Postdoctoral Researcher: Experimental Fracture Mechanics of Soft Materials

About the role

The Professorship of Solid Mechanics (SMEC) in the Institute for Building Materials at ETH Zurich seeks a motivated, innovative Postdoctoral Researcher with a strong experimental background. The team studies how materials deform, degrade, break and fail, combining numerical modeling, laboratory experiments and theoretical analysis. The position focuses on experimental fracture mechanics, with possible directions including soft materials, architected materials and dynamic crack propagation.

Key responsibilities

• Lead experimental research on the fracture mechanics of architected and soft materials using advanced imaging techniques such as confocal and high-speed imaging to study fracture near the crack tip.
• Use image-based methods such as digital image correlation (DIC) and particle tracking to quantify displacement and strain fields, crack-tip deformation, fracture energy and rate-dependent behavior.
• Develop optical measurement methods to characterize interfacial contact, deformation and friction in soft and architected materials.
• Contribute to the supervision of junior researchers (PhD and Master's students).

Required profile

• Doctoral degree in mechanics, civil/mechanical/aerospace or bio-engineering, materials science, physics or a related field.
• Hands-on experience in mechanical testing, experimental design, instrumentation and quantitative measurement of material deformation and fracture.
• Ability to independently develop and validate experimental methods, collaborate across disciplines, mentor students and communicate in English.
• Commitment to open and reproducible research; curiosity and self-motivation.

Required skills

• Experience with digital image correlation, particle tracking, high-speed imaging, optical microscopy or other quantitative optical measurement techniques is highly desirable.

What we offer

• A newly established fracture mechanics imaging and characterization lab with 3D-printing facilities, mechanical testing systems and advanced imaging equipment.
• Access to additional facilities for optical and high-speed imaging, material preparation and scientific computing.
• Substantial freedom to develop independent research while collaborating with experimental, theoretical and computational researchers.
• Benefits such as public transport season tickets, car sharing, sports membership, childcare and pension benefits.

Applications are submitted online through the university's application portal, with a CV, a list of publications, a brief statement on research interests and two references. The position has a flexible start date, ideally as soon as possible.