PhD position in the field of soft tissue biomechanics: Be part of a translational research project combining experimental and numerical mechanics with AI-based optimization pipelines to improve pediatric orthosis designs.
School: School of Engineering
Starting date: immediately or by agreement
Employment type: Temporary
Location: Winterthur Region of Winterthur/Schaffhausen 8400, ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences
Your role
* Drive independent research in the field of computational and experimental continuum mechanics
* Collaborate with industrial partners, clinical and research partners within an Innosuisse funded project in the field of biomedical engineering and artificial intelligence
* Publish research results at international conferences and in peer reviewed journals
* Contribute to teaching and supervision of bachelor and master theses
Your profile
* University Master degree in (bio-)mechanical engineering, material science, civil engineering or similar
* Strong background in continuum mechanics
* Skilled in programming (e.g. Python) and Finite Element simulations
* Experience in performing experiments and analyzing data.
* Motivated to independently navigate an interdisciplinary and collaborative project
We kindly invite you to submit your application by April 5, 2026.
Apply online now
What we stand for
Zurich University of Applied Sciences ZHAW is one of Switzerland's largest multidisciplinary universities of applied sciences, with over 14'000 students and 3'400 faculty and staff.
ZHAW is committed to gender-mixed and diverse teams in order to promote equality, diversity and innovation.
About the IMES Institute of Mechanical Systems
At the IMES Institute of Mechanical Systems, we drive innovation in Mechanical Engineering through applied research, cutting‑edge technology, and strong industry collaboration. Our interdisciplinary teams develop smart, sustainable solutions in areas such as lightweight structures, mechanical modelling & production, and biomechanics.
About the BME group
The BME group consists of a young and interdisciplinary team and is looking for you to drive the applied research of tomorrow.
PhD Programme
The PhD is running in the framework of the PhD Programme Biomedical Science and Health Innovations together with ETH Zurich (Co‑Supervision by Prof. Dr. Edoardo Mazza, Experimental Continuum Mechanics Lab). The workspace is located at ZHAW in Winterthur.
Experimental Continuum Mechanics Lab
In an integrated approach, we develop new experimental tools, advanced theories and computational models to investigate the mechanics of biological tissues, soft materials and the mechanobiology of living systems. We perform the construction, execution, analysis, and interpretation of corresponding experiments and rationalize observations using advanced continuum models and discrete fiber network models.
What you can expect
Benefits
* Workplace Culture
* Work Life Balance
* Diversity and Inclusion
* Personal Development
* Environmental, Economic and Social Sustainability at the ZHAW
* Occupational Health Management
* Salary and Pension Provision
Contact
Barbara Röhrnbauer
Professor for Tissue Biomechanics, IMES ZHAW School of Engineering
+41 (0) 58 934 41 97
barbara.roehrnbauer@zhaw.ch
Irina Keiser
Recruiting Manager
irina.keiser@zhaw.ch
#J-18808-Ljbffr