PhD in Architected-Interface Contact Mechanics (Multiscale)

ETH Zurich; Schweiz; On-site; CHF 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

ETH Zurich invites applications for a Doctoral Position in contact mechanics of architected interfaces within the SMEC group at the Institute for Building Materials. The project aims to understand how local contact interactions shape macroscopic interface response using physics-based modeling, theory, and numerical simulations.

The candidate will work in an interdisciplinary, international team, focusing on lattice materials, rough-surface contact mechanics, and multiscale approaches, with

Qualifications

• MSc degree in mechanics, physics, (civil, mechanical, aerospace, or bio-) engineering, material science, computational science, or a related discipline.
• Background in mechanics, applied physics, computational mechanics, scientific computing, or a related field.
• Experience implementing scientific code and validating results, with Python and version control.

Responsibilities

• Conduct computational and theoretical investigations of local contact interactions in architected materials to determine macroscopic interface response.
• Connect cell-scale mechanics with multiscale/rough-surface contact mechanics to develop effective descriptions of architected interfaces.
• Develop and use numerical models of lattice materials to explore principles of contact behavior.
• Analyze how architectural features and material properties influence contact area, pressure distributions, interface stiffness, and load transmission.
• Seek statistical or homogenized descriptions linking mechanics of individual contacting cells to large-scale interfaces.

Skills

Python programming

Version control

Computational mechanics

Scientific computing

Teamwork

English fluency

Education

MSc in mechanics/engineering/physics or related field

Job description

ETH Zurich invites applications for a Doctoral Position in contact mechanics of architected interfaces within the SMEC group at the Institute for Building Materials. The project aims to understand how local contact interactions shape macroscopic interface response using physics-based modeling, theory, and numerical simulations.

The candidate will work in an interdisciplinary, international team, focusing on lattice materials, rough-surface contact mechanics, and multiscale approaches, with