Doctoral Candidate / Research Assistant (f/m/d) on Origami-inspired Microrobots for Biomedical Applications

75% part-time

This research aims to develop origami-inspired microrobots for advanced biomedical applications, such as minimally invasive surgery, targeted drug delivery, and in-situ diagnostics. Drawing inspiration from the principles of origami and the shape memory alloy (SMA) microactuation effect, these microrobots are composed of interconnected, programmable microscale tiles capable of dynamically folding into complex three-dimensional shapes. This capability enables the creation of highly adaptive systems that respond to changing environmental conditions and perform precise tasks at the microscale with high precision and efficiency. The project focuses on pioneering methodologies for the design, fabrication, and control of these microrobots. SMA and advanced actuation strategies will be utilized to achieve high precision, speed, and stability, while ensuring biocompatibility for medical applications.

Organizational unit

Institute of Microstructure Technology (IMT)

Job description

You will have the following tasks:

• Modelling, design and simulation of shape memory alloy (SMA) microrobots
• Design and simulation of a suitable SMA microrobots layout
• Rapid prototyping (clean room technology, e.g., optical lithography, 3D printing, laser technology)
• Development, characterization and control of demonstrator variants
• Investigation of the scaling of size and performance
• Addressing miniaturization and scalability to enable real-world applications in medicine

The institute is equipped with an array of state-of-the-art facilities, including a 600 m² clean room, mechanical workshop, advanced rapid prototyping capabilities like lithography, 3D printing and laser cutting, construction and connection technology labs, as well as various metrology laboratories.

Starting date

as soon as possible

Personal qualification

• Master’s degree in mechanical engineering, biomedical Engineering, robotics, physics, or a related field.
• Knowledge in the fields of robotics, origami-inspired systems, and microfabrication technologies
• Experience in clean room processes, microscale design, or biomedical devices is advantageous.
• Experience in CAD, lumped element modelling and/or FEM simulation and/or MATLAB programming, thermal characterization, mechanical testing is desirable
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Proficiency in English (spoken and written)

Salary

Salary category 13, depending on the fulfillment of professional and personal requirements.

Contract duration

3 years

Application up to

30.04.2025

Contact person in line-management

For further information please contact Dr. Jingyuan Xu, email: [email protected]

Please apply online using the button below for this vacancy number 134/2025.

Vacancy number: 134/2025

We prefer to balance the number of employees (f/m/d). Therefore we kindly ask female applicants to apply for this job. Recognized severely disabled persons will be preferred if they are equally qualified.

Contact

Personnel Support is provided by:
Personalservice (PSE) - Human Resources
Ms Gätcke
Phone: +49 721 608-25010,

Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany