Andrew Sonta

Andrew Sonta is a Tenure Track Assistant Professor at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), leading the ETHOS Lab (Engineering and Technology for Human Oriented Sustainability). He also serves as Head of the Diversity Office at the School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering (ENAC). His expertise spans human-building interaction, sustainable design, and data-driven urban analysis. Sonta holds a PhD from Stanford University and conducted postdoctoral research at Columbia University's Data Science Institute.

Education

• BS in Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northwestern University (2015)
• MS and PhD in Civil Engineering, Stanford University (2017, 2020)

Research Focus

Sonta’s work integrates computational tools with sustainability goals, addressing urban form, energy efficiency, and occupant behavior. Key areas include:
- Data-driven building design for energy optimization
- Machine learning for occupant behavior modeling
- Social-environmental analysis of urban systems.
His lab, ETHOS, emphasizes interdisciplinary solutions for societal and ecological challenges.

Publications

Recent work explores topics like walkability’s impact on social cohesion, occupant-centric energy systems, and global behavior databases. His research bridges urban informatics with machine learning to advance human-centric sustainability.

Advising & Leadership

He advises four PhD students and oversees the Diversity Office, promoting inclusivity in ENAC. Courses taught include sustainability frameworks, computational systems thinking, and energy-occupant dynamics in buildings.

Labs & Teams

Directs the ETHOS Lab, which collaborates on projects like the Global Building Occupant Behavior Database and smart energy systems. Engages with industry and academia to translate research into actionable sustainability strategies.