IAESTE Internships

Location

Switzerland

Internship type

ON-SITE

Reference number

CH-2025-000007

Students Requirements

General discipline

Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
Material Engineering and Sciences

Completed Years of Study

2

Fields of Study

Languages

English Excellent (C1, C2)

Required Knowledge and Experience

-

Other Requirements

-

Work Details

Duration

42 - 52 Weeks

Within These Dates

01.02.2025 - 01.02.2026

Holidays

NONE

Work Environment

-

Gross pay

2300 CHF / month

Working Hours

40.0 per week / 8.0 per day

Living Lodging

Type of Accommoditation

Employer

Cost of lodging

810 CHF / month

Cost of living

1650 CHF / month

Work Offered

Additional Info

Any student with Non-EU/EFTA nationality needs an official letter from their university, confirming that the internship is compulsory (required for visa/work permit).

Work description

Empa is a national research laboratory and part of the ETH Domain. We conduct cutting-edge materials and technology research, generating interdisciplinary solutions to major challenges faced by industry, and create the necessary scientific basis to ensure that our society develops in a sustainable manner.We are seeking motivated and talented students with a background in materials science, chemistry, or chemical engineering to participate in a cutting-edge research project focused on the development and synthesis of aerogels based on silica or polymer materials. The project is part of an industrially funded initiative aimed at advancing aerogel technologies for applications in thermal insulation, and/or environmental remediation. This position offers hands-on experience in aerogel fabrication, characterization, and optimization, contributing directly to real-world industrial applications. You will work as part of a multidisciplinary research team to support the postdoc or scientist to reach the project objectives, collaborating with industrial partners and applying scientific and engineering principles to develop novel aerogel materials. Key Responsibilities- Develop and optimize the synthesis of aerogels using silica or polymer-based materials for specific industrial applications. - Perform material characterization using techniques such as BET surface area analysis, FTIR, and TGA/DSC to evaluate the structural, thermal, and mechanical properties of the aerogels.- Collaborate with industrial partners to tailor aerogel formulations based on application-specific requirements (e.g., thermal management, or environmental applications).- Conduct experiments related to sol-gel chemistry, drying processes (e.g., supercritical drying), and pyrolysis, ensuring reproducibility and scalability of results. - Document experimental procedures and results in detailed laboratory reports, and participate in team meetings to present findings. - Assist in writing technical reports and research publications for the project. - Support the research team in troubleshooting experimental challenges and propose innovative solutions.

Deadline

01.01.2025