Postdoc: Fracture Mechanics of Soft & Architected Materials

ETH Zurich; Zürich; On-site; CHF 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Public transport season tickets

Car sharing options

ASVZ sports program

Childcare support

Attractive pension benefits

Job summary

ETH Zurich invites applications for a Postdoctoral Researcher in Experimental Fracture Mechanics of Soft Materials. The role focuses on leading experimental work using advanced imaging to understand fracture behavior in architected and soft materials, with opportunities to collaborate with modeling and theory groups.

The candidate will supervise students and contribute to a dynamic, international lab. The position is 100%, Zurich, fixed-term, with a strong emphasis on open, reproducible research

Qualifications

• Doctoral degree in mechanics, civil/Mechanical/aerospace engineering, materials science or physics.
• Hands‑on experience in mechanical testing, experimental design, instrumentation, and quantitative measurements of deformation and fracture.
• Experience with digital image correlation, particle tracking, high-speed imaging, optical microscopy or other quantitative optical measurements.
• Ability to independently develop and validate experimental methods and to mentor students.
• Commitment to open and reproducible research.
• Curious, creative, self‑motivated with interest in failure mechanics and interdisciplinary work.

Responsibilities

• Lead experimental research on fracture mechanics of advanced and soft materials.
• Use confocal and high‑speed imaging to study fracture nearest the crack tip.
• Develop optical measurement methods for interfacial contact and deformation in soft/architected materials.
• Collaborate with researchers in modeling, theory, and soft materials.
• Supervise junior researchers (PhD/Masters) and contribute to group activities.
• Contribute to growth and collaboration within the fracture mechanics lab.

Skills

Mechanical testing

DIC (digital image correlation)

High‑speed imaging

Optical measurements

Mentoring

English communication

Education

PhD in mechanics or related field

Tools

Confocal imaging

High-speed imaging

Optical microscopy

Job description

ETH Zurich invites applications for a Postdoctoral Researcher in Experimental Fracture Mechanics of Soft Materials. The role focuses on leading experimental work using advanced imaging to understand fracture behavior in architected and soft materials, with opportunities to collaborate with modeling and theory groups.

The candidate will supervise students and contribute to a dynamic, international lab. The position is 100%, Zurich, fixed-term, with a strong emphasis on open, reproducible research