For the 1 PhD position starting in 2026 summer (flexible), we are seeking a candidate with experience in iontronic materials. Examples include stimuli-responsive soft materials, biomaterials, hydrogels, organogels, organohydrogels, conductive polymers, ionic elastomers, and ionic liquids, among others. The candidate should be interested in emerging, interdisciplinary fields and be motivated to address new challenges, including the development of (1) iontronic devices, (2) soft material manufacturing, and (3) biointerfaces.
Group leader and Research mission: Prof. Yujia Zhang
At the Laboratory for Bio-Iontronics (BION), our mission is to make bioiontronic systems for biointerfaces and hybrid intelligent systems. To that end, we are interested in developing droplet-based iontronic systems, termed dropletronics, with key functions of embodied energy, logic control, stimulus responsiveness, and therapeutic delivery, enabling interactive communication with biology. The dropletronic system will be formed from three-dimensionally (3D) printed picoliter droplet networks that use lipid bilayers, functional nanopores, and charge-selective solutes to enable sophisticated ion control.
