PhD Position in Life-Like Materials for Soft Robotics

Empa invites applications for a doctoral position focused on creating life-like materials that can learn, remember, and forget for soft robotics applications. Working under the supervision of Dr. Livius F. Muff within the group of Dr. Luciano Boesel at Empa St.Gallen, the successful candidate will also be affiliated with ETH Zürich. The project involves synthesizing and characterizing advanced polyurethane elastomers containing backbone-integrated molecular switches to engineer quantifiable memory and learning capabilities. Candidates are expected to hold a Master's degree, engage in multidisciplinary research, and contribute to scientific publications and conferences.

• Synthesize libraries of single-, dual-, and triple-switch polyurethanes through copolymerization and post-polymerization functionalization.
• Validate backbone integration and material properties using NMR, GPC, DSC, DMA, tensile testing, UV-Vis spectroscopy, and pump probe characterization.
• Design and characterize synergistic switching cascades using time-resolved and spatially resolved spectroscopy, patterned illumination, and external stimuli.
• Develop and validate logic maps for memory formation, consolidation, and selective forgetting in physical polymer films and bilayer actuators.
• Contribute to integrating learning materials into soft robotic bilayer actuators and demonstrate behavioral adaptation in autonomous soft robots.
• Collaborate with international research partners and present findings at scientific conferences.