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School of Engineering

Institute of Computational Physics (ICP)

«We are the specialists in computer simulation. The close collaboration with our partners results in convincing simulation results that generate customer value.»

Prof. Dr. Andreas Witzig, Head of Institute

At the ICP, a team of physicists, mathematicians and engineers works on applying methods and results from basic research to problem areas in industry.

For over 20 years, the ICP has been developing multiphysics computer models on the basis of finite element methods, which can be used, for example, to simulate crowd flows at large events such as the Street Parade or research the stability of ultra-thin solar cells. Furthermore, the ICP operates a laboratory for optoelectronics (OLAB) to develop optoelectronic materials and new optical measurement methods.

Together with partners from the worlds of research and industry, the ICP works on solutions for concrete problems, such as as how coatings can be measured contact-free and how aging processes in fuel cells can be halted.

Your Benefits as an ICP Partner

At First Glance

Approximately 60 employees as well as bachelor and master students

5 research and development areas 

Optoelectronics research and development laboratory (OLAB)

8 spin-off companies

Several partner institutes and industry partners, enabling access to interdisciplinary know-how

Part of 4 Master's degree programs and students' projects

News/Events

Research Reports

Download PDF(PDF 8,8 MB)

Study and Continuing Education

The ICP contributes important basics, such as physics, mathematics and thermodynamics, as well as specialized modules for the Bachelor's degree program of the School of Engineering. In the Master of Science in Engineering (MSE) program, the ICP is active in the following specializations: Energy and Environment, Photonics, Medical Engineering, and Computer Science. The Master's program, jointly developed by the Swiss Universities of Applied Sciences, is aimed at highly motivated Bachelor's graduates who wish to deepen their knowledge and skills in a specific subject area.

This spring semester, we are once again offering our final-year Bachelor students and other interested parties the opportunity to visit the institutes and centres of the School of Engineering. This is a good opportunity to get to know our main research areas, also with regard to a Master's programme.

Registration: Visiting days


In addition, ICP lecturers supervise bachelor's, master's and doctoral theses on computer-aided design and characterization of micro- and nanosystems, sensors, actuators, fuel and solar cells as well as organic light-emitting diodes and solar cells. Most of this work is done in cooperation with industrial partners. An overview of these projects and detailed information on some of them can be found in our annual research reports.

Selected Master's Theses at the ICP

Doctoral Theses at the ICP

Several doctoral theses were supervised at the ICP.  Following find a summary of their work. If you are interested in a dissertation at the ICP, please contact us. We always have interesting topics for a dissertation.

Daniel Brunner: An applied investigation of viscosity-density fluid sensors based on torsional resonators To the summary(PDF 268,2 KB)

Markus Regnat: Characterization and Modelling of the Emission Zone and Exciton Dynamics in Doped Organic Light-Emitting Diodes To the summary(PDF 135,6 KB)

Simon Züfle: Degradation Analysis and Parameter Extraction of Organic Semiconductor Devices To the summary(PDF 139,0 KB)

Markus Linder: Characterization and Quantification of Metallic Interconnect Degradation in Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Stacks To the summary(PDF 89,5 KB)

Evelyne Knapp: Numerical Methods for Comprehensive Characterization of Charge Transport in Organic Light-Emitting Devices To the summary(PDF 123,0 KB)

Omar Pecho: Relationships between 3D topology and reaction kinetics in SOFC electrodes To the summary(PDF 143,3 KB)

Thomas Lanz: Computational Modeling of Thin-Film Silicon Solar Cells and Modules To the summary(PDF 193,7 KB)

 

Partners

The ICP is part of a comprehensive research network and will find the right project partner for your project. We offer you access to experimental facilities and simulation tools. We also know how interdisciplinary projects are successfully realized for industrial partners. Please direct your inquiries to Beat Ruhstaller.

Project Partners

Spin-off Companies

 

Partner Institutes at the ZHAW

Swiss Competence Centers for Energy Research

The ICP also participates at the Swiss Competence Centers for Energy Research (SCCER) in the field of mobility.

Publications

Further Information

Spontaneous application

We are always looking for talented employees who are enthusiastic about interdisciplinary research in our research areas.

Apply

Spontaneous application

We are always looking for talented employees who are enthusiastic about interdisciplinary research in our research areas.

Apply