Doctoral Position in Mechanics of Frictional Particle Suspensions

The Professorship of Solid Mechanics at ETH Zurich invites applications for a fully funded doctoral position focused on the mechanics of frictional particle suspensions. The successful candidate will combine physics-based modeling, coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations, and theoretical analyses to understand how sliding and rolling friction drive macroscopic rheological behavior. This interdisciplinary project involves close collaboration with experimental researchers within the Department of Materials. Applicants are expected to hold an MSc degree and bring a strong foundation in mechanics, applied physics, or computational simulation.

• Conduct computational and theoretical investigations into how particle-scale frictional interactions govern macroscopic flow responses.
• Link particle-scale mechanics and particle geometry with collective suspension behavior using physics-based models.
• Implement and execute particle-based simulation methods, including coarse-grained molecular dynamics.
• Perform rigorous verification and validation of computational results using experimental datasets from collaborators.
• Analyze simulation outputs to uncover the physical mechanisms controlling suspension dynamics and provide insights to experimental partners.