PhD Opportunities in Materials Science, Chemistry, Physics, Engineering, and Related Fields at Empa/ETH Zurich Empa in Switzerland

Empa, the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, is advertising multiple PhD opportunities in Switzerland across materials science, chemistry, physics, engineering, and related fields. The post highlights four projects: all-solid-state batteries, muon spin spectroscopy for perovskite solar cells, atmospheric science of emerging plastic aerosol particles, and data-driven development of piezoelectric thin films for electronic, photonic, and quantum technologies.

The battery project focuses on hydroborate-based all-solid-state batteries, with research on electrolyte synthesis, electrochemical characterization, and advanced bulk/interfacial analysis to understand cycling stability and reaction pathways. The work is embedded in the National Competence Center for Research Muoniverse and includes access to advanced battery laboratories, muon-beamline studies, and a collaborative research network. The position is based at Empa in Dübendorf and linked to the ETH Zurich doctoral program in electrical engineering.

The perovskite solar cell project explores muon spin spectroscopy, defect dynamics, ion migration, and mitigation strategies for improving single-junction and tandem solar cells. It is part of Muoniverse and involves work at Empa in Dübendorf with eventual PhD degree from EPFL. The atmospheric science project investigates the in-cloud scavenging and aging of micro- and nano-plastic aerosol particles using laboratory experiments at Empa and ice nucleation instruments at ETH Zurich. It is described as a fully funded four-year PhD position starting in September 2026.

The piezoelectric thin-film project develops piezoelectric nitrides such as AlScN using reactive HiPIMS, high-throughput experimentation, surface analysis, and closed-loop autonomous experimentation. It sits at the intersection of materials science, physics, and data science, with a fully funded four-year PhD position at Empa in collaboration with ETH Zurich, starting from 1 July 2026 or later by agreement.

Eligibility across the projects generally requires a Master’s degree or equivalent in a relevant discipline, strong English, and project-specific experience such as batteries/electrochemistry, semiconductor physics, thin-film deposition, aerosol science, programming, or materials characterization. Applications are submitted online through the Empa job portal with a motivation letter, CV, transcripts/certificates/diplomas, and references. Email applications are not accepted.