Student Projects
If you are interest in a project in the laboratory, feel free to contact any member even if no project is posted in SiROP
Design and fabrication of a 3-axis linear manipulator for automated microtissue histology
We are developing an acoustofluidic platform that can increase the efficiency of microtissue histology. But most steps in this long process workflow are currently performed manually. To achieve high throughputs, we are interested in developing a 3-axis linear manipulator compatible with the established acoustofluidic-enhanced-histology workflow that automates most of the steps.
Keywords
Biomedical, Robot, Linear manipulator, Automated dispensing, Design, Assembly, Control
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Master Thesis , ETH Zurich (ETHZ)
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Published since: 2025-03-06 , Earliest start: 2025-03-17 , Latest end: 2025-12-31
Applications limited to ETH Zurich
Organization Macromolecular Engineering Laboratory
Hosts Binz Jonas , Joshi Saumitra
Topics Engineering and Technology
Synthesis of a novel monomer for polymeric materials with on-demand degradation and enhanced durability
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.
Keywords
Organic and polymer chemistry, novel monomer, degradability and durability
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Semester Project , Master Thesis
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Published since: 2025-03-04 , Earliest start: 2025-04-01
Organization Macromolecular Engineering Laboratory
Hosts Söll Carolina
Topics Chemistry
Scalable manufacturing of granular biomaterials for wound healing
The development of biomaterials for chronic wound healing faces significant challenges in achieving shelf-stability, transportability, and compliance with clinical manufacturing standards. To address these hurdles, we aim to integrate a freeze-drying (lyophilization) step into the preparation of our granular hydrogels, facilitating storage and transport without compromising functionality. By validating the post-rehydration performance of lyophilized microgels, we aim to ensure the robustness of our product for clinical use.
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Semester Project , Bachelor Thesis , Master Thesis
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Published since: 2025-02-18 , Earliest start: 2025-04-01 , Latest end: 2025-12-31
Organization Macromolecular Engineering Laboratory
Hosts Emiroglu Börte
Topics Medical and Health Sciences , Chemistry , Biology
Ex vivo evaluation of wound healing using granular biomaterials
Chronic wound care is hindered by the complex and variable proteomic profiles of wound exudates, which limit the efficacy of existing therapies. We aim to validate the effectiveness of our granular hydrogel platform in restoring balance to the wound microenvironment. Utilizing exudates obtained from diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) patients, we will optimize our microgel library to target clinically relevant cytokine profiles.
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Semester Project , Master Thesis
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Published since: 2025-02-18 , Earliest start: 2025-03-01 , Latest end: 2025-12-31
Organization Macromolecular Engineering Laboratory
Hosts Emiroglu Börte , Singh Apoorv
Topics Medical and Health Sciences , Engineering and Technology , Chemistry , Biology
Market Analysis of Wound Care Therapies & Adoption Barriers
This project will explore the gaps in the wound care market, investigating why effective chronic wound treatments are lacking. The study will cover the full pipeline from development to clinical adoption and insurance reimbursement.
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Semester Project , Bachelor Thesis
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Published since: 2025-02-18 , Earliest start: 2025-03-01
Applications limited to Balgrist Campus , Berner Fachhochschule , CSEM - Centre Suisse d'Electronique et Microtechnique , Department of Quantitative Biomedicine , Empa , EPFL - Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne , ETH Zurich , Forschungsinstitut für biologischen Landbau (FiBL) , Friedrich Miescher Institute , Hochschulmedizin Zürich , Institute for Research in Biomedicine , Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts , Pädagogische Hochschule St.Gallen , Paul Scherrer Institute , Sirm Institute for Regenerative Medicine , Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics , Swiss National Science Foundation , Università della Svizzera italiana , Université de Neuchâtel , University of Basel , University of Berne , University of Fribourg , University of Geneva , University of Lausanne , University of Lucerne , University of St. Gallen , University of Zurich , Zurich University of Applied Sciences , Zurich University of the Arts
Organization Macromolecular Engineering Laboratory
Hosts Emiroglu Börte
Topics Medical and Health Sciences , Engineering and Technology , Economics , Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services , Chemistry , Biology
PDMS-Based Bioreactor to investigate cell behavior in response to Hydrostatic pressure and substrate stiffness
Introduction and Background Skin cells dynamically respond to mechanical and biochemical stimuli, which influence critical processes such as proliferation, differentiation, and migration. Mechanobiology, the study of these responses, 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.
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Bachelor Thesis , Master Thesis , ETH Zurich (ETHZ)
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Published since: 2025-02-13 , Earliest start: 2025-03-01 , Latest end: 2025-08-31
Organization Macromolecular Engineering Laboratory
Hosts Binz Jonas
Topics Information, Computing and Communication Sciences , Engineering and Technology
Development of a direct CO2 measurement device to quantify the CO2 sequestration ability by photosynthetic living materials
This project centers around designing a CO2 measurement chamber to quantify the amount of CO2 sequestration by photosynthetic living materials.
