbetriebnahmeDesign, Architektur und Engineering von optimalen Lösungen im Serverbereich, VMware, Backup und Storage-InfrastrukturOperativer Betrieb der Windowsserver-, Active Directory, VMware und Storage-InfrastrukturDesign, Architektur und Engineering von optimalen Lösungen im Betrieb der Active Directory InfrastrukturPlanung und Koordination von Change-, Problem- und Release Management in Ihrem VerantwortungsbereichVerwalten und Zuteilen von zentralen Diensten (Plattenspeicherverwaltung, Rechtevergabe, Remote Access Zugriffe, usw.)Hardwareinstallation von Servern und Ersatzteilbewirtschaftung für Server und StorageProaktives Monitoring und Reporting der zentralen DiensteInstallation und Konfiguration von Betriebs- und Kommunikationssoftware für Serversysteme, SystemdokumentationAusarbeitung von Unterlagen für Serversysteme (OS Installation Guide, Server Wartungspläne, usw.)Professionelle Beratung und Unterstützung der internen Kunden

Ihre Aufgaben:Erbringung von anspruchsvollen Dienstleistungen auf dem Gebiet der Umweltakustik mit Schwerpunkt Fluglärm (Berechnung der Lärmbelastung von Landesflughäfen und Militärflugplätzen)Betrieb und Weiterentwicklung eines mobilen Lärm-MonitoringsystemsMitarbeit in Forschungs- und EntwicklungsprojektenVertretung der Empa auf dem Fachgebiet gegenüber externen StellenPflege des Wissenstransfers innerhalb der Abteilung und der EmpaPräsentation von technisch-wissenschaftlichen Ergebnissen durch Publikationen und Vorträge

We are looking for a highly motivated PhD student with a master degree in condensed matter physics, materials science, nanoscience or a related discipline and a strong interest for 2D materials, nano-fabrication and interdisciplinary research. Excellent communication skills and fluency in English (both written and oral) are expected.

We are looking for a highly motivated scientist with a PhD degree in condensed matter physics, materials science, nanoscience or a related discipline and a strong interest for 2D materials, nano-fabrication and interdisciplinary research. Excellent communication skills and fluency in English (both written and oral) are expected.

The research project aims to use cellular automata (CA) approach for prediction of the microstructure and texture of selectively laser melted gas turbine blades made of a Ni-base superalloy. Surrogate modelling (machine learning) will be employed for moderating the computational cost of CA for the component-scale simulations. The outcomes of the microstructural simulations will be exploited by an FE-based crystal plasticity model for assessing the high-temperature creep-fatigue deformation and failure of the turbine blade. A set of laboratory test pieces will be printed and characterised in term of microstructure, texture and mechanical response to generate input data for calibration of the CA and crystal-plasticity models. The verification of the modelling approach will be based on observations from microstructure and mechanical response of the printed turbine blade.

familiar with material flow analysis (MFA) and life cycle assessment (LCA) methodologies in order to support research projects in the field of societal metabolism and Circular Economy, in particular the ongoing Swiss National Research Programme (NRP) 73 "Sustainable Economy" projects "Laboratory for Applied Circular Economy" (LACE) and "Post-fossil cities". For more information see:http://www.nfp73.ch/en The first task of the successful candidate will consist in extending the scope of the dynamic material flow model developed within the Post-fossil cities project in order to include today's energy supply system (electricity, heat, fuels). Based on on-going work of the LACE project, the candidate will furthermore develop a version of the life cycle inventory database "ecoinvent" that is entirely based on renewables, using the python packages "brightway2" and "wurst", and feed those results back into the material flow model of the Post-fossil cities project.

The research project focuses on the development of protected lithium metal anodes for all-solid-state batteries. Your task is to investigate and mitigate dendrite formation using protective coatings to im-prove cycle life and safety of all-solid-state batteries with lithium metal anodes. You will be embedded in the collaborative research framework of a European Horizon 2020 project. This will enable you to interact with leading European academic and industrial partners including a large cell maker. Within this project, the ability to publish is not restricted. Generation of intellectual property in the form of patents is encouraged.

