Postdoctoral Researcher – Tactile Sensing for Dexterous Manipulation ETH Zürich in Switzerland

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 federica.poltronieri@srl.ethz.ch. No applications by email or postal mail will be considered.