Robert Katzschmann

ETH Zurich’s Soft Robotics Lab in the Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems is recruiting a Postdoctoral Researcher – Tactile Sensing for Dexterous Manipulation . This is an industry-funded research collaboration focused on developing compact, durable tactile sensors for dexterous robotic hands so that manipulation remains reliable even when vision is limited by clutter, occlusion, or deformable objects. The project puts touch at the center of robotic hand design. Building on the lab’s experience with proprioceptive and tactile sensing in tendon-driven, musculoskeletal robotic hands, the successful candidate will design, fabricate, and characterize sensor modules that provide multi-axis force information and then integrate them into a working hand platform. The role is highly hands-on and research-driven. Responsibilities include benchmarking tactile sensing modalities, selecting suitable approaches for the project, integrating sensors into one of the lab’s existing robotic hand platforms, optimizing readout electronics and packaging, creating bench- and task-level evaluation methods, and demonstrating closed-loop tactile behaviors for real-time manipulation control. The postdoc will also co-supervise a PhD student and master’s students, drive the project end to end, and contribute to publications in top robotics venues. Candidate expectations are strong: a completed PhD in robotics, mechanical engineering, mechatronics, electrical engineering, or a closely related discipline; a published track record in hands-on hardware research; expertise in at least one sensing modality such as tactile, force, or optical sensing; and comfort working across electronics, mechanical design, fabrication, and signal processing. Experience mentoring students, strong English communication skills, and the ability to communicate with both academic and industry partners are important. Background in tactile sensing or dexterous manipulation is considered a plus. The appointment is hosted at ETH Zurich in Switzerland, within a world-class robotics environment and a multidisciplinary team. The university highlights access to state-of-the-art fabrication facilities and the broader ETH robotics ecosystem, along with standard employee benefits. Applications are accepted online only, and the materials should be submitted as a single merged PDF with a cover letter addressed to Prof. Robert Katzschmann, a detailed CV, transcripts, reference contacts, and representative research work. For questions about the position, applicants are directed to Federica Poltronieri at [email protected]. No applications by email or postal mail will be considered.

ETH Zürich’s Soft Robotics Lab in the Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems is recruiting several postdoctoral researchers in robot learning and soft, musculoskeletal, and biohybrid robotics . The lab works across four tightly connected directions: soft and musculoskeletal robotics, biohybrid living systems, dexterous manipulation and robot learning, and simulation for embodied AI. The team is especially interested in candidates who either design and build the robots themselves or develop the policies that make those robots work in the real world. The research environment is highly interdisciplinary and hands-on. Projects may involve compliant mechanisms, tendon-driven and electrohydraulic actuation, anthropomorphic hands, tactile sensing, imitation learning, diffusion policies, reinforcement learning, sim-to-real transfer, physics-based simulation, tissue engineering, bioprinting, and closed-loop control of living or soft actuators. The lab emphasizes taking ideas from concept to validated hardware, with rapid prototyping, measurement, iteration, and collaboration between hardware, biology, and machine learning researchers. For systems-focused applicants, the role can include mechanism design, compliant structures, actuator development, tendon routing, embedded electronics, motor control, sensing integration, CAD-to-fabrication workflows, and long-term hardware validation. For learning-focused applicants, the work can include policies for contact-rich robotic manipulation, real-world reinforcement learning, perception for compliant robots, multimodal representations combining touch and vision, and benchmark development. For biohybrid researchers, the lab offers access to biological laboratories at ETH Zürich for culturing, bioprinting, and turning tissue into controllable actuators. The position is hosted at ETH Zürich in Zurich, Switzerland . The lab provides state-of-the-art fabrication and test facilities, including multi-material 3D printing, a machine shop, an electronics lab, biological laboratories, robotic hands and arms for data collection, tactile skins, and dedicated GPU computing resources. The appointment begins with an initial one-year contract, renewable annually, and most postdocs stay two to four years. The lab also supports independent career development and external funding applications such as SNSF Ambizione, Postdoc.Mobility, ERC Starting Grant, and Marie Skłodowska-Curie fellowships. Applicants should hold a completed PhD in a relevant field and demonstrate strong publication records, real-world experimental experience, and the ability to work across disciplinary boundaries. The application is reviewed on a rolling basis until 2026-11-30 . Candidates must submit their materials through ETH’s online portal as a single merged PDF.