Postdoc in Direct Ink Writing of Thermo-Electric Materials 100%, Zürich (Kreis 11)

The Advanced Manufacturing Lab (am|z) at the Department of Mechanical&Process Engineering (D-MAVT) at ETH Zurich develops advanced manufacturing methods and systems to overcome the limitations of today's materials processing technologies. One particular area of interest is the design and fabrication of active structures through hybrid production methods. We’re looking for a highly motivated Postdoc to develop methods for direct ink writing of thermo-electric materials onto non-planar metallic substrates.

Project background The position takes place within the recently awarded Meta.Morphos project, funded by the ESA ESDI Phi‑Lab Switzerland. The overarching goal of the project is to develop methods to design and produce thermally actuated structures and mechanisms incorporating thermo‑electric materials. Such devices have interesting applications in space under significant weight, volumetric, power, and resource constraints.

The project consortium includes multiple labs at ETH Zurich and research partners at Inspire AG, as well as industrialization partners. The main focus of this position will be to develop materials and methods for directly depositing and fabricating thermo‑electric devices onto non‑planar metallic substrates. In a parallel track, the team will develop techniques for the design and manufacture of the structures with predictable material properties. Finally, the two technologies will be combined to create integrated devices. The industrial partnerswill provide application‑specific use cases, environmental testing expertise and facilities, and validation.

Job description

Characterization of powdered materials for ink formulation

DIW process development for ceramic and TE materials, including parameters optimization and evaluation of resolution

Setup, programming, and operation of DIW equipment

Determination of optimal debinding and sintering steps

Characterization of the sintered materials: density, microstructure, defects, shrinkage, possible distortions and preliminary thermoelectrical properties

Running validation studies under simulated environmental conditions

Assisting with industrial transfer of the developed technologies

Publishing research findings in leading international journals and presenting at conferences

Active involvement in teaching and lab duties outside of the project (~15‑20% of working time)

Profile

PhD in Material Science and Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics or Chemistry

Knowledge and experience in direct ink writing technology, thermoelectric and ceramic materials, powder technologies, and material characterization with a corresponding scientific publication record

Strong communication, organizational, and analytical skills

Proficiency in written and spoken English; German skills are a plus

Founded in 2020 and led by Prof. Bambach, the Advanced Manufacturing Lab (am|z) currently employs about 50 people with research activities in additive and hybrid manufacturing processes and advanced process control. We offer a dynamic, interdisciplinary, and international working environment and we strive at fostering collaborative atmosphere. ETH Zurich also supports postdocs in developing career perspectives, whether in research or industry.

We value diversity and sustainability. In line with our values, ETH Zurich encourages an inclusive culture. We promote equality of opportunity, value diversity and nurture a working and learning environment in which the rights and dignity of all our staff and students are respected. Visit our Equal Opportunities and Diversity website to find out how we ensure a fair and open environment that allows everyone to grow and flourish. Sustainability is a core value for us - we are consistently working towards a climate‑neutral future.

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