David Kammer

This PhD position at ETH Zürich focuses on modeling friction in colloidal suspensions within the Professorship of Solid Mechanics (SMEC) at the Institute for Building Materials. The group investigates how materials deform, degrade, and fail, aiming to translate fundamental understanding into more reliable and resilient materials and structures. Research combines numerical modeling, laboratory experiments, and theoretical analyses to link microscopic processes with macroscopic behavior in both engineering and natural systems. The interdisciplinary team works on topics such as particle systems (colloidal and granular), architected materials, fragility in collagen, earthquake mechanics, fracture of soft materials, and multiphysical failure processes like corrosion-driven degradation of concrete. The advertised PhD project centers on the mechanics of colloidal systems, specifically the roles of sliding and rolling friction in the rheological properties of concentrated suspensions. The candidate will conduct computational and theoretical investigations, applying physics-based models that connect single-particle geometry to the macroscopic response of suspensions. Responsibilities include implementing coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations, rigorous verification and validation using experimental datasets, and close collaboration with experimental researchers to interpret observations and provide modeling insights. Applicants should have an MSc in mechanics, physics, engineering (civil, mechanical, aerospace, or bio-), material science, or a related discipline, with a background in computational sciences focused on solid mechanics or applied physics. Experience in scientific programming (Python), code validation, and version control is required. Fluency in English, teamwork, and proactive communication are essential. The position offers a dynamic, international, and supportive research environment, with opportunities for professional development and societal impact. ETH Zürich is committed to diversity, sustainability, and a climate-neutral future, providing benefits such as public transport tickets, sports facilities, childcare, and attractive pension plans. The start date is flexible, and applications are accepted exclusively through the ETH online portal. Required documents include a CV, academic transcript, a brief project statement, and contact details for two references. For questions about the position, contact Prof. David Kammer at [email protected] (no applications via email). ETH Zürich is a world-leading university in science and technology, renowned for excellence in education and research, and offers a vibrant, international academic community in the heart of Europe.

ETH Zürich invites applications for a Postdoctoral Researcher position in Modeling Damage Mechanics in Cavitation of Soft Materials, based at the Professorship of Solid Mechanics (SMEC) in the Institute for Building Materials. The group investigates how materials deform, degrade, and fail, with a focus on understanding the physical mechanisms underlying failure and translating this knowledge into more resilient materials and structures. Research activities span numerical modeling, laboratory experiments, and theoretical analyses, linking microscopic processes to macroscopic behavior in both engineering and natural systems. The successful candidate will lead computational and theoretical investigations into damage evolution associated with cavitation in soft materials under high-rate loading. The project emphasizes developing physics-based models that connect behavior across scales, from polymeric networks and mesoscale structures to macroscopic continua, using coarse-graining and homogenization strategies. Responsibilities include formulating constitutive and damage laws for cavitation-driven processes, implementing and verifying large deformation solvers, and performing rigorous validation using experimental datasets from collaborators at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Applicants should hold a doctoral degree in mechanical, civil, aerospace, biomedical engineering, materials science, physics, or a related field. Required expertise includes computational solid mechanics, nonlinear continuum mechanics, and fracture/damage modeling under large deformations. Proficiency in Python and good software engineering practices are expected. Experience with high-rate dynamics, cavitation, viscoelastic or poroelastic behavior, or uncertainty quantification is a plus. The position offers a collaborative, international research environment, with opportunities for joint meetings and short research visits with Prof. Christian Franck’s group at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. ETH Zürich provides outstanding scientific resources, high-performance computing, and a family-friendly, diverse workplace. The position is available with a flexible start date and can be offered at 80–100% workload. Applications must be submitted online and should include a CV, publication list, research statement, and contact details for two references. For further information, contact Prof. David Kammer at [email protected] (no applications via email). ETH Zürich is a world-leading university in science and technology, renowned for excellence in education and research, and committed to diversity, sustainability, and open opportunities for all staff and students.

