Přehled

Research Field:

Engineering » Civil engineering
Engineering » Mechanical engineering
Engineering » Aerospace engineering
Mathematics » Computational mathematics

Researcher Profile:

Recognised Researcher (R2)
Established Researcher (R3)

Application Deadline:
30 Nov 2023 – 23:59 (Europe/Prague)
Type of Contract:
Temporary
Job Status: Full-time
Per Week: 40
Offer Starting Date: 1 Jan 2024
Reference Number? Topic #1-4
Internal Application form needed: Please upload  this file

We are looking for a highly creative and motivated postdoctoral candidate to join the Open Mechanics Group at Czech Technical University (CTU) to advance soft robotics through the computationally-driven design of sensing metamaterials. The position is embedded in the group led by Jan Zeman, and the candidate will collaborate with Ondřej Rokoš (Eindhoven University of Technology).

Within this project, the candidate will develop topology optimization techniques and tools for the rational design of pneumatically actuated microstructures with applications in active mechanical metamaterials, sensing, and soft robotics. The goal will be to design and implement multistable microstructures which can be manipulated into a number of stable states through internally applied pressure. Such (locally stable) configurations need to be designed to yield distinct effective properties, crucial for applications in soft robotics (e.g., adjustable stiffness of end effector for pick and place applications).

An important objective in this regard is effective stiffness as a function of the applied pressure, combined with local stability considerations. To allow for sensing, pressure fluctuations triggered by induced deformation at an end effector can be monitored in order to infer applied forces, important for control and feedback loop. The objective of interest in this aspect is the maximum sensitivity of the resulting contact force with respect to actuation pressure changes.

To achieve the above goals, topology optimization tools will be developed, combining pressure actuation, internal contact, and multi-stability. To address potential issues with tracking of interfaces, a level-set-based approach will be pursued. The candidate will start with a study of a single periodic unit cell with prescribed target properties, which will be, in later stages, extended to finite specimens, entire end effectors, or generally grippers. Depending on the time available and interests of the candidate, experimental validation will be considered as well.

The list below includes some of the relevant references for the position:

[1] Tyburec., M., Doškář, M., Zeman, J., Kružík, M. (2022), Modular-topology optimization of structures and mechanisms with free material design and clustering. Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering 395, 114977, pp. 1963–1981.

[2] Rokoš, O., Ameen, M.M., Peerlings, R.H.J., Geers, M.G.D.. (2019). Micromorphic computational homogenization for mechanical metamaterials with patterning fluctuation fields. Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids 123, 119–137.

[3] van Bree, S.E.H.M., Rokoš, O., Peerlings, R.H.J., Doškář, M., Geers, M.G.D. (2020). A Newton solver for micromorphic computational homogenization enabling multiscale buckling analysis of pattern-transforming metamaterials. Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering 372, 113333.

[4] Bendsøe, M. P., Sigmund, O. (2004). Topology optimization. Springer Berlin Heidelberg.

Liu, C. -H., Chen, L. -J., Chi, J. -C., & Wu, J. -Y. (2022). Topology optimization design and experiment of a soft pneumatic bending actuator for grasping applications. IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters 7, 2086–2093.

[5] Caasenbrood, B., Pogromsky, A., Nijmeijer, H. (2020). A computational design framework for pressure-driven soft robots through nonlinear topology optimization. 3rd IEEE International Conference on Soft Robotics (RoboSoft), New Haven, CT, USA, pp. 633–638.

Requirements:
Engineering » Civil engineering
Engineering » Mechanical engineering
Engineering » Aerospace engineering
Mathematics » Computational mathematics
Education Level:
PhD or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications:

  • Ph.D. degree (obtained not more than 7 years ago or to be obtained soon) in computational mechanics, solid mechanics, structural mechanics, mechanics of materials or a related field,
  • Co-author of at least 3 papers published in journals with impact factor,
  • Professional proficiency of English language is required.
  • The candidates must have carried out research activities outside the Czech Republic for at least 12 months before the application deadline.

Specific Requirements:

Candidates should have a proven background in some or, ideally, all 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.

Languages ENGLISH
Level – Excellent

We offer:

  • Collaboration with Dr. Ondřej Rokoš and Prof. Jan Zeman.
  • Full appointment for two years.
  • Gross salary of 62K CZK monthly; see the Numbeo database for the cost of living in Prague.
  • An informal and inclusive international working environment at the Department of Mechanics, Faculty of Civil Engineering and the Open Mechanics Group.
  • Office facilities located on the Czech Technical University in Prague’s Dejvice campus. Prague regularly ranks among the top five European cities to live in (cf. Time Out Magazine index for 2022).
  • Full social and health insurance.
  • 30 days of paid annual leave.
  • Children’s corner, kindergarten, and elementary school operated by the Czech Technical University in Prague.
  • Additional benefits such as subsidized meals, yearly benefits supporting recreational and sports activities, as well as health care programs.
  • Relocation assistance via the EURAXESS Czech Republic office.

Eligibility criteria:

  • Ph.D. degree (obtained no more than 7 years ago or to be obtained soon) in computational mechanics, solid mechanics, structural mechanics, mechanics of materials, or a related field,
  • Co-author of at least 3 papers published in journals with impact factor,
  • Professional proficiency of English language is required.
  • The candidates must have carried out research activities outside the Czech Republic for at least 12 months before the application deadline.

Selection process:

Interested candidates are invited to use the provided link to submit their applications:

https://forms.gle/b6wYY7ARVkgFgjLcA

The application package should contain the following:

  • The completed application form available above,
  • Academic curriculum vitae, including a detailed list of publications,
  • A recommendation letter,
  • A motivation letter (up to two pages) stating personal goals and research interests,
  • Date when your Ph.D. was awarded or the expected date of your Ph.D. thesis defense,
  • A copy of or a link to your Ph.D. thesis,
  • A copy of the Ph.D. certificate.

For full consideration, complete applications must be received by 30 November 2023. We reserve the right to disregard incomplete applications.

Applications will be assessed by a committee based on documents sent by applicants. The mentor has a strong vote in the selection process.

Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue no later than 14 December 2023, when the evaluation committee will invite shortlisted candidates to the interview stage (in-person for applicants living in the Czech Republic; remote for all other candidates).

By submitting an application form, the candidate agrees to the processing of personal data for the purposes of the selection procedure following the General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679 and, in particular, to the distribution of the submitted materials in the electronic form to the members of the selection committee.

Additional comments:

Czech Technical University in Prague now offers a new fellowship program, the CTU Global Postdoc Fellowship. This new and attractive two-year fellowship program offers excellent researchers who have recently completed their Ph.D. the chance to continue their research career at CTU. Fellows receive a two-year fellowship and become members of a team led by a mentor. The fellowship aims at external international scientists who are currently conducting research abroad.

For more information:

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