The Faculty of Civil Engineering at the Czech Technical University in Prague invites applications for a postdoctoral position in Topology optimization of pneumatically actuated programmable metamaterials for soft robotics applications. The position is jointly funded by the CTU Global Postdoctoral Fellowship and the interdisciplinary research project ROBOPROX, and will involve close collaboration with Group Rokoš at TU Eindhoven.

In this project, the candidate will develop advanced topology optimization techniques and tools for designing pneumatically actuated systems with applications in active mechanical metamaterials and soft robotics. The goal is to create microstructures that transition between stable states through applied pressure and contact, with each configuration tailored for different effective properties, such as those critical for a soft robotic finger following a predefined trajectory.

We seek a candidate with a Ph.D. in computational mechanics, mathematics, or computational science, or a closely related field, with expertise in one or more of the following areas:

• Modeling of elastic materials with large deformations and instabilities.
• Computational mechanics of materials and structures.
• Topology optimization and (computational) homogenization.
• Code development skills, preferably in MATLAB, C++, or a related programming language.

The initial appointment will be for 12 months, with the possibility of renewal for an additional year based on performance, mutual agreement, and availability of funds. The application deadline is 31 May 2025, and the earliest expected start date is 1 September 2025.

Interested candidates are invited to review the offer details at https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/338697 and submit their application following the instructions provided there.