ETH Zürich invites applications for a Postdoctoral Fellow in Thin Film Engineering for Microsensors, joining a dynamic and interdisciplinary research team at one of the world’s leading universities in science and technology. The position centers on the systematic study and engineering of nanomaterial film architectures on miniaturized MEMS substrates for integrated gas sensing devices. The main goal is to understand and control how deposition process parameters affect film architecture—such as thickness, porosity, roughness, grain connectivity, interfaces, adhesion, and pattern fidelity—and how these features impact sensor performance and device reliability.

Miniaturized gas sensors are increasingly vital for environmental monitoring, industrial safety, healthcare, and smart infrastructure. This project aims to establish robust process–architecture–property–performance relationships by combining controlled deposition experiments with advanced characterization and device-level testing. The successful candidate will focus on the deposition of nanomaterials onto MEMS substrates, engineering and characterizing film architectures, and integrating and testing gas sensor devices both in laboratory and field settings.

Applicants are encouraged to explore and benchmark multiple deposition routes, including flame aerosol deposition, aerosol jet printing, inkjet printing, and related techniques, and to develop systematic parameter studies for robust and repeatable sensing layers. Responsibilities include investigating deposition process parameters, engineering tailored film architectures (thickness gradients, porosity, hierarchical structures, multi-layer stacks, functional/catalytic over-layers, patterned films), benchmarking deposition techniques, establishing process–architecture–performance relationships, integrating sensing films into MEMS devices, and conducting comprehensive sensor characterization and testing (calibration, repeatability, humidity/interference effects, aging, statistical evaluation across batches).

The role involves close collaboration with interdisciplinary teams in materials science, microfabrication, chemistry, device physics, and modeling. The candidate will also prepare manuscripts, reports, and presentations to disseminate research findings. The position offers a highly motivated, multidisciplinary, and collaborative team environment, scientific mentoring, support for postdoctoral fellowship applications and career development, flexibility to develop independent research directions, opportunities to attend international conferences, supervise junior researchers, contribute to teaching, and access to state-of-the-art infrastructure and collaborative research networks.

ETH Zürich values diversity and sustainability, promoting an inclusive culture and equal opportunities. The university provides a supportive environment for professional growth and is committed to a climate-neutral future. Applicants should submit a motivation letter, detailed CV, transcripts, contact information for at least three references, and representative published research work via the ETH online portal. Applications are evaluated on a rolling basis, and the earliest possible starting date is as soon as possible. For further information, contact Prof. Andreas Güntner at [email protected].