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.
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.
Tasks for the PhD student will include: 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 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.
Use the input of one or a few textile-based heat flux sensors to predict conditions across the full human body.
Integrate the model into a digital twin of the clothing to predict the end-of-life of clothing for firefighters.
Work 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.
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