RobotX Postdoctoral Fellowship

100%, Zurich, fixed-term

RobotX, the Center for Robotics at ETH Zurich, is looking for outstanding postdoctoral researchers who want to build robots that work in the real world. With the RobotX Postdoctoral Fellowship, you apply once and are considered by several RobotX research groups across ETH Zurich. You choose up to three professors you would like to work with, and they review your application.

Final date to receive applications: 27 November 2026.

• Soft and Musculoskeletal Robotics: bioinspired robots built from compliant materials, artificial muscles, and tendons, for safe and adaptive interaction with an unstructured world.
• Robotic Locomotion and Manipulation: legged robots, robot arms, and hands that move and act reliably in complex terrain and contact-rich tasks.
• Biohybrid Robots: robots built from living cells, engineered tissue, and synthetic materials, actuated by muscle and powered by chemical energy.
• Perception and Computer Vision: 3D reconstruction, object recognition, and scene understanding that give robots reliable perception of their surroundings.
• Human-Robot Interaction: sensory-motor interaction between humans and machines for assistive, rehabilitative, and cooperative tasks.
• Computational Design and Fabrication: simulation, optimization, and learned surrogate models to design and fabricate efficient, bioinspired robots.
• Reinforcement Learning and Machine Learning: data-driven methods that let robots learn new skills and adapt to new tasks and environments.
• Humanoid Robotics and Tactile Sensing for Manipulation: humanoid loco-manipulation, whole-body control, and tactile sensing that let robots reason across touch and vision to handle objects dexterously.
• Motion Planning and Control: algorithms for navigation, control, and decision-making in dynamic environments.
• Safety-Critical Robotic Systems: robots that perform reliably under uncertainty, in particular when they work alongside humans.

As a RobotX postdoc, you shape your research agenda together with your host professor, lead your own projects, publish at top venues, and help mentor doctoral and Master's students.

• A doctoral degree in mechanical or electrical engineering, computer science, robotics, bioengineering, materials science, or a closely related field, completed by August 2027
• A strong publication record in leading robotics, machine learning, or related journals and conferences
• Demonstrated experience in one or more of the research areas above, ideally including work on real hardware
• The ability to lead research independently and the motivation to mentor students
• Strong programming skills; experience with robotics software frameworks is a plus
• Excellent written and spoken English

• A postdoctoral position at ETH Zurich on a one-year contract, typically extended, employed at the ETH postdoc salary rate with full social benefits
• A RobotX host professor and access to the RobotX network of robotics groups across ETH Zurich
• Start date by agreement in 2027
• Your career with impact:
  Become part of ETH Zurich, which not only supports your professional development, but also actively contributes to positive change in society.
• We are actively committed to a sustainable and climate-neutral university.
• You can expect numerous benefits, such as public transport season tickets and car sharing, a wide range of sports offered by the ASVZ, childcare and attractive pension benefits.

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. Visit our Equal…