Keywords
CO2 sequestration, device design photosynthetic living materials, bioengineering
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Bachelor Thesis
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Published since: 2025-01-28 , Earliest start: 2025-01-30 , Latest end: 2025-10-31
Organization Macromolecular Engineering Laboratory
Hosts Binz Jonas
Topics Engineering and Technology
Designing photosynthetic living materials with synthetic biology
Living materials, as an emerging field that combines biology and material science, are materials composed of immobilized living organisms and a carrier matrix providing pre-determined bio-functionality. [1,2] Living materials bring about new properties that are not easily realised by conventional materials. Here, we aim to design a new type of living materials that can sequester and store atmospheric CO2 irreversibly in the form of calcium carbonate minerals.
Keywords
living materials, synthetic biology, microorganisms
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Bachelor Thesis , Master Thesis , ETH Zurich (ETHZ)
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Published since: 2025-01-27 , Earliest start: 2025-02-05 , Latest end: 2025-10-31
Organization Macromolecular Engineering Laboratory
Hosts Cui Yifan
Topics Engineering and Technology
Photoresponsive slide-ring hydrogels for on-demand modulation of mechanical properties
Hydrogel materials are crosslinked polymer networks with reversible swelling, tunable porosity, elasticity, toughness, and flexibility. Conventional hydrogels often suffer from weak mechanical properties and display brittle and unstable behaviour limiting their scope for load-bearing applications. Such networks consist of side-chain functionalized polymers, whose covalent crosslinks occur at fixed positions on the polymer backbone (Figure 1A). Upon deformation, tensile stress is concentrated on the closest neighboring crosslinks, eventually leading to their rupture and material failure. Hence, the molecular design of high-performance hydrogels with toughness and elasticity similar to rubber is an emerging area of research in the engineering of polymeric materials with applications towards robust medical materials or soft robotics.
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Slide-Ring Gels, Supramolecular Chemistry, High-Performance Hydrogels
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Master Thesis
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Published since: 2025-01-16 , Earliest start: 2024-07-18
Organization Macromolecular Engineering Laboratory
Hosts Mommer Stefan
Topics Engineering and Technology , Chemistry
In vitro liver tissue models for studying liver regeneration and drug delivery systems
Many organ grafts are not suitable for transplantation due to excessive ischemic injury. In an effort to save these discarded grafts, ex vivo perfusion systems have been developed to extend the time window for organ repair. The liver, in particular, has a remarkable regenerative capacity and its ex vivo perfusion provides a unique opportunity to trigger regeneration pathways. Thus far, advanced perfusion technologies have enabled the preservation of the human liver outside of the body for up to two weeks using normothermic machine perfusion. Until now, this liver perfusion machine has only been employed to treat bacterial infections, determine tumour malignancy and assess liver function, yet how to stimulate growth and repair of liver grafts ex vivo remains unexplored. In order to effectively develop regeneration strategies, in vitro liver models are necessary since ex vivo human liver experiments are low-throughput, confounded by patient to patient variability and costly. Liver tissue slices, which are directly obtained from native liver tissue, preserve the intact hepatocellular architecture and microenvironment of the liver unlike 2D cell culture and organoid models. Thus, we aim to use liver tissue slices as a screening platform to identify pro-regenerative biomolecules and drugs. In addition, we will explore mRNA lipid nanoparticles to improve the delivery and therapeutic effect of candidate biomolecules and drugs for ex vivo liver perfusion.
Keywords
in vitro liver models, regeneration, drug screening, cell culture, molecular biology, biomedical engineering
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Internship , Master Thesis
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Published since: 2024-12-10 , Earliest start: 2025-01-12 , Latest end: 2026-05-31
Organization Macromolecular Engineering Laboratory
Hosts Cunningham Leslie
Topics Engineering and Technology , Biology
Establishing a novel high throughput Drug Screening in vitro
The development of advanced drug formulations is a cornerstone of pharmaceutical innovation, directly influencing therapeutic efficacy, patient outcomes, and market success. Achieving optimal drug absorption and bioavailability remains one of the most significant challenges in formulation design, particularly for oral and parenteral delivery systems. Addressing this challenge is critical for advancing scientific understanding and also for accelerating drug discovery and reducing time-to-market for new therapies. This Master’s thesis project aims to develop an advanced cell culture assay to model drug absorption, providing a scientifically robust and commercially valuable platform for drug screening and optimizing novel drug formulations. By bridging gaps in current drug screening methodologies, this project will contribute to innovation in drug delivery technologies and enhance competitive positioning in the growing global market for pharmaceutical solutions.
Keywords
cell culture, drug screening, drug formulation, polymer,
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Master Thesis
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Published since: 2024-12-06 , Earliest start: 2024-12-09 , Latest end: 2025-12-31
Applications limited to EPFL - Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne , ETH Zurich , Hochschulmedizin Zürich , IBM Research Zurich Lab , Institute for Research in Biomedicine , Zurich University of Applied Sciences , Wyss Translational Center Zurich , University of Zurich , University of Berne , University of Geneva , University of Basel , University of Fribourg , Swiss National Science Foundation , Empa , CSEM - Centre Suisse d'Electronique et Microtechnique , Department of Quantitative Biomedicine , Balgrist Campus , [nothing]
Organization Macromolecular Engineering Laboratory
Hosts Guzzi Elia
Topics Medical and Health Sciences , Engineering and Technology , Chemistry , Biology