ETH Zürich is advertising a doctoral position in contact mechanics of architected interfaces within the Professorship of Solid Mechanics (SMEC) at the Institute for Building Materials . The project sits at the intersection of solid mechanics, interface mechanics, computational modeling, and multiscale contact mechanics, with a strong focus on understanding how local contact interactions in architected materials determine macroscopic interface response. The research aims to develop physics-based and statistical or homogenized descriptions that connect cell-scale mechanics to the effective behavior of large architected interfaces. The work will involve numerical modeling of lattice materials, theoretical reasoning, and concepts from rough-surface and multiscale mechanics. Key quantities of interest include contact area, pressure distributions, interface stiffness, and load transmission, with the broader goal of deriving design principles for architected materials. The professorship is part of a dynamic, international, and interdisciplinary environment at ETH Zurich. The research group works on a wide range of failure-mechanics topics, including particle systems, architected and topologically interlocked materials, fracture of soft materials, collagen fragility, earthquakes, and corrosion-driven degradation of concrete. This PhD position is especially well suited to applicants who enjoy computational and theoretical mechanics and want to contribute to fundamental understanding of mechanical behavior in advanced materials. Applicants should have an MSc degree in mechanics, physics, engineering, materials science, computational science, or a related field. A background in solid mechanics, contact mechanics, computational mechanics, scientific computing, or multiscale modeling is particularly relevant. The successful candidate should be comfortable implementing scientific code, validating computational results, using Python and version control, and working collaboratively in a research team. Experience with architected materials, homogenization, statistical mechanics, or rough-surface contact mechanics is helpful but not required. The position offers a stimulating and supportive research environment, with a flexible start date, possibly as soon as possible. Applications must be submitted online through the ETH Zurich portal. Required documents include a CV, academic transcript or list of completed courses, a short project statement relating your experience to the job description and literature, and contact details for two references. Questions about the position should be directed to Prof. David Kammer at [email protected] .

Doctoral Position in Mechanics of Frictional Particle Suspensions at ETH Zurich’s Professorship of Solid Mechanics (SMEC), Institute for Building Materials. This PhD project explores how microscopic frictional interactions between particles govern the macroscopic flow and rheological response of dense, concentrated suspensions. The work sits at the intersection of mechanics, applied physics, computational science, and materials research, and aims to connect particle-scale processes such as sliding and rolling friction, particle geometry, and contact mechanics with emergent suspension behavior across scales. The successful doctoral researcher will undertake a computational and theoretical study using physics-based models and particle-based simulations, including coarse-grained molecular dynamics. A key part of the project is rigorous verification and validation against experimental datasets provided in collaboration with researchers from the ETH Department of Materials. The role includes analyzing simulation data to identify the mechanisms controlling suspension response and working closely with experimental partners to help interpret observations and refine the modeling framework. The broader research environment at SMEC is highly interdisciplinary and international, with projects spanning particle systems, architected and interlocked materials, fragility in collagen, earthquake mechanics, soft fracture, and failure processes in concrete. The common theme is understanding why complex materials fail and developing predictive tools for mechanical failure. This PhD position contributes to that mission by addressing the mechanics of frictional particle suspensions, a topic relevant to rheology, granular and colloidal matter, and computational mechanics. Applicants should have an MSc degree in mechanics, physics, civil/mechanical/aerospace/bio-engineering, materials science, or a related discipline, together with a strong background in mechanics, applied physics, computational mechanics, or scientific computing. Experience with scientific coding, Python, version control, and quantitative comparison against reference data is important. Fluency in English is required, and candidates should be curious, self-motivated, collaborative, and comfortable working in a team environment. Prior exposure to colloidal suspensions, rheology, or coarse-grained molecular dynamics is welcome but not mandatory. The position is offered by ETH Zurich, one of the world’s leading science and technology universities, and provides a supportive, dynamic, and international research setting. ETH highlights professional development, sustainability, and a diverse and inclusive working culture. The start date is flexible and may be as soon as possible. Applications must be submitted via the online portal; email or postal applications are not considered. For questions about the position, contact Prof. David Kammer at [email protected] (no applications). Required application materials include a CV, transcript/list of courses, a brief project statement, and contact details for two references.