Institute of Energy and Process EngineeringOpen OpportunitiesProject Summary
We’re developing a powerful new in vitro model to untangle the complex mechanical cues—osmotic pressure and substrate stiffness—that skin cells experience every day. These signals are deeply intertwined in the body, but we’re building a system to decouple and precisely control them, for the first time. Why? Because understanding how cells respond to these forces is crucial for engineering functional tissues, guiding organ regeneration, and tackling mechanobiology-driven diseases like fibrosis.
- Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Biomaterials, Diagnostic Applications
- Master Thesis
| Introduction and Background
Skin cells dynamically respond to mechanical and biochemical stimuli, which influence critical processes such as proliferation, differentiation, and migration. By understanding this interplay, mechanical and biochemical stimuli may be used in the future to facilitate the growth of skin patches, tissue formation, and organ regeneration, enabling new therapies and benefiting patients. The study of these responses, mechanobiology, requires advanced in-vitro systems to emulate physiological conditions. This project utilizes a device designed for controlled manipulation of hydrostatic pressure (0.1–1.5 kPa) and substrate stiffness (0.1–100 kPa). The system facilitates isolated and scalable experiments to analyze how the interplay of these mechanical parameters affects cell behavior. In this thesis, the student will use this system to investigate how different stimuli affect cell behavior.
- Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Biomedical Engineering, Biotechnology, Polymers
- Master Thesis
| The lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) is a state-of-the-art computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model used to simulate fluid flow based on the solution of the Boltzmann equation. LBM has considerable advantages in solving low Mach number flows as compared to conventional Navier-Stokes solvers, mainly due to the locality and explicitness of operations. This results in a huge potential for massive parallel computing on modern distributed memory machines.
Adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) is a commonly employed computational technique in CFD to enhance the ratio between efficiency and accuracy of simulations by dynamically adjusting the resolution of the computational grid based on some local indicators of the flow. By adaptively refining the grid in regions of interest, e.g. shocks in compressible flows or interfaces in multiphase flows, AMR can provide high resolution where it is most needed, while reducing computational effort and memory footprints in regions where coarser resolution is sufficient.
The group recently developed a parallel AMR solver based on a finite-volume discrete velocity Boltzmann method (FV-DVBM). The solver is strictly conservative and showed promising results for compressible flows with moderate Mach numbers and discontinuities. The advantages of AMR, however, are not restricted to the regime of compressible flows. Therefore, the group is currently developing an AMR framework for general purpose kinetic models, including LBM.
The goal of this project is to incorporate a standard lattice Boltzmann model for isothermal, low Mach number flows (D2Q9, possibly D3Q27) into the AMR framework and to validate it with (2D, possibly 3D) test cases. For a master’s thesis, the scope shall be extended to include work on boundary conditions, complex geometries, as well as models for compressible, turbulent, or multiphase flows, depending on discussed preferences.
- Engineering and Technology, Information, Computing and Communication Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, Physics
- Master Thesis, Semester Project
| This project explores the sustainable design of advanced catalysts for environmental applications, ranging from gas sensors to catalytic systems for pollutant degradation and clean energy production. Emphasizing atom-efficient materials such as single-atom catalysts and nanostructured metal oxides, the research integrates scalable synthesis techniques with nanoscale engineering to enhance activity, selectivity, and durability. These materials will be tailored for applications including air quality monitoring, electrocatalytic hydrogen production, and catalytic removal of environmental toxins. The project aims to build foundational insights that support real-world deployment of green technologies addressing pressing environmental challenges. - Chemical Engineering, Inorganic Chemistry, Interdisciplinary Engineering, Materials Engineering, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Physical Chemistry
- Bachelor Thesis, Internship, Master Thesis, Semester Project
