Hedan Bai

The Robotic Materials group at ETH Zürich's Department of Materials, led by Prof. Hedan Bai, is recruiting three postdoctoral researchers and one PhD student for the ERC Starting Grant project 'Distributed Addressable Robotic Material via Wavelength-Division-Multiplexing (ColorfulAct)'. This ambitious project aims to develop distributed and addressable robotic actuating materials that leverage the broad bandwidth of light to achieve multifunctionality, establishing the building blocks of physical intelligence in parallel with artificial intelligence. The group, established in October 2023, is highly interdisciplinary, bringing together material scientists, roboticists, engineers, and chemists to pursue cutting-edge research in soft robotics and advanced materials. The positions are organized into four tracks: (1) Fiber-based soft optical actuators, focusing on the design, fabrication, and scalable manufacturing of high-performance fiber actuators; (2) Soft optical actuator and network, emphasizing the creation of soft optical networks for light multiplexing and distributed actuation; (3) Biomedical soft robots with light, involving the synthesis of biocompatible materials and the development of minimally invasive robotic devices for medical applications; and (4) Soft robotic design with distributed addressable actuators, targeting the integration and demonstration of multifunctional 3D soft robots. All tracks include opportunities to supervise junior students and contribute as a teaching assistant. Applicants for postdoc positions must hold a PhD in Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field from a top university, with a strong experimental background and documented achievements in relevant areas. PhD applicants should have a master's degree and an outstanding academic record in a related field, along with research experience in soft actuators, optics, materials design, or biomedical robotics. Preferred expertise varies by track and includes fiber manufacturing, optics, microfabrication, polymer/biomaterial synthesis, and advanced soft robotic design. The group offers a competitive salary according to ETH standards, a fully funded position, and a vibrant, collaborative, and international research environment with strong academic, industrial, and clinical connections. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until the positions are filled, with a preferred (but flexible) start date of December 1st, 2025. Applicants should submit a single PDF containing a cover letter (indicating the track), CV, publication list with highlights, contact details of two referees, and, for PhD applicants, transcripts of academic records, through the official ETH Zürich portal. Direct email applications will not be considered. For further information, candidates may contact Prof. Hedan Bai.

The Robotic Materials group at ETH Zürich, led by Prof. Hedan Bai, is recruiting two postdoctoral researchers and one PhD student for the ERC Starting Grant project "Distributed Addressable Robotic Material via Wavelength-Division-Multiplexing (ColorfulAct)." This ambitious project aims to develop distributed, addressable robotic actuating materials that demonstrate multifunctionality through the broad bandwidth of light, establishing the building blocks of physical intelligence in parallel to artificial intelligence. The group, based in the Department of Materials, is interdisciplinary and international, bringing together material scientists, roboticists, engineers, and chemists passionate about futuristic robotics. Research will focus on three tracks: (1) fiber-based soft optical actuators, (2) soft optical actuator networks for light multiplexing, and (3) biomedical soft robots using light, including the design and synthesis of biocompatible materials and minimally invasive devices for medical applications. All positions involve experimental research, device fabrication, and system-level demonstrations, as well as opportunities to supervise junior students and assist in teaching. Applicants for postdoc positions must hold a PhD in a relevant field and have a strong experimental background with documented achievements in soft actuators or robotic materials, as well as leadership and communication skills. PhD applicants should have a master’s degree and an outstanding academic record in a related field, with demonstrated research experience in soft actuators, optics, materials design, or biomedical robotics. Preferred expertise includes fiber manufacturing, optics, microfabrication, and polymer/biomaterial synthesis. The positions are fully funded with competitive salaries according to ETH standards, and the group offers a vibrant, collaborative environment with strong academic, industrial, and clinical connections. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, with full consideration for those submitted before October 15th, 2025. The preferred start date is December 1st, 2025. Applications must be submitted as a single PDF through the application portal and should include a cover letter specifying the track(s) of interest, CV, publication list with highlights, and contact details for two referees. ETH Zürich is a world-leading university in science and technology, renowned for its excellence in education and research, and is committed to diversity and equal opportunity.