PhD position in Biohybrid Robotics

The Soft Robotics Lab – Doctoral Position

ETH Zürich’s Soft Robotics Lab, within the Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems, is inviting applications for an open doctoral position. The role focuses on the fabrication and control of biohybrid robots, advancing our research in muscle‑driven biohybrid systems.

The frontier of soft robotics seeks replacement of classic soft materials with biological ones (muscle) to harness innate adaptability, energy efficiency, and softness. Recent work in our lab demonstrates fish‑like swimming bio‑bots, caterpillar‑like walking bio‑bots, and pick‑and‑place biological machines powered by engineered muscle tissue.

Our lab designs, fabricates, and characterizes muscle‑driven biohybrid robots. Muscle constructs are produced via hydrogel casting, micro‑molding, and light‑ and extrusion‑based bioprinting, actuated through electrical stimulation and analyzed via motion tracking. Current research challenges include scaling engineered muscle tissues, controlling myofiber formation during bioprinting, integrating proprioception into muscle‑based actuators, and discovering sustainable biohybrid materials.

• Designing and engineering bioreactors for mechanical tensioning, electrical stimulation, and long‑term maturation of engineered muscle constructs.
• Bioprinting complex muscle architectures using extrusion‑ and light‑based approaches.
• Fabrication, characterization, and motion modelling of muscle‑actuated biohybrid robots, potentially leveraging machine‑learning for control and motion prediction.
• Contributing to broader lab efforts including integration of engineered neural networks with muscle constructs, development of proprioceptive sensing in living actuators, and exploration of new scaffolding materials and cell sources for sustainable biohybrid robotics.
• Delivering outcomes that advance muscle‑driven robots toward applications in adaptive prosthetics, biohybrid medical implants, and regenerative tissue engineering.

• Commit fully to research and bring an engineering mindset to a complex, interdisciplinary problem.
• Thrive in collaborative teams and welcome scientific exchange across disciplines.
• Hold a Master's degree in mechanical engineering or a closely related engineering discipline (e.g., bioengineering, materials science and engineering, robotics).
• Engineering mindset is essential; a purely biological background will not be sufficient for this role.
• Foundational understanding of cell biology, basic mechanics principles, and materials science/engineering.
• Prior research work with cell or bacterial culture, at minimum as a course project.
• Experience with mammalian or non‑mammalian cell culture, biomaterials, or biofabrication is a plus.

ETH Zürich is a family‑friendly employer with excellent working conditions. The position is fully funded at the ETH‑standard PhD salary, typically four‑year duration, with a flexible start date in autumn 2026. The package includes a generous travel budget for international conferences and lab visits.

• Recent high‑impact biohybrid publications in Science Advances, Advanced Intelligent Systems, Advanced Healthcare Materials, and PNAS, with active press coverage.
• Dedicated BSL2 wet lab, multiple extrusion‑ and light‑based bioprinters, electrical stimulation rigs, and motion‑tracking setups on site.
• Active international collaborations with IBEC Barcelona, the University of Tokyo, and Empa.

ETH Zürich is committed to equal opportunity and diversity. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates and especially encourage applications from groups underrepresented in engineering.