We are seeking a PhD student to work on an interdisciplinary project that uses soft matter physics and material science concepts to develop the next generation of architected bacterial cellulose for fundamental and sustainable applications.
Pressing challenges in climate change require the development of the next generation of renewable materials addressing cooling, CO2 capture and energy production. Materials produced by bacteria (e.g. cellulose) are promising candiates to be used in a sustainable future as they are manufactured using low energy budgets and can upcycle waste. While biofabricated materials have showed promising applications in food, tissue engineering and energy, fundamental physical understanding of bacteria-made materials, as well as robust processing methods to control their structure across scales are still missing.
The goal of this project is to develop novel methods to engineer the structure of bacterial cellulose at different length scales and make functional materials for sustainable applications. To this end, we will use the combination of bottom-up and top-down approaches to carefully control structural features at various length scales. We will then characterize a range of fascinating structure-function relationships of these biomaterials with various techniques. These include different types of light and electron microscopy, mechanical tests and X-rays. Finally, at the end of the project, we will collaborate with the Digital Building Technologies lab at the Department of Architecture at ETH to explore innovative integrations of biofabricated materials and sustainable buildings.
We look forward to receiving your online application with the following documents:
Please note that we exclusively accept applications submitted through our online application portal. Applications via email or postal services will not be considered.
Further information about the group can be found on our website. Questions regarding the position should be directed to Dr. Carla Fernandez-Rico via emial (carla.fernandezrico@mat.ethz.ch).
The earliest start of this position is November 1, 2024 and the latest February 1, 2025.
ETH Zürich is well known for its excellent education, ground-breaking fundamental research and for implementing its results directly into practice.
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