Introduction
Future Cities Lab Global (FCL-G) is a research unit of the Singapore-ETH Centre (SEC) and ETH Zurich established in partnership with Singapore’s National Research Foundation (NRF), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), National University of Singapore (NUS), and Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD). FCL-G is home to 120 multidisciplinary researchers across hubs in Singapore and Zurich, organised in eight research modules.
The ‘Agropolitan Territories’ module focusses on the possible threats that urbanisation and agriculture pose to sustainable development. We focus on Monsoon Asia, a region that supplies most of the world’s staple crops (90% of the world’s rice, 45% wheat, and 25% maize), supports over half the world’s population, and is undergoing urbanisation with unprecedented speed and scale. Effects of those threats will be especially disastrous for both cities (increased poverty, ill-health, pollution) and countryside (increased depopulation, greenhouse gas emissions, soil degradation, deforestation, biodiversity loss) in Monsoon Asia and beyond if not properly managed.
Our approach to these threats is guided by a vision for agropolitan territories which hybridise urban and rural settlement patterns for sustainable regional development. The module will draw on expertise in data analytics, coupled human-natural systems, agroecosystem science and urban design. We will produce innovative planning concepts, architectural designs, and building prototypes for sustainable agropolitan territories, anchored in specified sites in China, India, and Indonesia.
Project background
This Zurich- and Singapore-based role is within the ‘Agropolitan Territories of Monsoon Asia’ research module of the Future Cities Laboratory Global (FCL).. Field work and on-site visits around monsoon Asia are expected during this post.
The role(s) focus on understanding land-use transitions from urban city centres to intensive monoculture crop plantations and to identify and create a typology of mixed land-uses that include settlements and agroecological production, also termed as ‘agropolitan territories’. These typologies will be assessed against as set of indicators of agroecological elements to understand how they vary with the range of agropolitan territories identified. The context of this work will be focused on both rice and palm oil production systems, a ubiquitous crop across Indonesia and Malaysia that is used for producing vegetable oils. We have identified cases in Palembang, South Sumatra, Indonesia (for the palm oil focus), and other regions in India, China and Africa to develop comparative studies of emerging agropolitan territories along several transects from the city center to the rural areas. Traveling and field trips are expected during the employment.
Previous experience doing field work in any of these regions and language proficiency to support it is an advantage.”
This role supports the coordination of module personnel, reporting and budgets specific to the selected case studies.
Note that the current FCL-G 5-year cycle will end on Nov 30 2025 and contract will terminate before then. Duration of contract will be adjusted to match, depending on starting date.
Task/Job description
The scope of work shall comprise of but shall not be limited to:
1) Research (75%)
- Conduct agroecological research on palm oil production systems that fall between the interface of highly urban city centers and highly intensive large-scale monoculture plantations.
- Support the planning, design and agropolitan unit development for sustainable urban planning that supports agroecological palm oil production systems. Travelling and field works in Southeast Asia and Zurich are expected.
- Co-design with landscape architects, urban designers a series of agropolitan units using parametric design/planning principles.
- Disseminate research work by initiating, coordinating and leading on publications of high-quality journal articles, conference presentations, and local workshops.
- Contribute data to the team’s open-source software ur-scape (https://urs.sec.sg) and support development of innovative analytical tools.
- Provide mentorship and guidance to Masters and PhD students involved in the research.
2) Research Coordination (15%)
- Contribute to comparative research across selected study sites
- Lead seminars, workshops and studios
- Mentor research team members
- Support module events such as exhibitions, workshops and conferences
3) Administration (10%, it will be supported by PIs and module coordinators)
- Manage reporting requirements (weekly meetings, quarterly module report for FCL)
- Supervise data collection and storage
- Co-ordinate internal budgets and administrative tasks within the team
- Manage human resource matters (interns and researchers)
Requirements
● PhD in Landscape Ecology, Environmental Science, Urban planning and design, or related fields
● Open to candidates with a Master’s degree. Salary will commensurate with qualifications and experience.
● Motivated for in depth and broad research within a multidisciplinary team
● Outstanding quantitative skills on investigating cross-scale research questions
● Experience with geospatial data analytics
● Experience with qualitative methods
● Attention to detail and good problem-solving skills
● Excellent written, verbal and visual communication
● Good interpersonal and interdisciplinary skills
● Experience working in multi-cultural and interdisciplinary settings are desired but not required
● Experience working in urban-related fields (urban design, landscape, and/or urban and regional planning are highly desired but not required.
We look forward to receiving your online application with the following documents:
Please note that we exclusively accept applications submitted through our online application portal. Applications via email or postal services will not be considered.
Further information about (administrative department/institute)
our research work can be found on our website:
https://fcl.ethz.ch/research/food-and-territories/agropolitan-territories-of-monsoon-Asia.html
For further information, please contact
Dr Janice Lee
“The Singapore-ETH-Centre is an equal opportunity and family-friendly employer. All candidates will be evaluated on their merits and qualifications, without regards to gender, race, age or religion.”