| Phasing out fossil fuel-based economies is a tremendous challenge in the effort to meet the 2°C climate target. First, low-carbon energy systems, fuels, and technologies must be fully integrated into the global energy system to achieve required greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions. Second, unavoidable GHG emissions must be removed from the atmosphere with carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies to achieve net-zero CO2 and GHG emissions in the 21st century. A portfolio of CDR technologies has been proposed, both nature- and technology-based CDR options. Direct air capture (DAC) with CO2 storage is a technology-based solution and is among the CDR technologies with the highest future CDR potential, up to 40 GtCO2/year. Alternatively, the CO2 sourced from DAC can produce low-carbon fuels instead of being stored permanently in geographical layers. Low-temperature DAC typically uses a sorbent to capture CO2 from the ambient air, which is challenging due to the highly dilute concentration of CO2 in ambient air requiring considerable energy requirements for CO2 capture. Latter energy requirements and the generation of by-products (such as water) are highly influenced by ambient air conditions, for example, relative humidity and temperature. Water is becoming an increasingly scarce resource, yet it is essential for producing many forms of energy (including low-carbon fuels, which are needed to tackle climate change). This dependency is known as the water-energy nexus and is a growing concern among many researchers. Previous studies have mainly focused on the costs and life cycle GHG emissions of DAC. However, one of the neglected aspects of solid sorbent DAC is the generation of pure water as a by-product. In this context, water produced via the DAC process could potentially be used to produce low-carbon fuels (e.g., methanol, synfuels, etc.) by combining captured atmospheric CO2 (from DAC), water, and other feedstocks. - Engineering and Technology
- Master Thesis
| The Swiss Energy Strategy 2050 aims to achieve zero net emissions target as of 2050. The four leading Swiss research institutes — Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA), Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), and Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (EAWAG)—are at the forefront of this en-deavour. In the context of the SCENE project, these institutes are collaboratively developing science-based roadmaps that outline the anticipated pathways to attain net-zero emissions before 2040. The tran-sition to net zero requires a multifaceted approach, encompassing technological advancements, con-sumption reductions, and market-based mechanisms for emission compensation and reduction. An es-sential component of this transition is a comprehensive CO2 emission-related cost analysis. This analysis will evaluate the financial implications of shifting energy technologies, reducing consumption, and imple-menting market-based emission compensation and reduction strategies. - Earth Sciences, Economics, Engineering and Technology, Policy and Political Science
- ETH Zurich (ETHZ), Master Thesis
| The deployment of onshore wind energy across Europe is influenced by multiple factors, including technical constraints, economic feasibility, environmental sustainability, and social acceptance. While cost-optimal solutions are commonly pursued, a more nuanced approach that considers trade-offs between various objectives is essential for informed decision-making. Different objectives such as low visual landscape disturbance, high monetary benefits, low annoyance to low residents, good wildlife protection etc., are summarized in a systematic review. To explore the trade-offs among these objectives from different stakeholders’ perspectives, Multi-criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) is necessary for evaluating different possible alternatives. - Engineering and Technology
- Master Thesis
| Are you interested in applying data science, signal processing, and machine learning to cutting-edge sensor technology? This project offers an exciting opportunity to work on a unique dataset collected from an advanced wind tunnel experiment, where a high-speed electronic nose (e-nose) was used alongside a Planar Laser-Induced Fluorescence (PLIF) system to monitor gas dispersion. Your task will be to analyse the data, develop models to characterise the e-nose response, and explore methods to extract meaningful information such as response time, transfer function, and saturation effects. The findings will contribute to a better understanding of electronic nose performance in dynamic environments, with applications in environmental monitoring, robotics, and industrial sensing. - Intelligent Robotics, Knowledge Representation and Machine Learning, Robotics and Mechatronics, Signal Processing
- Bachelor Thesis, Semester Project
| Are you passionate about embedded systems and sensor technology? We have an exciting project to develop the microcontroller interface for an advanced electronic nose, a molecular gas sensor array with applications ranging from ecological monitoring to robotics. This project is part of a larger, high-impact research initiative aiming to create a versatile sensing platform for real-world applications. - Biosensor Technologies, Electrical Engineering, Input, Output and Data Devices, Signal Processing, Software Engineering
- Bachelor Thesis, Master Thesis, Semester Project
| Plastic waste and the resulting environmental pollution are major challenges of our time. One of the problems is the mismatch of degradability and durability in plastics. Single use plastics like packaging material should be easy to degrade to facilitate recycling after use. However, these single use plastics are often very stable and hard to recycle. Performance plastics need to last during their lifetime without significant decrease in material properties, but aging in these materials eventually leads to material failure and replacement. Both situations generate plastic waste. Therefore, we want to synthesize a material that can degrade on-demand and experiences enhanced durability on longer timescales to satisfy the needs of single use plastics and performance plastics, respectively. - Organic Chemical Synthesis
- Master Thesis, Semester Project
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