PhD Student in Medical & Surgical Robotics
Immigration Policy Lab
PhD Student in Medical & Surgical Robotics
100%, Zurich, fixed-term
The Medical Robotics Lab (MeRo Lab), led by Prof. Quentin Boehler, is a newly formed research group at ETH Zurich starting in March 2026.
Our goal is to address fundamental and technological challenges in medical and surgical robotics that correspond to unmet clinical needs. We pursue two complementary approaches: (i) advancing foundational robotics capabilities in actuation, sensing, surgical vision, and safe autonomous control; and (ii) developing technologies that meet clinical requirements across diverse care environments and scenarios.
Through close collaboration with clinicians and interdisciplinary research, we aim to translate innovative concepts into clinically relevant systems that expand access to high-quality medical care, while also exploring new fundamental aspects of robotics and adjacent fields.
The MeRo lab is looking for diverse and excellent candidates to start its journey at ETH Zurich. As one of the first members of this new group, you will have the unique opportunity to
- Shape the directions and culture of the group in its early stages
- Freely explore your own ideas under scientific support and guidance
- Get involved in aspects adjacent to academic research (e.g. teaching & education in the Master of Science in Robotics, Systems and Control)
Research focus
Our group seeks to build and strengthen a medical and surgical robotics research activity at ETH Zurich in close collaboration with local and international clinical partners. Core research areas include:
- Design, modeling and performance assessment of medical and surgical robots
- Dexterous actuation for soft continuum robots
- Sensing and tracking of minimally invasive robotic systems
- Autonomous control in uncertain anatomical environments
- Computer vision for image-guided robotic procedures (incl. endoscopic, MR-, US-guided)
- Surgical training and simulation
Job description
You are expected to:
- Conduct theoretical and experimental robotics research
- Communicate scientific results in written and oral form, including conference presentations
- Publish findings in peer-reviewed journals in robotics and medical robotics
- Participate pro-actively in collaborative discussions with interdisciplinary partners
- Supervise bachelor’s and master’s students on related topics
- Monitor and investigate scientific ongoing development in medical robotics
Profile
We are looking for highly motivated candidates with:
- A master’s degree in Robotics, Computational/Computer Science, Mechatronics/Electrical/Mechanical/Biomedical Engineering, or a related field
- A strong interest in research in medical and surgical robotics, with a willingness to engage with clinical, industrial, and academic partners
- Experience and strong research interest in one or several of the group’s research focus areas
- Programming skills in Python/MATLAB, C/C++ and experience with CAD/FEM software
- Experience in one or more of the following fields is a plus: simulation frameworks (e.g. SOFA, NVIDIA IsaacLab), ROS1/2, machine learning, computer vision
- Excellent communication skills in English
You will join a newly founded group, so we are also expecting you to be:
- Involved in the group development and growth (incl. investigation of new clinical applications and research topics, lab organization and maintenance)
- Pro-active, creative, curious and highly independent
- Team-oriented and able to interact with your colleagues, and with local and international graduate and undergraduate students
- Versatile and able to adapt to interdisciplinary environments
Workplace
Workplace
We offer
- A constructive, friendly, and supportive group atmosphere that encourages open and stimulating scientific exchange, where you can make yourself heard and take initiatives
- Access to excellent facilities and network, and a modern research environment that supports high-quality work
- Opportunities to collaborate with local, national and international research groups and clinical and industrial partners, enabling you to build a strong scientific network
- The possibility to mentor students and interns and contribute to their academic development
We value diversity and sustainability
Curious? So are we.
We look forward to receiving your online application with the following documents:
- Motivation Letter – A letter that demonstrates your motivation and suitability for the position. You are encouraged to talk about the research lines and projects you would be excited to pursue (max. 2 pages)
- Curriculum Vitae – Emphasizing relevant experience, skills, and achievements (max. 2 pages)
- References – Names, phone numbers, and emails of 2 to 3 referees who can provide professional references
- Transcripts and Degree Certificates – Official records of all completed degrees
And optionally:
- Publications – Brief overview of your published works, preprints, or conference contributions, highlighting those most relevant to the project's research direction
- Portfolio – Overview with project summaries and links to external sources (e.g. websites, code repositories, datasets, and other supporting materials)
Application deadline is January 4th 2026, with an earliest starting date on March 1st 2026.
For further information about the position please contact Prof. Quentin Boehler, email qboehler@ethz.ch.
Please note that we exclusively accept applications submitted through our online application portal. Applications via email or postal services will not be considered.
We would like to point out that the pre-selection is carried out by the responsible recruiters and not by artificial intelligence.