Student Projects
Here is a list of some of our actual student projects. However, note that we are also accustomed to tailor the project on the expertise and interests of each student. If you are interested in learning more you can contact the project responsibles or Janos Vörös..
Simulating the Interfacial Nanopore: Enhancing Fundamental Understanding of the Governing Nanoscale Dynamics
The solid-state nanopore has become a powerful tool for label-free single-molecule detection, characterising DNA and RNA structures, with recent work demonstrating the ability to detect protein structure information. Studying single-cells requires us to push this protein characterisation further, with the interfacial nanopore one approach to achieving this. In this project, you would simulate and compare with empirical data the properties of the solid-state interfacial nanopore for single-molecule detection and characterisation.
Keywords
Biophysics, Single-molecule, Simulation, Nanopore
Labels
Semester Project , Bachelor Thesis , Master Thesis
Description
Goal
Contact Details
More information
Published since: 2026-03-26 , Earliest start: 2026-04-01 , Latest end: 2027-04-01
Organization Biosensors and Bioelectronics (LBB)
Hosts Cronk Justin
Topics Physics
Bioengineered iPSC-Derived Neural Networks on High-Density Microelectrode Arrays for Studying Pathological Changes in Alzheimer’s Disease
Are you interested in uncovering how Alzheimer’s disease disrupts communication in the brain — and exploring new ways to study and possibly intervene in this process? In this project, you will use cutting-edge microfluidic platforms to construct bioengineered neural networks that better mimic the structure and function of brain microcircuits. These networks, established from human iPSC-derived neurons, will be studied throughout their development using high-density microelectrode arrays (HD-MEAs), enabling detailed tracking of their electrical activity at high spatiotemporal resolution. You will introduce Alzheimer’s disease-related pathology into the networks and investigate how it alters connectivity, signaling patterns, and neural responses to stimulation over time. The project offers a unique opportunity to combine experimental work in cellular neuroscience with computational analysis of neural network function. Depending on your background and interests, your work can be directed more toward wet-lab techniques (e.g., cell culturing, immunostaining, confocal imaging, electrophysiology) or toward data analysis and modeling (e.g., signal processing, graph theory, information theory).
Keywords
Neuroengineering, Neurodegenerative Disease, Alzheimer’s Disease, iPSC-derived Neurons, Bioengineered Neural Networks, Microfluidics, Microelectrode Array, Electrophysiology, Neural Network Analysis, Graph theory, information theory, Neural plasticity, In Vitro Disease Modeling, Stem Cell Technology.
Labels
Semester Project , Master Thesis , ETH Zurich (ETHZ)
Description
Goal
Contact Details
More information
Published since: 2026-02-26 , Earliest start: 2026-01-05 , Latest end: 2027-03-31
Applications limited to ETH Zurich
Organization Biosensors and Bioelectronics (LBB)
Hosts Winter-Hjelm Nicolai
Topics Medical and Health Sciences , Information, Computing and Communication Sciences , Engineering and Technology , Biology , Physics
Decoding Protein Glycosylation at the Single-Molecule Level Using Solid-State Nanopores
Embedded in a dynamic startup environment at the forefront of molecular diagnostics, this interdisciplinary project invites you to help develop a next-generation single-molecule sensor aimed at detecting and differentiating protein glycoforms. Your focus will be on glycosylated and enzymatically deglycosylated forms of bovine lactoferrin and/or human Immunoglobulin A1 (IgA1) derived from multiple myeloma patients - two clinically relevant glycoproteins whose altered glycosylation profiles are deeply implicated in immune regulation, cancer progression, and neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and multiple sclerosis.
Keywords
nanopore sensing, glycosylation, post-translational modifications, protein analysis, single-molecule detection, immunoglobulin A1, lactoferrin, diagnostics, nanotechnology, microfluidics, nanofabrication, machine learning, biophysics, data science, software development, disease biomarkers
Labels
Semester Project , Master Thesis
Description
Goal
Contact Details
More information
Published since: 2026-01-06 , Earliest start: 2026-02-02 , Latest end: 2027-12-15
Organization Biosensors and Bioelectronics (LBB)
Hosts Torosyan Anahit
Topics Medical and Health Sciences , Engineering and Technology , Chemistry , Physics
Unmasking Glycocarriers: Single-Molecule Insights with Solid-State Nanopores
Hosted within a dynamic startup driving innovation in next-generation biosensing, this project offers a hands-on opportunity to advance single-molecule technologies for biomedical and biotechnological applications. It centers on the analysis of glycocarriers, which are like special protein "trees" designed by scientists to hold sugar molecules (glycans) in specific patterns that play pivotal roles in therapeutic delivery, immune modulation, and disease targeting. You will investigate how the architecture and composition of glycan moieties on biological and synthetic carriers influence their electrical signatures during nanopore translocation. The insights gained will contribute to the development of ultra-sensitive diagnostic tools and glycoengineering strategies.
Keywords
glycocarriers, glycosylation, nanopore technology, single-molecule analysis, biosensing, diagnostics, nanobiotechnology, machine learning, data analysis, structural biology, molecular engineering
Labels
Semester Project , Master Thesis
Description
Goal
Contact Details
More information
Published since: 2026-01-06 , Earliest start: 2026-02-02 , Latest end: 2027-12-15
Organization Biosensors and Bioelectronics (LBB)
Hosts Torosyan Anahit
Topics Medical and Health Sciences , Engineering and Technology , Chemistry , Physics
Single-Molecule Characterization of Nanoparticle–Biomolecule Conjugates Using Solid-State Nanopores
Conducted in an innovative startup environment, this interdisciplinary project invites you to explore the design and construction of nanoparticle - biomolecule conjugates and their subsequent single-molecule detection using solid-state nanopores. You will work on assembling and analyzing DNA (and/or protein)-based constructs tagged at one and both termini with distinct nanoparticles, establishing a platform for molecular detection, structural interrogation, and signal engineering at the nanoscale.
Keywords
nanopore sensing, DNA/protein nanotechnology, nanoparticle conjugates, single-molecule detection, nanobiophysics, nanopore analytics, nanotechnology, machine learning, signal processing, biophysical chemistry
Labels
Semester Project , Master Thesis
Description
Goal
Contact Details
More information
Published since: 2026-01-06 , Earliest start: 2026-02-01 , Latest end: 2027-12-15
Organization Biosensors and Bioelectronics (LBB)
Hosts Torosyan Anahit
Topics Medical and Health Sciences , Engineering and Technology , Chemistry , Physics