Postdoctoral Researcher / Postdoctoral Researcheress

Postdoctoral Researcher in Modeling Damage Mechanics in Cavitation of Soft Materials

100%, Zurich, fixed-term

At the Professorship of Solid Mechanics (SMEC) in the Institute for Building Materials at ETH Zurich, we aim to understand how materials deform, degrade, break, and ultimately fail. Our research is driven by curiosity about the physical mechanisms that underlie failure and by the ambition to translate this understanding into more reliable and resilient materials and structures. By combining numerical modeling, laboratory experiments, and theoretical analyses, we seek to link microscopic processes with the macroscopic behavior of both engineering and natural systems and develop predictive tools for mechanical failure.

Our team is highly interdisciplinary and international, bringing together researchers with backgrounds in materials science, mechanics, and applied physics. We work across a broad range of topics, including:

• The mechanics of particle systems (colloidal and granular)
• Architected and topologically interlocked materials
• The mechanics of fragility in collagen
• The mechanics of earthquakes
• Fracture of soft materials
• Modeling failure in multiphysical processes, such as corrosion-driven degradation of concrete

What unites these efforts is a shared curiosity about why complex materials fail and a commitment to developing new concepts, experiments, and models that advance our understanding of failure mechanics.

Project Background

To advance our efforts in understanding the failure of soft materials, we are seeking a motivated and innovative Postdoctoral Researcher with a strong background in computational solid mechanics and fracture/damage modeling. The Postdoctoral Researcher will help expand our modeling capabilities and drive independent research that complements and extends our research on the mechanisms governing material failure.

Job Description

• You will lead the computational and theoretical investigation of damage evolution associated with cavitation in soft materials under high-rate loading.
• The work will focus on developing physics-based models that connect behavior across scales, from the polymeric network and mesoscale structure to the macroscopic continuum, supported by consistent coarse-graining and homogenization strategies.
• Your responsibilities include formulating constitutive and damage laws that capture cavitation-driven processes, implementing and verifying robust large deformation solvers, and performing rigorous verification and validation using datasets provided by collaborators in Prof. Christian Franck’s group at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
• The position provides a stimulating environment for scientific growth and collaboration.

Profile

• You hold a doctoral degree in mechanical, civil, aerospace, biomedical engineering, materials science, physics, or a related field.
• You have a strong background in computational solid mechanics and nonlinear continuum mechanics, including fracture and damage modeling under large deformations.
• You are comfortable implementing and verifying numerical solvers, analyzing stability and convergence, and performing verification against experimental data.
• Proficiency in Python, together with good software engineering practices such as version control and testing, is expected.
• Experience with high-rate dynamics, cavitation, viscoelastic or poroelastic behavior, or uncertainty quantification is a plus.
• You are curious, self-motivated, and enjoy collaborating closely with experimentalists, including partners at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
• Strong communication skills in English, the ability to mentor students, and a commitment to open and reproducible research are essential.

Workplace

You will join a dynamic, international, and supportive research group that values curiosity, rigor, and collaboration. ETH Zurich provides an outstanding scientific environment with access to high-performance computing. The position includes close collaboration with Prof. Christian Franck’s group at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, including regular joint meetings and the possibility of short research visits. ETH Zurich is a family-friendly employer with excellent working conditions, cultural diversity, and attractive offers and 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. Sustainability is a core value for us; we are consistently working towards a climate-neutral future.

Curious? So Are We.

Apply online using the form below. Only applications matching the job profile will be considered.

About ETH Zurich

ETH Zurich is one of the world’s leading universities specializing 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.