PhD Positions – Polymer Mechanochemistry

The Adolphe Merkle Institute (AMI) of the University of Fribourg (Switzerland) is a leading center for fundamental and applied research in the domain of soft nanomaterials.
AMI's Polymer Chemistry and Materials Group (Prof. Christoph Weder)
invites applications for
two PhD Positions in Polymer Mechanochemistry.

The project centers on the design, synthesis, and application of supramolecular mechanophores, the development of novel strategies to incorporate these motifs into polymeric materials, and the investigation of their mechanoresponsive behavior.

The PhD students recruited for this project will join a dynamic, interdisciplinary team working on complementary aspects of the research. Collaboration will be central to the project's success, and students will benefit from shared expertise, joint problem-solving, and regular team meetings to ensure strong integration across all work packages.

Applicants should hold a Master's degree in Chemistry, Polymer, or Materials Science, and be motivated to pursue interdisciplinary research within a fast-paced, international team environment. Experience in organic and polymer synthesis, the ability to advance a complex project independently and as part of a team, excellent communication skills, and proficiency in English are key requirements.

AMI offers attractive employment conditions and an outstanding infrastructure in a new research facility. The positions are available immediately. To apply, please send your CV, a motivation letter, and contact details for at least two references as a single PDF file
via E-mail to
with the subject title "PhD Position Polymer Mechanochemistry".