Postdoctoral Researcher (Materials Science & Soft Robotics)

ABOUT VINUNIVERSITY

VinUniversity (VinUni) is Vietnam’s first private, not-for-profit university built to international standards. Established to transform higher education in Vietnam, VinUni blends global best practices with local context to become a world-class institution.

VinUni comprises of more than 1700 students and 4 colleges: College of Arts and Sciences; College of Business and Management; College of Engineering and Computer Science; and College of Health Sciences. 

Every aspect of the University: its curricula, research, faculty, student body, facilities, and campus life, is developed to meet the highest standards set by the world’s leading accrediting and ranking organizations, such as ABET, AACSB, WFME, ACEN, Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) and Times Higher Education (THE). 

In September 2024, VinUni became the youngest and fastest university in the world to achieve QS 5 stars across 9 categories: global engagement, good governance, program strength, academic development, teaching, employability, facilities, arts, and social impact.  In October 2024, VinUni was appointed by UNESCO as the first and only UNESCO University Chair, focusing on Environmental Leadership, Cultural Heritage, and Biodiversity.

Founded by Vingroup—one of Asia’s largest private conglomerates—VinUni benefits from a strong ecosystem of businesses in three main areas: Industrials & Technology; Real Estate & Services; Infrastructure; Green Energy; and Social Enterprises.

Aligned with VinUni’s Vision 2030, we are proud to announce our bold initiative to recruit 200 Research-focused Faculty across various disciplines. Together, we will be on the ambitious journey to become one of the world’s top universities by 2030. 

THE CENTER FOR MATERIALS INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY (CMIT)

Materials science underpins nearly every modern technology from clean energy and AI to electronics, biomedicine, defense, and space exploration. The Center for Materials Innovation and Technology (CMIT) aims to become a leading hub for research and international collaboration in advanced materials, driving Vietnam’s strategic technological advancement. CMIT fosters breakthrough innovation in materials for electronics, energy, biomedicine, and sustainability, while nurturing young scientists and future leaders who create knowledge and value for a sustainable future.

By 2030, CMIT aspires to be recognized among the world’s leading centers for materials innovation, advancing sustainable technologies, promoting global collaboration, and training a new generation of scientific leaders who transform knowledge into societal and national impact.

Research areas:

• Rare-Earth Materials and Recycling Technologies
• Sustainable Energy Materials for Green Technologies 
• Quantum Materials for Next-Generation Technologies
• AI-Integrated Smart Sensors for Environmental and Healthcare Monitoring 

We welcome applications from those with expertise in or across these disciplines:

• Computational materials modeling: DFT, molecular dynamics, phase-field modeling, or multiscale simulations.
• Data-driven materials discovery: ML models for property prediction, materials design, or synthesis optimization.
• AI/ML methods development: Neural networks, graph neural networks (GNNs), generative AI, or active learning for materials applications.
• Integration of theory and experiment: Using computation and ML to interpret or guide experimental work.
• High-performance computing (HPC) and data management for large-scale materials datasets.

KEY SELECTION CRITERIA

Join us if you have: 

• Doctorate degree from a globally recognized institution, with expertise in materials science
• Strong vision for impactful, forward-thinking research and innovation.
• Proven record of high-impact research and top-tier publications.
• Passion for education and advancing science through innovative projects.
• Adaptable and driven to address global and local challenges, especially those relevant to Vietnam.
• Alignment with VinUni’s core values: Empathy, Exceptional Capability, Creativity, Entrepreneurial Spirit, and Leadership Mindset.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The postdoctoral researcher will contribute to a multidisciplinary project focused on the development of advanced soft materials for next-generation soft robotic systems. The research aims to design, synthesize, and integrate functional materials, such as elastomers, hydrogels, liquid crystal elastomers, and conductive composites, into adaptive structures capable of complex actuation, sensing, and environmental responsiveness.

This project bridges materials science, mechanical engineering, and robotics, with applications in wearable technologies, biomedical devices, and autonomous soft machines. Emphasis will be placed on understanding structure–property–function relationships and translating material innovations into high-performance, scalable soft robotic components.

PI Expectations

The PI expects the postdoctoral researcher to:

• Demonstrate strong independence in planning and executing research while maintaining active communication with the PI and team members.
• Contribute creatively to experimental design, problem-solving, and the development of new research directions.
• Publish high-impact research findings in peer-reviewed journals and present results at leading international conferences.
• Collaborate effectively with interdisciplinary team members, including engineers, chemists, and external partners.
• Co-mentor graduate and undergraduate students, fostering a collaborative and productive research environment.

Roles and Responsibilities

The postdoctoral researcher will:

• Develop and investigate advanced soft materials (e.g., elastomers, hydrogels, liquid crystal elastomers, conductive composites) for applications in soft robotic actuators, sensors, and adaptive structures.
• Design and fabricate soft robotic components using techniques such as molding, additive manufacturing (3D printing), and microfabrication.
• Characterize material properties, including mechanical behavior, electrical conductivity, and stimuli-responsive performance under varying environmental conditions.
• Integrate materials into functional soft robotic systems and evaluate actuation performance, sensing capabilities, durability, and overall device efficiency.
• Analyze experimental data and establish correlations between material design and system-level performance.
• Contribute to proposal writing and assist in securing external research funding where appropriate.

CONTACT

Interested applicants for the advertised postdoctoral position should contact Assistant Professor Thai Mai Thanh by email at [email protected].