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 underlying failure and 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

• Lead the computational and theoretical investigation of damage evolution associated with cavitation in soft materials under high-rate loading.
• Develop 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.
• Formulate constitutive and damage laws that capture cavitation-driven processes, implement and verify robust large deformation solvers, and perform rigorous verification and validation using datasets provided by collaborators in Prof. Christian Franck's group at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
• Engage in a stimulating environment that supports 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, along 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

The position offers the opportunity to 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, including close collaboration with Prof. Christian Franck's group at the University of Wisconsin-Madison with regular joint meetings and the possibility of short research visits.

We Value Diversity and Sustainability

ETH Zurich encourages an inclusive culture. We promote equality of opportunity, value diversity, and nurture a working and learning environment that respects the rights and dignity of all our staff and students. Visit our Equal Opportunities and Diversity website to learn 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.

We look forward to receiving your online application using the form below. Only applications matching the job profile will be considered.

• A CV
• A list of publications
• A brief statement outlining your research interests and how they relate to the themes of this position
• The names and contact details of two references

Please note that the position is available with a flexible start date, ideally as soon as possible, and can be offered with a workload of 80-100%.

Further information about the professorship can be found on our website. Questions regarding the position should be directed to Prof. David Kammer via email at dkammer@ethz.ch (no applications). We would like to point out that the pre-selection is carried out by the responsible recruiters and not by artificial intelligence.

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.