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
PDMS-Based Bioreactor Investigating 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. By understanding this interplay, mechanical and biochemical stimuli may be used in the future to facilitate the growth of skin patches, tissue formation, and organ regeneration, enabling new therapies and benefiting patients. The study of these responses, mechanobiology, 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. In this thesis, the student will use this system to investigate how different stimuli affect cell behavior.
Keywords
Bioreactor, tissue engineering, organ regeneration
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Master Thesis
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Published since: 2026-04-15 , Earliest start: 2026-06-01 , Latest end: 2027-01-31
Organization Macromolecular Engineering Laboratory
Hosts Cuni Filippo
Topics Engineering and Technology , Biology
How Does Dry Skin Drive Inflammation? Masters Project in Osmotic Stress and Human Macrophage Biology
We are investigating how osmotic stress in the wound microenvironment regulates macrophage phenotype and immune-stromal crosstalk in inflammatory disease. A hyperosmotic microenvironment develops in diseases such as atopic dermatitis, which involve a loss of barrier function and transepidermal water loss, and has been shown to be associated with a more activated macrophage phenotype. This project sits at the intersection of immunology, cell biology and biomaterials, and involves establishing primary human macrophage models to study how osmotic stress drives macrophage phenotype, as well as how osmotic stress-driven changes in fibroblast-secreted extracellular matrix drive innate immune cell behavior. The project is conducted in close collaboration with the Werner Lab at ETH Zürich, which brings expertise in skin biology, NFAT5 signaling, and decellularized extracellular matrix proteomics. Specifically, the position will involve characterizing expression of pro-inflammatory markers of human-derived macrophages in response to both ionic and non-ionic osmotic stress. Once this is established, co-culture with human dermal fibroblasts in both normo-osmotic and hyperosmotic conditions, in 2D systems and 3D collagen gels, will be used to study how osmolarity affects cell phenotype.
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Master Thesis , ETH Zurich (ETHZ)
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Published since: 2026-04-15 , Earliest start: 2026-04-14 , Latest end: 2027-06-01
Organization Macromolecular Engineering Laboratory
Hosts Tibbitt Mark
Topics Engineering and Technology , Biology
Microfluidic Biomaterials Platform Development: Advanced In Vitro Model of Fibrosis
We are developing a novel photo-responsive 3D granular hydrogel platform using microfluidic chips to study mechanotransduction in fibrosis and skin biology. This project involves fabricating and characterizing advanced biomaterial systems with dynamic mechanical properties to investigate how cells sense and respond to their physical microenvironment, such as stiffness and confinement. The platform is used to model fibrotic diseases, which are characterized by extracellular matrix stiffening, as well as to validate protein hits from in vivo skin stretch experiments, in collaboration with the Werner and Mazza Groups at ETH Zürich. While stiffness is known to induce a myofibroblast phenotype in fibroblasts, a contractile phenotype, which contributes further to fibrosis through aberrant deposition of excessive ECM, however, this understanding is based on studies in which cells are cultured on 2D static substrates. We are developing a material that allows dynamic changes to matrix stiffness within 3D cell culture to elucidate novel mechanotransduction pathways regulating myofibroblast activation in 3D.
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Semester Project , Master Thesis , ETH Zurich (ETHZ)
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Published since: 2026-04-14 , Earliest start: 2026-04-14 , Latest end: 2027-06-01
Organization Macromolecular Engineering Laboratory
Hosts Tibbitt Mark
Topics Engineering and Technology , Biology
Product Design & Regulatory Assessment of Microgel-Based Biomaterial Systems
This project aims to evaluate different device formats for delivering microgel-based therapies. The focus will be on engineering feasibility, biomolecule assays, and the regulatory landscape governing these devices.
Keywords
Microgels, Biomaterials, Wound healing, Product development, Feasibility, Simulations, FEM, Regulatory, Clinical
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Semester Project , Bachelor Thesis , Master Thesis
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Published since: 2026-03-27 , Earliest start: 2026-04-12 , Latest end: 2026-12-31
Applications limited to Empa , CSEM - Centre Suisse d'Electronique et Microtechnique , Balgrist Campus , Department of Quantitative Biomedicine , EPFL - Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne , ETH Zurich , Forschungsinstitut für biologischen Landbau (FiBL) , Hochschulmedizin Zürich , IBM Research Zurich Lab , 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 National Science Foundation , Università della Svizzera italiana , Université de Neuchâtel , University of Basel , University of Fribourg , University of Berne , University of Lausanne , University of Geneva , University of Lucerne , University of St. Gallen , University of Zurich , Zurich University of Applied Sciences
Organization Macromolecular Engineering Laboratory
Hosts Emiroglu Börte
Topics Medical and Health Sciences , Engineering and Technology , Chemistry , Biology