Applicants are invited for a PhD fellowship/scholarship at Graduate School of Technical Sciences, Aarhus University, Denmark, within the Mechanical and Production Engineering programme. The position is available from 15 August 2026 or later. You can submit your application via the link under 'how to apply'.

Title:
Developing Ionic Haptic Sensors for Biomimetic Artificial Skin

Research area and project description:
The Department of Mechanical and Production Engineering (MPE) at Aarhus University invites applications for a PhD position. The project is led by the BECHATRON Research Group, which conducts state-of-the-art research on the design and fabrication of bioinspired mechatronic systems.

This project focuses on the design and fabrication of biomimetic mechanoreceptors that mimic the sensory functions of human skin. The main objective is to replicate the ionic sensing mechanisms of human mechanoreceptors to achieve improved compatibility with biological neural systems. Inspired by ionic interactions in the human body, the project aims to develop a network of ionic microchannels capable of transducing mechanical stimuli into changes in electrical potential within a medium, rather than relying on conventional electronic pressure sensors.

From an application perspective, this research has strong potential in emerging technologies such as smart prosthetic limbs, soft robotics, and biomedical devices.

This is a multidisciplinary research project involving the following tasks:

• Design and simulation of the system using COMSOL Multiphysics
• Fabrication of ionic microchannels and flexible circuits using microfabrication techniques, particularly soft lithography
• Design and assembly of an automated test setup for mechanical stimulation and data acquisition using LabVIEW
• Experimental characterization and performance analysis of the developed systems
• Preparation of scientific manuscripts based on research outcomes
• Dissemination of research findings through conferences and peer-reviewed journal publications 

Candidates with experience in areas such as solid–fluid interaction simulation, micro/nanofabrication, microfluidics, MEMS, and measurement systems are strongly encouraged to apply.

In addition to the research activities, the selected candidate will be expected to contribute to teaching and departmental duties, including assisting in courses, developing educational demonstrations, and supporting laboratory management.

Applicants from both European and non-European countries are welcome to apply, regardless of gender, religion, nationality, or ethnic background.

Project description. For technical reasons, you must upload a project description. Please simply copy the project description above and upload it as a PDF in the application.

Qualifications and specific competences:
Applicants to the position must have a relevant master’s degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, physics, or other relevant disciplines.

• Applicants must submit a copy of their master’s degree diploma and transcript.
• Applicants must submit their full CV.
• Applicants must submit at least 3 reference letters.
• Applicants can submit a research description explaining their idea that can possibly fit this project.
• Applicants must have excellent communication skills in English and be able to read, write, and speak academic English fluently.

Place of employment and place of work:
The place of employment is Aarhus University, and the place of work is Katrinebjergvej 89 G-F, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark.

Contacts:
Applicants seeking further information regarding the PhD position are invited to contact: 

• Xuping Zhang, xuzh@mpe.au.dk (main supervisor)
• Rassoul Tabassian, r.tabassian@mpe.au.dk (co-supervisor)

For information about application requirements and mandatory attachments, please see our application guide. If answers cannot be found there, please contact:

• admission.gradschool.tech@au.dk 

How to apply:
Please follow this link to submit your application. 

Application deadline is 20 May 2026 at 23:59 CEST.

Preferred starting date is 15 August 2026.

Please note: 

• Only documents received prior to the application deadline will be evaluated. Thus, documents sent after deadline will not be considered.
• The programme committee may request further information or invite the applicant to attend an interview.
• Shortlisting will be used, which means that the evaluation committee only will evaluate the most relevant applications.

Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants. All interested candidates are encouraged to apply, regardless of their personal background. Salary and terms of employment are in accordance with applicable collective agreement.