IAESTE Internships

Location

Switzerland

Internship type

ON-SITE

Reference number

CH-2026-000219

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

01.03.2026 - 30.04.2027

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

850 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 enthusiastic and detail-oriented students with a background in materials science, chemistry, or chemical engineering to contribute to an Innosuisse funded project focused on the development of advanced carbon and silica-based sorbent materials for CO₂ capture. The research aims to optimize the structure and properties of these materials for enhanced CO₂ sorption performance, sup-porting global efforts in carbon capture and environmental sustainability. As part of a dynamic research team, you will be involved in the synthesis, structural development, and characterization of carbon and silica materials designed for CO₂ sorption. This position provides hands-on experience in cutting-edge materials research and an opportunity to work on an impactful project with direct industrial applications.Key Responsibilities:• Synthesize carbon and silica sorbent materials using techniques such as pyrolysis, sol-gel pro-cessing, to create tailored pore structures.• Focus on optimizing the porosity, surface area, and chemical functionality of the materials to enhance CO₂ capture performance.• Perform material characterization using advanced techniques such as BET surface area analysis, and TGA/DSC to evaluate the structural and thermal properties of the sorbents.• Investigate the relationship between material structure (e.g., pore size distribution, surface func-tionality) and CO₂ sorption capacity and kinetics.• Collaborate with industrial partners to tailor sorbent properties based on specific CO₂ capture applications, such as post-combustion capture, direct air capture, or industrial gas separation.• Document experimental methods, results, and analysis in detailed reports, and present findings in research group meetings.• Assist in preparing technical reports, research articles, and presentations for conferences or industry partners.• Provide input and innovative solutions to overcome experimental challenges related to material synthesis or characterization.

Deadline

27.10.2025