 Institute for Biomedical EngineeringOpen OpportunitiesThe blood-brain barrier (BBB) restricts drug delivery to the brain, complicating the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Temporary and safe opening of the BBB is a critical step for improving therapeutic delivery. This project focuses on developing hardware for BBB opening under optoacoustic imaging guidance, along with algorithms for monitoring using optoacoustic and magnetic resonance imaging. Key tasks include designing a focused ultrasound transducer, developing a precise positioning system for mouse brain navigation, characterizing the setup through phantom experiments, optimizing imaging reconstruction algorithms, and participating in preclinical studies with healthy and diseased mice. - Biomedical Engineering, Interdisciplinary Engineering, Medical Physics, Neurosciences
- Master Thesis
| This project aims to advance super-resolution imaging techniques, specifically localization optoacoustic tomography (LOT), for optimal imaging of the mouse brain. LOT allows for angiographic imaging beyond the acoustic diffraction limit, enabling blood velocity measurements and oxygen saturation quantification, which enhances understanding of microvascular dynamics and disease. Key tasks include designing hardware for scanning the mouse brain, developing biocompatible particles for in vivo tracking of blood vessels, creating algorithms for accurate blood flow velocity measurement, and implementing AI-based methods for efficient super-resolution imaging. The project also involves participation in experiments with healthy and disease mice. - Artificial Intelligence and Signal and Image Processing, Biomaterials, Interdisciplinary Engineering
- Master Thesis
| 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
| The project focuses exploiting generative AI to build synthetic numerical phantom for cardiac anatomy and function suitable for representing population variability. - Biomechanical Engineering, Information, Computing and Communication Sciences
- Master Thesis
| Scanning ion conductance microscopy (SICM) is the non-contact SPM technology to image live cells based on glass capillaries with a nanometric aperture. It applies a voltage and measures the ionic current flowing through the pipette above the sample in the buffer solution: the recorded current represents the feedback signal to measure the topography of the sample. In collaboration with Prof. Fantner at EPFL, this project aims to assemble a state of the art high-speed SICM to enable time-resolved live cell imaging. - Biomedical Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Nanotechnology, Signal Processing
- ETH Zurich (ETHZ), Master Thesis
| Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is a unique group of autoimmune diseases. Researches have demonstrated that antibody-induced disruption of Dsg3 transadhesion initiates a signaling response in basal keratinocytes followed by loss of tissue integrity. The complexity of morphogenesis and tissue regeneration implies the existence of a transcellular communication network in which individual cells sense the environment and coordinate their biological activity in time and space.
To understand the fascinating ability of tissue self-organization, comprehensive study of biophysical properties (cell topography and bioelectricity) in combination with the analysis of biochemical networks (signaling pathways and genetic circuits) is required.
Together with the University of Bern and University of Lübeck, we aim to utilize the tools to study the topography and electrophysiology (cell potential, ion channel recording, localized ion detection, charges) of HPEK cells (human primary keratinocytes cells) to unravel the signaling pathways of the disease. We utilize optical imaging (fluorescence dyes) and biosensing tools (including the state of the art hs-SICM and electrical FluidFM setup) to study HPEK cells upon desmosome disruption.
- Biology, Biomedical Engineering, Chemistry, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Interdisciplinary Engineering, Medical and Health Sciences
- Bachelor Thesis, Lab Practice, Master Thesis, Semester Project, Summer School
| Glioblastoma, the most aggressive brain tumour in adults, interacts with the surrounding healthy brain to promote further cancer growth. However, it is challenging to study these interactions directly in the human brain. In response, we are developing a platform that allows us to study this phenomenon in more detail, with a particular focus on unravelling how cancer alters the electrical activity of brain cells. - Central Nervous System, Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Electrical Engineering, Oncology and Carcinogenesis
- Internship, Master Thesis, Semester Project
| In this project, you will work on the design and development of a micro-/nanomanipulator that is integrated into a cutting-edge single-molecule sensor. This system will enable precise positioning of the sensor chip and dynamic size control of the nanopore, critical for detecting protein modifications of varying sizes. This project offers an excellent opportunity for students interested in nanotechnology, hardware development, and biomolecular analysis to gain interdisciplinary experience and make meaningful contributions to advancing nanopore sensing technology. - Biomedical Engineering, Biosensor Technologies, Computer Hardware, Nanotechnology
- Bachelor Thesis, Master Thesis, Semester Project
| In this project, you will focus on the design and development of a custom hardware controller for piezoelectric actuators, enabling precise control of a micro-/nanomanipulator integrated into a cutting-edge nanopore sensor. The controller will provide high-resolution actuation voltages (up to 120 V) with closed-loop feedback for precise piezo actuation, critical for dynamic size control of interface nanopores. This project offers an exciting opportunity to combine hardware design, control systems, and nanotechnology in a real-world application. - Engineering and Technology
- Bachelor Thesis, Master Thesis, Semester Project
| The quantification of optoacoustic (OA) signals is hindered by the non-uniform distribution of optical fluence within biological tissues. Such variability compromises the accuracy of OA-based measurements and limits their clinical translational potential. Estimating light fluence distribution, however, is not straightforward due to complex tissue heterogeneities. To address this challenge, we have developed a hybrid imaging platform capable of concurrently acquiring MRI and OA data. By leveraging the anatomical information from MRI, we can accurately localize and characterize tissues, thereby overcoming positioning uncertainties and enabling robust fluence estimation. We are currently seeking a motivated student to implement these MRI-based fluence correction strategies to restore OA images of the mouse brain. - Biomedical Engineering, Medical Physics, Neurosciences
- Master Thesis, Semester Project
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