Postdoctoral Researcher / Postdoctoral Researcher

Postdoctoral Researcher - Urban Analytics and Geospatial AI

100%, Singapore, fixed-term

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ETH Zurich is one of the leading universities in the world, with a strong focus on 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 pressing global challenges.

The centre currently runs several research programmes, with the Future Cities Laboratory (FCL) being one of the key initiatives. It is home to a thriving community of over 100 PhD, postdoctoral, and professorial researchers who are exploring diverse themes related to sustainable cities and resilient infrastructure systems. Researchers at SEC actively collaborate with universities, research institutes, industry, and government agencies to provide practical solutions.

Project Background

The project titled Population Mental Health Risk Prediction via Linkage of Multi-Modal Spatiotemporal Environmental Data to Population-Representative, Longitudinal Clinical Measures of Individual Mental Health (PRISMS) is a multi-institutional and multidisciplinary initiative conducted in partnership with clinicians from the Singapore Institute for Clinical Science in A*STAR.

The majority of the global population now resides in built urban environments, with the proportion projected to reach approximately 70% by 2050. This emphasizes the importance of examining the impact of the built environment on health outcomes, including mental well-being. The emerging concept of neurourbanism refers to the interdisciplinary study connecting urban environments and mental well-being. Urbanization often conflicts with the conservation of natural spaces, resulting in extensive research on the psychological benefits of exposure to nature. However, factors such as communal space design, traffic noise pollution, and heat stress are also crucially related to mental well-being and must not be overlooked. Furthermore, definitions of mental well-being vary widely across different studies, often only referencing the absence of mental and mood disorders.

As urban populations grow, it is imperative to develop a more holistic understanding of the various components of the built environment and their effects on both positive and negative mental well-being in our pursuit of creating healthy cities.

This project aims to bridge the research gap by investigating the impact of the urban built environment on mental well-being in Singapore.

Lead PI: Evelyn Loo (SICS, A*STAR).

Job Description

As a postdoctoral researcher, you will participate in a multidisciplinary and collaborative research study focused on the built environment and mental well-being. Your investigation will explore how urban factors—such as neighborhood design, heat stress, and noise pollution—can influence the mental well-being of families. Additionally, you will engage in longitudinal cohort studies and collaborate with clinicians and researchers from various disciplines. This role will be guided by Dr. Srilalitha Gopalakrishnan (Singapore-ETH Centre) and Asst. Prof. Filip Biljecki (National University of Singapore).

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Co-developing the research of work package 1, which includes:
• Developing deep learning models for the project's research (e.g., geospatial data science, street view imagery segmentations).
• Co-developing applications, features, datasets, and use cases based on public datasets of street-view imagery and longitudinal cohort studies.
• Co-developing and publishing journal and/or conference articles.
• Presenting your research to international audiences and visitors.
• Supporting the module research efforts in general, which includes:
• Participating in and contributing to team meetings.
• Assisting researchers across the project in their activities.
• Contributing to the preparation of academic papers and other forms of academic output.
• Presenting the project internally and externally and preparing materials for such presentations.

Profile

Mandatory Requirements:

• Demonstrable experience with machine learning tools and workflows (e.g., Hugging Face, Keras, Torch, etc).
• Research experience in conducting end-to-end experiments and academic writing.
• Experience writing Python programs and using developer tools (e.g., Git, AWS, etc).

You are:

• Self-motivated and independent.
• An experienced programmer, capable of quickly adopting new programming languages or software design methods for specific purposes.
• A good communicator:
• Proactive: you can highlight issues, set, and commit to targets.
• Rational: you can articulate ideas and thoughts clearly.
• Interpersonal: you value constructive feedback.
• Professional working proficiency in English is required.
• A team player: collaborative, constructive, and always willing to assist team members.
• Interested in topics related to the research project.
• Curious and passionate about exploring new concepts, methods, and technologies. You have the ability to identify and learn the most suitable research tools efficiently.

Significantly Beneficial Attributes:

• Detail-oriented and meticulous in your work.
• A developed GitHub repository showcasing your past or ongoing work and skills.
• A strong interest in spatial data science and urban-related topics.

Desirable Attributes:

• The ability to present your work and progress in an engaging and effective manner.

Workplace

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 with 32 nationalities, offering ample opportunities for mutual learning.
• Positive and inclusive working environment.
• 25 days of annual leave for fixed-term contracts.
• 1 day of Birthday Leave.
• Annual dental benefits.
• Committed to being a supportive employer as you prioritize your physical and mental wellness.
• Comprehensive healthcare insurance coverage.
• Flexible hybrid work arrangement (up to 2 days per week from home).
• Abundant networking opportunities across various disciplines.
• Accredited with NS mark certification.

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 Value Diversity

In line with our values, ETH Zurich encourages an inclusive culture. We promote equality of opportunity, value diversity, and nurture a working and learning environment in which the rights and dignity of all our staff and students are respected. Visit our Equal Opportunities and Diversity website to discover how we ensure a fair and open environment that allows everyone to grow and flourish.

Curious? So are we.

We look forward to receiving your online application using the form below. Please include:

• A cover letter
• Your CV, preferably tailored to this position, including your GitHub repository or website featuring previous projects.
• [Optional] A writing sample of academic writings where you are a co-author or first author.

Duration: Full-Time position (Contract)
Salary: SGD 8990 - SGD 10345 /month

For further information about the Singapore-ETH Centre, please visit our website. For inquiries, you may contact Dr. Srilalitha Gopalakrishnan (Singapore-ETH Centre) at Show e-mail.ch">Show e-mail and Asst. Prof. Filip Biljecki (NUS) at Show e-mail.sg">Show e-mail.

Singapore-ETH Centre

The Singapore-ETH Centre provides a multicultural and interdisciplinary environment for researchers focused on sustainable and liveable cities, resilient urban systems, and patient-centric healthcare. The centre hosts a community of over 100 doctoral, postdoctoral, and professorial researchers engaged in three main programmes: Future Cities Laboratory, Future Resilient Systems, and Future Health Technologies.