RobotX PhD Fellowship 2027

1000scholars; Zürich; Vor Ort; CHF 50.000 - 64.000; Vollzeit

Benefits dieser Stelle

Fully funded PhD

ETH network access

Public transport pass

Sports via ASVZ

Zusammenfassung

ETH Zürich invites outstanding doctoral students to apply for the RobotX PhD Fellowship 2027. You may choose up to three professors across RobotX research groups and be reviewed by them. Application deadline is 27 November 2026.

The fellowship offers a fully funded doctoral position with ETH salary, supervision by RobotX professors, and access to a network of robotics groups across ETH Zurich. Start date is 2027, with generous benefits and climate-conscious values.

Qualifikationen

• Master's degree in engineering/CS/robotics completed by August 2027.
• Excellent academic record in Bachelor's and Master's studies.
• Demonstrated experience in one or more of the research areas above, ideally a project on real hardware.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; drive to do independent research.
• Strong programming skills; experience with robotics software frameworks is a plus.
• Excellent written and spoken English.

Aufgaben

• Collaborate with RobotX research groups across ETH Zurich on real-world robotics research.
• Pursue PhD research in soft robotics, locomotion, perception, and control.
• Design and implement experiments on real hardware for robot systems.
• Publish results and present findings at seminars and conferences.

Kenntnisse

Programming skills

Robotics software

Analytical skills

Independent research

English proficiency

Ausbildung

Master's degree

Jobbeschreibung

RobotX PhD Fellowship 2027

100%, Zurich, fixed-term

RobotX, the Center for Robotics at ETH Zurich, is looking for outstanding doctoral students who want to build robots that work in the real world. With the RobotX PhD Fellowship 2027, you apply once and are considered by several RobotX research groups across ETH Zurich. You choose up to three professors you would like to work with, and they review your application.

Application deadline: 27 November 2026.

Job description

• Soft and Musculoskeletal Robotics: bioinspired robots built from compliant materials, artificial muscles, and tendons, for safe and adaptive interaction with an unstructured world.
• Robotic Locomotion and Manipulation: legged robots, robot arms, and hands that move and act reliably in complex terrain and contact-rich tasks.
• Biohybrid Robots: robots built from living cells, engineered tissue, and synthetic materials, actuated by muscle and powered by chemical energy.
• Perception and Computer Vision: 3D reconstruction, object recognition, and scene understanding that give robots reliable perception of their surroundings.
• Human-Robot Interaction: sensory-motor interaction between humans and machines for assistive, rehabilitative, and cooperative tasks.
• Computational Design and Fabrication: simulation, optimization, and learned surrogate models to design and fabricate efficient, bioinspired robots.
• Reinforcement Learning and Machine Learning: data-driven methods that let robots learn new skills and adapt to new tasks and environments.
• Humanoid Robotics and Tactile Sensing for Manipulation: humanoid loco-manipulation, whole-body control, and tactile sensing that let robots reason across touch and vision to handle objects dexterously.
• Motion Planning and Control: algorithms for navigation, control, and decision-making in dynamic environments.
• Safety-Critical Robotic Systems: robots that perform reliably under uncertainty, in particular when they work alongside humans.

Profile

• A Master's degree in mechanical or electrical engineering, computer science, robotics, bioengineering, materials science, or a closely related field, completed by August 2027
• An excellent academic record in both your Bachelor's and Master's studies
• Demonstrated experience in one or more of the research areas above, ideally a project you carried from idea to a working result on real hardware
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, and the drive to do independent research
• Strong programming skills; experience with robotics software frameworks is a plus
• Excellent written and spoken English

We offer

• A fully funded doctoral position at ETH Zurich, employed at the ETH doctoral salary rate with full social benefits
• Supervision by a RobotX professor and access to the RobotX network of robotics groups across ETH Zurich
• Start date by agreement in 2027
• Your career with impact: Become part of ETH Zurich, which not only supports your professional development, but also actively contributes to positive change in society.
• We are actively committed to a sustainable and climate-neutral university.
• You can expect numerous benefits, such as public transport season tickets and car sharing, a wide range of sports offered by the ASVZ, childcare and attractive pension benefits.

We value diversity and sustainability

In line with our values, ETH Zurich encourages an inclusive culture. We promote equality of opportunity, value diversity and nurture a working and learning environment in which the rights and dignity of all our staff and students are respected. Visit our Equal Opportunities and Diversity website to find out how we ensure a fair and open environment that allows everyone to grow and flourish. Sustainability is a core value for us - we are consistently working towards a climate-neutral future.

Curious? So are we.

Questions regarding the fellowship should be directed to Ms. Isabella De Nitti, [e-mail] (no applications).

About ETH Zürich

ETH Zürich is one of the world’s leading universities specialising in science and technology. We are renowned for our excellent education, cutting-edge fundamental research and direct transfer of new knowledge into society. Over 30,000 people from more than 120 countries find our university to be a place that promotes independent thinking and an environment that inspires excellence. Located in the heart of Europe, yet forging connections all over the world, we work together to develop solutions for the global challenges of today and tomorrow.