The Laboratory for Advanced Analytical Technology at Empa and Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zurich, are looking for a highly motivated PhD candidate to work in the field of chemical engineering and catalysis.The PhD student will design, construct, and test pilot reactors for the conversion of hydrogen and CO2 to methane based on the so-called sorption enhanced methanation at Empa. The upscaling of sorption enhanced reactors from the lab scale to pilot plant size is a great challenge, as various parameters are unknown, and can currently only be assessed along experiences with similar processes. To avoid bad investments a rational design of reactor setup and materials is needed. The candidate will utilize neutron imaging to probe the behavior of the reactor and the materials used under operating conditions. The results will give feedback for improved materials, in particular shape and dimension of the macroscopic catalyst structure to be optimized. The PhD is embedded in a larger project under participation of the Laboratory Automotive Powertrain Technologies at Empa and various companies, and under the auspices of Prof. Jeroen van Bokhoven (Doktorvater). The student will be a member of Prof. van Bokhoven's group at ETH (http://www.vanbokhoven.ethz.ch) and of the Hydrogen Spectroscopy group at Empa.

Project description and your tasks:Strengthening of existing RC bridges becomes more and more important due to the large number of existing bridges, which are aging or were designed according to old standards. Considering seismic loading, strengthening is critical as most of the bridge columns do not satisfy the new regulations for seismic performance. Prestressing is known to provide recentering capabilities. However, the available techniques are either vulnerable to corrosion or are prohibitively expensive. In this project, an innovative application methodology for selfcentering and active confinement of concrete columns in bridges by using memory steel reinforcement will be developed. The proposed technology could have tremendous societal impact with respect to saving lives during and after extreme events and economic well-being of the affected area. By keeping bridges and the highway network open to traffic, ambulances, fire trucks, first responders, and damage assessors will continue to have the mobility that existed prior to the disaster. The main goals of the projects are to study and develop the details of such a system. Effectiveness and practicality of the methodology will be studied both by finite element modeling and large-scale experiments. A design method for civil engineers will be proposed and will be used by re-fer AG. Lastly, a pilot project will demonstrate and prove the feasibility of the proposed method on site. The project includes both experimental and modeling (analytical and finite element) tasks.

Description Aerogels are a class of highly porous nanomaterials with interesting properties for many applications. The technical relevance of aerogels as insulation materials has come to life with their second wave of industrialization around 2004. The focus of current research lies on life science and environmental applications, which are still further away from commercialization. The key properties of aerogels – such as thermal conductivity, mechanical stability, sorption – critically depend on their microstructure. Thus, optimization of aerogels towards a specific application generally involves optimization of their microstructure. However, mostly due to their nanoscale characteristic length scale, there are currently no methods to directly determine the true 3D microstructure of aerogels. State-of-the-art techniques such as electron microscopy, physisorption or small angle scattering (SAS), only provide partial structural information. However, the combination of the different available techniques should provide sufficient data to allow the determination of their 3D microstructure.Today the optimization of aerogels towards a specific application is generally done via experimental studies. However the amount of input data (i.e. experiments or trial runs) required for full optimization will in many cases exceed the experimentally feasible. This is a known problem in materials science leading to an increased popularity of modelling as a method to expand the input data, allowing the successful optimization of materials and microstructures for specific target applications. A reliable 3D microstructural aerogel model, developed by fitting simultaneously to data from different experimental techniques, will allow such an approach. The aim of this project is thus to develop such a 3D microstructural model and to show that the model will allow faster and more reliable optimization of aerogels towards a specific application. The goals of this project are:Implementation of different 3D aerogel structural models as well as the prediction of properties such as physisorption isotherms, small angle scattering and thermal conductivity.Determination of the 3D microstructure of different in-house synthesized aerogels based on fitting to multiple experimental results simultaneously (density, small angle scattering, physisorption isotherms, surface area).Comparison between calculated thermal conductivities based on the determined 3D microstructure and measured thermal conductivities. Study of computer generated 3D models to interpolate and extrapolate the experimental data set and determination of the optimal microstructure for minimal thermal conductivity.