Institute for Biomedical Engineering

Open Opportunities

GPU implementation of simulation framework ETH Zurich X-Ray Imaging Simulations provide a powerful tool to gain insight into complex systems by either simplifying the problem or the control of all involved parameters. Computer assisted scientific work is nowadays an integral part of understanding or applying the theoretical background to a studied field. For X-ray imaging one option is the simulation of Fourier optics in the form of Fresnel propagation. It allows to optimize system parameters and simulate the effect of known system imperfections onto the imaging capabilities. The goal of this project is to improve the time efficiency of our existing framework by moving the computations onto the GPU and use the optimized platform for a grid-search analysis to find optimal setup parameters. Biomechanical Engineering, Image Processing, Simulation and Modelling, Software Engineering Bachelor Thesis, Internship, Master Thesis, Semester Project

Mechanical design of a dual-phase grating holder ETH Zurich X-Ray Imaging Grating alignment for phase sensitive X-ray imaging is a crucial part of system optimization. Due to the small structure sizes of the optical components, the alignment of the individual parts has to be performed with on length scales below these structures. This can be done with piezo-motors, which can align objects on the order of a few nanometres. While this accuracy is unchallenged, the amount of freedom makes the optimization of the alignment difficult, time consuming and tedious. Since not all degrees of freedom need to be controlled with the same precision, mechanical fixtures allow to confine the gratings in most of the degrees of freedom, while still allowing to fine tune a few important parameters. This project is aimed to design such a holder for our dual-phase system. Biomechanical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Radiology and Organ Imaging Bachelor Thesis, Internship, Lab Practice, Master Thesis, Semester Project

Electronics lab assistent ETH Zurich Magnetic Resonance Technology and Methods Hilfsassistent/in für Elektroniklabor Electrical and Electronic Engineering Student Assistant / HiWi

In-Vivo T1rho Mapping ETH Zurich Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance This project aims to investigate spin-locking in magnetization-prepared MR Relaxometry. Specifically designed RF pulses lock the magnetization in the transverse plane and allow for the measurement of effective relaxation constants, T1rho and T2rho, which can reveal chemical exchange of protons between different pools and serve as biomarkers for diseases. We will explore different spin-locking RF pulses, investigate their limits through numerical simulations and phantom experiments, and study in-vivo application of T1rho mapping and dispersion quantification. Biomedical Engineering Bachelor Thesis, Semester Project

Development of the first diagnostic test to detect flesh-eating bacteria. ETH Zurich Biosensors and Bioelectronics (LBB) You will develop a new diagnostic test to detect flesh-eating bacteria called Mycobacterium ulcerans. The test will be based on a breakthrough technology that is currently being developed by our lab in collaboration with the ETH spin-off Hemetron. This neglected tropical disease leads to severe suffering and permanent disabilities in children in West Africa. Our technology and know-how will enable you to develop a highly sensitive and cost-effective test to help curing this tragic disease. You will be working on the key elements of the rapid antigen test and engineer the optimal conditions for the molecular interactions of the diagnostic test. This interdisciplinary and fast paced project is ideal for highly motivated students who are looking for a project with a highly important real-world impact. Biology, Chemistry, Engineering and Technology, Medical and Health Sciences Bachelor Thesis, Internship, Master Thesis, Semester Project

Co-development of novel diagnostic device for at-home blood testing. ETH Zurich Biosensors and Bioelectronics (LBB) In this project, you will further optimize a lateral flow assay (LFA) compatible with our novel highly sensitive electrochemical readout that will form a cornerstone for the ground-breaking point-of-need diagnostics device. Under our supervision, you will be working on an assay development with a focus, amongst others, on decreasing the non-specific binding of analyte and gold nanoparticles to the LFA membrane matrix, increasing sensitivity by optimizing the chemical environment of the immune-sandwich formation, nanoparticle/receptor conjugation or capillary flow optimization. You will work on an interdisciplinary project in collaboration with ETH spin-off Hemetron (https://www.hemetron.com/, https://www.linkedin.com/company/hemetron/). This fast pace project is ideal for highly motivated students. Biology, Chemistry, Engineering and Technology, Medical and Health Sciences, Physics Master Thesis

In-silico cardiac and cardiovascular modelling with physics informed neural networks ETH Zurich Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance The aim of the project is to investigate the benefits, requirements and drawbacks of physics informed neural networks in the context of personalised cardiac and cardiovascular models Biomechanical Engineering, Clinical Engineering, Computation Theory and Mathematics, Fluidization and Fluid Mechanics, Neural Networks, Genetic Alogrithms and Fuzzy Logic, Simulation and Modelling Master Thesis

Bending gratings for refraction-based x-ray imaging ETH Zurich X-Ray Imaging Refraction-sensitve x-ray imaging relies on large optical elements with coherent microstructures. These are often manufactured in silicon with methods similar to the ones in the chip-making industry. For large-field-of-view imaging the silicon wafers with the optical element etched into it needs to be precisely bent. The project is about investigation of the limits of the precision of the bending, as well as the minimal possible radius. It will involve theoretical mechanical considerations, design of test fixtures for bending and test measurements: both purely mechanical and in the x-ray beam. The result project is part of a larger effort to built a clinical refraction-sensitive dedicated breast CT system. Mechanical Engineering, Medical Physics, Radiology and Organ Imaging Bachelor Thesis, Master Thesis, Semester Project

Mechanical design of an ultra-stable x-ray interferometer ETH Zurich X-Ray Imaging Refraction-based x-ray imaging can greatly improve clinical CT. The refraction angles for x-rays are, however, very small, and thus the structure of optical elements of refraction- sensitive systems need to in the as small as a few micrometres and as far apart as two metres. They also need to remain stable on a sub-micrometre level throughout the imaging process. The project is a mechanical design of a Talbot-Lau interferometer that would remain stable even in a clinical conditions. Clinical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Radiology and Organ Imaging Bachelor Thesis, Internship, Lab Practice, Master Thesis, Semester Project

MRI with short-lived signals ETH Zurich Magnetic Resonance Technology and Methods The aim of this project is to strengthen pioneering efforts in MRI of tissues and tissue components with very short-lived resonance signals. Biomedical Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Physics Master Thesis