The University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI) invites applications for a Ph.D. student in the field of dynamic behaviour of composites with natural fibre for drones at the DynaMat Laboratory (LDM-SUPSI) within the Department of environment, constructions and design (DACD), located in Mendrisio. The degree of employment is 100%, with a contract starting within the first months of 2026, on a mutually agreed date.
 

Duties and responsibilities

• Dynamic characterisation of samples from laminated panels, thermoplastic matrixes, epoxy resins, natural fibres, carbon fibres, and calibration and/or the development of advanced constitutive material models.
• Analysis and numerical modelling of composite members under wide range of strain rate conditions.
• Integration of experimental and numerical investigations to provide new insights into the response of composite systems under extreme conditions.
• Write scientific papers for journals and conference proceedings.
• Present research findings to a wide audience, including conferences, workshops, and project review meetings.

Requirements

We are looking for a highly motivated candidate with:
Essential

• A Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering or a closely related discipline.
• A strong interest in material behaviour under dynamic loading conditions (e.g. Split Hopkinson Bar).
• Experience or aptitude in experimental testing, data acquisition/analysis, numerical modelling (e.g. LsDyna, Abaqus), and programming (e.g. Matlab).
• Scientific curiosity, problem-solving attitude, and the ability to work both independently and in an interdisciplinary, international research environment.
• Excellent English skills (spoken and written). 

Preferred

• Knowledge of other languages is a valuable asset; Italian is an asset for communicating within the project consortium.
• Experience or knowledge in the use of the Split Hopkinson Tensile Bar (SHTB) is considered a valuable asset.

What SUPSI Offers

• A fully funded PhD position with a fixed-term employment contract for the duration of the doctoral program (3 years), and a salary in line with the standards of the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF).
• The opportunity to contribute to a cutting-edge research project in the field of material and structural dynamics.
• A stimulating, international and multidisciplinary environment, with access to state-of-the-art experimental and computational facilities.
• Joint supervision by SUPSI (DynaMat SUPSI Laboratory) and ETH Zürich (Artificial Intelligence in Mechanics and Manufacturing), in close collaboration with European research partners in material mechanics.
• Developing your skills to perform long-term scientific research, from literature research, over project planning, execution, data analysis and publication.
• Opportunities to present results at international conferences.

The available PhD position is part of a 4-year research project, funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation. The project team includes Prof. Dr Ezio Cadoni, full professor in Mechanics of Materials and Structures at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (DynaMat SUPSI Laboratory), and Prof. Dr Dirk Mohr, chair for Artificial Intelligence in Mechanics and Manufacturingat ETH Zurich, with whom a close collaboration is foreseen throughout the entire duration of the project.
The successful candidate will be enrolled in the doctoral programme at ETH Zürich, with the main workplace located at the DynaMat SUPSI Laboratory in Mendrisio (Switzerland).
 

Application Process

We look forward to receiving your online application with the following documents prepared in English:

• Curriculum vitae (including list of publications if applicable)
• An official academic transcript and the list of courses completed, including grades (please upload a single file for the transcript)
• A brief statement describing how you will address the topic, making a connection, if applicable, to your experience and the related work from the literature (max 600 words, excluding bibliography)
• Names and contact details of two reference contacts

Only applications submitted via the dedicated application form by June 26, 2026, will be taken into consideration. 
Further information about the DynaMat SUPSI Laboratory can be found on our website (https://www.supsi.ch/en/ldm). Questions regarding the PhD position should be directed to Prof. Ezio Cadoni via email.
Incomplete applications, those submitted to incorrect addresses, or those received after the deadline, will not be considered. In addition to the required application documents, further documentation (such as a criminal record certificate or a copy of an identity document) may be requested at a later stage.