Mid May, the inaugural AdvanceAEC Postdoc Network Meeting took place at ETH Zürich. The three-day event brought together over 15 early-career researchers from partner institutions across Europe, hosted by the NCCR Digital Fabrication and organized in cooperation with the Cluster of Excellence IntCDC. It marked the official launch of the Postdoc Network, with the goal of strengthening professional development, collaboration, and community-building among postdocs in the AEC field.
The program featured a dynamic mix of interactive career workshops, research presentations, and networking activities. Participants took part in sessions on academic decision-making and long-term career planning, gained insights into local research initiatives, and toured leading research facilities, including ETH’s Robotic Fabrication Lab, Bauhalle, and Immersive Design Lab, as well as Empa’s NEST innovation hub. Social highlights included a BBQ at the Robotic Fabrication Lab, a relaxed dinner at Werdinsel, and an excursion to the Hardwaldturm – a striking 41.5-meter wooden observation tower – fostering both meaningful exchanges and new connections.
This successful kickoff set the tone for an active and supportive network dedicated to advancing the careers of emerging researchers in the built environment. The next meeting will be hosted by IntCDC in Stuttgart this September.
More inforamtion on AdvanceAEC can be found here: www.advanceaec.net