Student Assistant for the Bedretto Underground Laboratory for Geosciences and Geoenergies

Student Assistant for the Bedretto Underground Laboratory for Geosciences and Geoenergies
10%-30%, Zurich, fixed-term

The BedrettoLab (Bedretto Underground Laboratory for Geosciences and Geoenergies) is an innovative ETH Zurich research facility located in a 5.2-km tunnel in the Bedretto Valley (TI). At the forefront of experimental geosciences, it provides ideal conditions for cutting-edge research in earthquake physics, seismic instrumentation, geothermal energy, and fault-zone processes. Its dense multi-scale sensor network, including borehole acoustic emission sensors, standard seismometers, and DAS, operating from 1,000 to 200,000 samples per second, captures earthquakes down to magnitude -5 at meter-scale distances. All data is acquired and processed through SeisComP. The BedrettoLab team comprises about 30 scientists from diverse disciplines and collaborates with research institutions across Switzerland, Europe, and the USA.

Job description

The BedrettoLab seismology team is looking for a student preferably in their 2nd or last undergraduate year in Earth Sciences with strong IT/programming skills, or in Computer Science/Physics with interest in geoscience and sensors, to support sensor-noise analysis, calibration workflows, and seismic-coverage modelling at BedrettoLab.

You will provide support and assistance for the BedrettoLab seismology team activities that may include the following tasks:

• Data curation, conversion, inventory, and preprocessing from huddle tests. This includes data recorded on AE sensors, accelerometers, geophones, and DAS systems.
• Noise and waveform analysis for sensor characterization: including PSD/PPSD computation, figure preparation, and evaluation of coupling conditions (cemented vs clamped installations).
• Supporting simplified sensor calibration workflows inspired by our ongoing high-frequency research: aligning overlapping PSDs between calibrated sensors and AE sensors to derive empirical sensitivity curves.
• Preparing noise and event-based power spectral density profiles across a broad frequency band and evaluating differences due to distance, magnitude, and installation conditions.
• Supporting seismic monitoring coverage modeling integrating these noise profiles and simple earthquake-amplitude–distance models to assess detection capability and to improve coverage maps.
• Data and metadata organization: ensuring processed datasets follow BedrettoLab standards.
• Optional and occasional participation in tunnel activities: including assisting with sensor installation, small test experiments, or sampling.

Possible extensions: The work can extend into a Bachelor thesis or evolve into a Master thesis on sensor calibration, high-frequency seismicity, or data-processing pipelines.

Profile

You can start as soon as possible. You must be enrolled at ETHZ or Uni Zurich and must be willing to work 15h/week on average during the semester. It is possible to work more during the semester breaks (up to 40 hours possible). We handle working time flexibly such that you can take time to study for exams or fulfill other obligations for your studies while coordinating with the team when tasks need to be completed. Ideally, we are looking for individuals who can stay employed as a student assistant for at least one year, and possibly longer.

Required skills:

• Basic programming experience (Python, Julia, or similar).
• Interest in seismic, acoustic, or sensor data.
• Ability to work with large datasets and structured file systems.
• Good documentation and organizational skills.
• Motivation to work in an interdisciplinary geoscience environment.

Preferred skills:

• Experience with Python scientific libraries (NumPy, SciPy, ObsPy, Matplotlib).
• Familiarity with time-series processing, signal processing, or noise analysis.
• Background in Earth Sciences, physics of waves, rock mechanics, or instrumentation.
• Experience with Linux, Git, or workflows for handling large datasets
• Interest in high-frequency seismicity, AE sensors, or DAS
• Ability and willingness to occasionally work in the tunnel at the BedrettoLab

Workplace
Workplace
We offer

• Your job with impact: Become part of ETH Zurich, which not only supports your professional development, but also actively contributes to positive change in society
• You can expect numerous benefits, such as public transport season tickets and car sharing, a wide range of sports offered by the ASVZ, childcare and attractive pension benefits
• An interdisciplinary team with good support and a friendly learning environment.
• Standard ETH student RA salary

We value diversity and sustainability

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 find out how we ensure a fair and open environment that allows everyone to grow and flourish. Sustainability is a core value for us – we are consistently working towards a climate-neutral future.

Curious? So are we.

We look forward to receiving your online application with the following documents:

• 1 page curriculum vitae
• 1 page motivation letter

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 can be found on our website. Questions regarding the position should be directed to Frederick Massin )

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