Doctoral Position viscoelastic hydrogels D mechanobiology and tissue repair

The Macromolecular Engineering Laboratory (Prof. Mark W. Tibbitt) within the Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering (D-MAVT) at ETH Zurich in Zurich, Switzerland engineers and applies advanced polymeric materials for a range of biomedical and industrial uses. The recent focus of the group includes the development of: (i) rational design of dynamic polymer networks; (ii) (bio) material processing; (iii) organ perfusion and regeneration;

(iv) tools to study mechanobiology and cell–matrix interactions; and (v) engineered drug delivery systems. The lab is composed of a highly interdisciplinary and international team of motivated researchers. To expand on our ability to engineer viscoelastic biomaterials and deploy them as tailorable 3D cell culture platforms for mechanobiology and tissue repair, we are recruiting a full-time (100%) doctoral candidate, with an intended starting date on or after 01.

October 2026.

Viscoelasticity—the ability to relax stress over time—is a defining mechanical feature of most native soft tissues and is increasingly recognized as a critical regulator of cell behavior including proliferation, differentiation, and migration. Dynamic covalent hydrogels (DCHs) are an emerging class of polymer networks that uniquely combine the tunability of reversible covalent bonds with the robustness of permanent networks, enabling independent control over stiffness, relaxation timescale, and injectability.

This project aims to harness this tunability to develop a comprehensive library of DCHs as designer extracellular matrix (ECM) mimics, and to apply them to uncover the mechanistic role of matrix viscoelasticity in biological contexts, for example articular cartilage maturation and cancer cell migration.

In the first part of the project, the doctoral student will synthesize PEG- and hyaluronic acid-based DCHs cross-linked via dynamic covalent chemistries (boronate ester, hydrazone, imine, and disulfide bonds), spanning a broad range of moduli (0.1–100 kPa) and relaxation times (10–1000 s) to mimic the mechanical properties of native and cancer-associated dermal and cartilaginous tissues. The student will fabricate and characterize these materials using rheology and nano‑indentation, guided by molecular design insights from the broader project team.

In the second part, the student will apply these tailorable DCH scaffolds to address key mechanobiology questions. These studies will provide mechanistic insight into how matrix viscoelasticity drives key tissue‑level biological processes.

The doctoral student will work in close collaboration with and be supported by an interdisciplinary team of doctoral students and postdocs working on related topics, including Dr. Céline Labouesse, a Senior Scientist in the lab, and Dr. Philipp Fisch, both experts in cell mechanobiology. In addition to research, the PhD candidate is expected to contribute to lab duties and teaching, including student supervision, lecture support, and practical courses in the lab.

We are seeking a curious
, motivated
, and self‑driven individual, who is comfortable working on highly interdisciplinary projects at the interface of polymer chemistry
, bioengineering
, and cell biology
. Academic excellence, a professional work attitude, and a proactive and self‑driven work ethic are expected. Moreover, the candidate must be able to fluently communicate in English (oral and written) and be willing to work in a highly interactive, international team. Applicants must hold a MSc degree in bioengineering, biomedical engineering, mechanical engineering, molecular health sciences, materials science, chemistry, or related fields.

A working knowledge of polymer synthesis and hydrogel fabrication is required.

Practical experience in one or more of the following would be advantageous:

• 3D cell culture and standard biological assays (cell viability, immunostaining, gene/protein expression)
• Mechanical characterization of soft materials (rheology, compression testing)
• Live‑cell imaging and image analysis

The doctoral position is intended for 4 years, at 100% employment, and will be supervised by Prof.…