PhD position “Soft Active Matter Microrobots for Medicine (SAM3)”

Empa offers a full-time PhD position within the SAM3 Marie Curie network, focusing on designing and synthesizing soft active matter microrobots for medical applications in Dübendorf.

This doctoral role is embedded in the Marie Curie Doctoral Network on Soft Active Matter Microrobots for Medicine (SAM3), which brings together twelve candidates to investigate microrobotics solutions for ear, nose, and throat applications. The successful candidate will be enrolled at the Doctoral School for Materials Science and Engineering (EDMX) of EPFL, combining research at Empa with academic stays at partner institutions.

Responsibilities

• Design and synthesize meta-materials for medical soft robotics using simulation-guided computational methods and light-based 3D printing.
• Develop functional material architectures and corresponding synthesis routes tailored for soft robotic medical devices.
• Characterize the morphology, microstructure, and mechanical properties of metamaterials under varying environmental and boundary conditions.
• Establish a characterization setup to test the mechanical behavior of both active and passive materials for soft robotics.
• Conduct multiscale analysis to link processing, structure, mechanical properties, and function.
• Undertake a three-month research stay at ULB focused on the design of metamaterials for soft robotics.
• Complete a three-month research stay at UMONS dedicated to the synthesis of soft robotics materials.
• Perform a five-month industrial secondment at Alemnis AG to conduct micromechanical testing of metamaterial structures.

Requirements

• Hold a Master’s degree or equivalent diploma in materials science, mechanical engineering, or a closely related field.
• Have less than five years of professional experience at the time of recruitment.
• Not currently hold a doctoral degree.
• Demonstrate a strong background in material mechanics and computational simulations.
• Possess fluent spoken and written English skills.

Nice to have

• Prior experience with material characterization techniques such as electron microscopy or nanoindentation.
• Familiarity with light-based 3D printing technologies.
• Proficiency in German or French.

What the company offers

• A three-year full-time contract starting in October 2026.
• A workplace culture built on inclusion and mutual respect.
• Access to advanced facilities including workstations, simulation software, chemical labs, DLP and 2 Photon Lithography 3D printers, Raman spectroscopy equipment, electron microscopy, nanoindentation devices, macroscopic mechanical testing rigs, and humidity control systems.

About the company

Empa is a research institution within the ETH Domain, employing approximately 1,100 staff members who contribute to societal well-being and a sustainable future. The laboratory is located on Empa’s main campus in Dübendorf, situated near the city of Zürich.

• Empa is part of the prestigious ETH Domain.
• The team focuses on creating a future worth living through essential societal contributions.
• The workplace is located on the main campus in Dübendorf near Zürich.

How to apply

Documents to submit:

• Academic certificates
• CV
• Motivation letter
• Letters of recommendation

Application language: English