PhD position in Biohybrid Robotics

Build the next generation of muscle-actuated robots in a lab whose recent biohybrid work has been published in Science Advances and Advanced Intelligent Systems.

The Soft Robotics Lab within the Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems at ETH Zurich is inviting applications for an open doctoral position. We are looking for an excellent researcher to join and advance our research efforts in the fabrication and control of biohybrid robots. Our lab’s goal is to build, model, and control robots in a fundamentally different way, so that they become more flexible, dexterous, capable, and adapt better to their environment.

Project background

The frontier of research in soft robotics aims at replacing classic soft materials used for actuators with biological ones (muscle) to take advantage of the innate adaptability, energy efficiency, and softness of biological systems. Within this research area, the SRL designs, fabricates, and characterizes muscle-driven biohybrid robots. Muscle constructs are produced using hydrogel casting, micro-molding, and light- and extrusion-based bioprinting, then actuated through electrical stimulation and analyzed via motion tracking.

The doctoral candidate will join an interdisciplinary team working at the intersection of tissue engineering, biofabrication, robotics, and control.

Job description

The thesis work will focus on:

• Designing and engineering bioreactors for the mechanical tensioning, electrical stimulation, and long-term maturation of engineered muscle constructs
• Bioprinting of complex muscle architectures using extrusion- and light-based approaches
• Fabrication, characterization, and motion modelling of muscle-actuated biohybrid robots, potentially leveraging machine-learning approaches for control and motion prediction
• Beyond these core directions, the candidate will contribute to broader efforts within the lab, including the integration of engineered neural networks with muscle constructs, the development of proprioceptive sensing in living actuators, and the exploration of new scaffolding materials and cell sources for sustainable biohybrid robotics
• The outcomes of the PhD are expected to advance muscle-driven robots toward applications in adaptive prosthetics, biohybrid medical implants, and regenerative tissue engineering

Profile

• You commit fully to your research and bring an engineering mindset to a complex, interdisciplinary problem
• You 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)
• An engineering mindset is essential; a purely biological background will not be sufficient for this role

Through your prior experiences, you have ideally already shown your understanding and skills in:

• Have an excellent track record and meet the general admission requirements for a doctorate at ETH Zurich
• Bring a foundational understanding of cell biology, basic mechanics principles, and materials science/engineering
• Have completed 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

We offer

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

Curious? So are we.

We look forward to receiving your online application until 15 July 2026 with the following documents as a single merged PDF document:

• Cover letter with a description of your research achievements and research interests
• Detailed CV
• Transcripts of all degrees (English)
• Names and contact information of 2-3 references, at least one of which is a research project supervisor.
• Representative published research work (e.g., papers and/or thesis).

Questions regarding the position should be directed to Federica Poltronieri. Please note that we exclusively accept applications submitted through our online application portal. Applications via email or postal services will not be considered.

Apply online now