The Professorship of Solid Mechanics (SMEC) at the Institute for Building Materials, ETH Zurich, investigates how materials deform, degrade, break, and ultimately fail. The research combines numerical modeling, laboratory experiments, and theoretical analyses to link microscopic processes with macroscopic behavior in engineering and natural systems, aiming to develop predictive tools for mechanical failure. The team is interdisciplinary and international, working on topics such as particle systems, architected and topologically interlocked materials, fragility in collagen, earthquake mechanics, fracture of soft materials, and multiphysical failure processes.
This doctoral position focuses on understanding how local contact interactions in architected materials shape their macroscopic interface response, with the goal of developing design principles through computational and theoretical approaches.
Tasks
- Conduct computational and theoretical investigations of how local contact interactions in architected materials collectively determine their macroscopic interface response.
- Connect cell-scale mechanics with concepts from multiscale and rough-surface contact mechanics to develop effective descriptions of architected interfaces.
- Develop and use numerical models of lattice materials to investigate the principles of contact behavior in architected materials.
- Analyze how architectural features, material properties, and characteristic length scales influence contact area, pressure distributions, interface stiffness, and load transmission.
- Seek statistical or homogenized descriptions that connect the mechanics of individual contacting cells to the effective behavior of large architected interfaces.
Requirements
- MSc degree in mechanics, physics, (civil, mechanical, aerospace, or bio-) engineering, material science, computational science, or a related discipline.
- Background in mechanics, applied physics, computational mechanics, scientific computing, or a related field.
- Foundation in areas such as solid mechanics, contact mechanics, or multiscale modeling is particularly relevant.
- Experience implementing scientific code and assessing computational results through validation, verification, and quantitative comparison with reference data.
- Prior programming experience in Python and use of version control.
- Curious, self-motivated, and interested in using modeling and quantitative reasoning to answer mechanics and physics questions.
- Experience with architected materials, rough-surface contact mechanics, homogenization, statistical mechanics, or multiscale methods is an advantage but not required; project-specific methods and concepts can be learned during doctoral studies.
- Fluent in English (oral and written).
- Enjoy working in a team, possess necessary social skills and communication abilities, and contribute proactively to a positive group atmosphere.
Benefits
- Join a dynamic, international, and supportive research group that values curiosity, rigor, and collaboration.
- ETH Zurich supports professional development and actively contributes to positive change in society.
- Commitment to a sustainable and climate-neutral university.
- Benefits include public transport season tickets and car sharing, a wide range of sports offered by the ASVZ, childcare, and attractive pension benefits.
- Inclusive culture that promotes equality of opportunity, values diversity, and nurtures a respectful working and learning environment.
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Über uns
Das Team
The team is highly interdisciplinary and international, bringing together researchers with backgrounds in materials science, mechanics, and applied physics, and values curiosity, rigor, and collaboration.