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..
Assay development for cancer diagnostics
You will develop a diagnostic test for testicular cancer. The focus of the project will be on creating the biochemical protocols for the test. The project is in collaboration with a prelaunch startup and a hospital (USZ). Therefore, it is ideal for motivated students who want to have a direct impact
Keywords
diagnostic, diagnostics, test, biosensing, sensing, biosensor, sensor, dna, rna, mirna, cancer, functionalization, gold, nanoparticles, biochemistry, chemistry, assay, surface chemistry,
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Semester Project , Internship , Lab Practice , Bachelor Thesis , Master Thesis , Summer School
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Published since: 2024-11-07
Organization Biosensors and Bioelectronics (LBB)
Hosts Blickenstorfer Yves
Topics Engineering and Technology , Chemistry , Biology
Develop microfluidics for at-home blood testing
Collaborating with a dynamic startup, you will work on designing, manufacturing, and testing microfluidic devices to quantify biomolecules associated with chronic inflammation, heart attacks, and tropical diseases.
Keywords
Microfluidics, Fluidics, blood testing, diagnostics, biosensing, biosensor, diseases, healthcare, electrochemistry, Interdisciplinary, startup, impact, impactful, Laboratory of Biosensors and Bioelectronics, LBB, Quantification, Biomedical engineering, Materials science, Physics, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Biology, Innovation
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Semester Project , Collaboration , Internship , Lab Practice , Bachelor Thesis , Master Thesis , Summer School
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Published since: 2024-11-07 , Earliest start: 2024-01-09
Organization Biosensors and Bioelectronics (LBB)
Hosts Blickenstorfer Yves
Topics Medical and Health Sciences , Engineering and Technology , Chemistry , Biology , Physics
Revolutionize at-home diagnostics
Join our interdisciplinary student project to transform at-home diagnostics! Work on cutting-edge technology, boost sensitivity, engineer tests for seamless home use, and develop targeted disease detection. Help us to shape the future of healthcare.
Keywords
diagnostics, assay, electrochemistry, biosensing, sensing, sensor, biosensor, disease, detection, interdisciplinary, electrochemical, microfluidics, impact, health, startup
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Semester Project , Lab Practice , Bachelor Thesis , Master Thesis , ETH Zurich (ETHZ) , Summer School
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Published since: 2024-11-07 , Earliest start: 2023-07-26
Organization Biosensors and Bioelectronics (LBB)
Hosts Blickenstorfer Yves
Topics Medical and Health Sciences , Engineering and Technology , Chemistry , Biology , Physics
Assembling an advanced high-speed SICM for live cell imaging
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.
Keywords
high-speed SICM, live cell imaging, control, electronics, FPGA, and data analysis
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Master Thesis , ETH Zurich (ETHZ)
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Published since: 2024-10-27 , Earliest start: 2025-02-17
Organization Biosensors and Bioelectronics (LBB)
Hosts Xu Mengjia
Topics Information, Computing and Communication Sciences , Engineering and Technology
Characterization and investigating 2D skin disease model via biosensing and optical imaging
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.
Keywords
Disease, signaling pathways, 2D model, cell culture, biosensors, AFM, electrical, FluidFM, SICM, dyes, imaging, topography, electrophysiology, data analysis, interdisciplinary
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Semester Project , Lab Practice , Bachelor Thesis , Master Thesis , Summer School
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Published since: 2024-10-27
Organization Biosensors and Bioelectronics (LBB)
Hosts Xu Mengjia
Topics Medical and Health Sciences , Engineering and Technology , Chemistry , Biology
Investigating cells mechanical properties via Fluidic Force Microscopy in a 2D autoimmune skin disease model
The remarkable 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 (cellular nanomechanics such as tension forces and bioelectromagnetics) in combination with the analysis of biochemical networks (signaling pathways and genetic circuits) is required. In this framework we are investigating the unacknowledged key role of Desmoglein 3 (Dsg3) as a receptor involved in mechanosensing, capable of initiating a signaling response in the transcellular communication network, which results in stem cell fate conversion, plasticity and tissue repair. Our goal is to apply innovative Fluidic Force Microscopy to measure altered biophysical parameters upon disruption of Dsg3 transadhesion such as cell stiffness, cell-cell adhesion, cell surface charges and electric potentials. Together with the University of Bern and University of Lübeck we are further investigating how these biophysical changes relate to transcriptomic, epigenomic and proteomic response circuits to ultimately infer biophysical and biochemical circuits involved in Dsg3 signaling.
Keywords
Fluidic, atomic, force, microscopy, AFM, FluidFM, single-cell manipulation, spectroscopy, microfluidic, mechanical, properties, analysis, autoimmune, disease, pemphigus, health, monoclonal, antibodies, human, keratinocytes, cells, nanoscience, biophysics, bionanotechnology, mechanobiology, interdisciplinary, fluorescence, imaging, processing, FLIM, lifetime, microscopy, biosensing, biosensors, cell culture, wet lab, data analysis, python
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Semester Project , Bachelor Thesis , Master Thesis , ETH Zurich (ETHZ)
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Published since: 2024-10-23
Organization Biosensors and Bioelectronics (LBB)
Hosts Paccagnan Giacomo
Topics Medical and Health Sciences , Engineering and Technology , Biology , Physics
Developing an In Vitro Platform to Study Neuron-Tumor Interactions
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.
Keywords
Glioblastoma, microfluidics, biomarkers, electrophysiology, microelectrode arrays, hydrogels, brain-on-a-chip, cancer invasion, drug testing
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Semester Project , Internship , Master Thesis
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Published since: 2024-10-08 , Earliest start: 2024-11-01 , Latest end: 2025-02-02
Applications limited to EPFL - Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne , ETH Zurich , University of Zurich
Organization Biosensors and Bioelectronics (LBB)
Hosts Amos Giulia
Topics Medical and Health Sciences , Engineering and Technology