Student Projects

Development and validation of a 2D-3D registration tool

This project aims to develop a pipeline to register 2D histological images to 3D micro-CT images.

Keywords

computational, mechanics, modelling, micro-CT, mouse, vertebra, Python, in-vivo, medical engineering, biomedical engineering, image, processing, registration, analysis, 2D-3D, multi-modal, correlative imaging, data science, segmentation, deep learning

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Semester Project , Internship , Bachelor Thesis , Master Thesis

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Published since: 2025-10-08 , Earliest start: 2022-06-01 , Latest end: 2023-12-31

Organization Müller Group / Laboratory for Bone Biomechanics

Hosts Correia Marques Francisco

Topics Medical and Health Sciences , Mathematical Sciences , Information, Computing and Communication Sciences , Engineering and Technology , Biology

Volumetric Bioprinting of Perfusable Scaffolds for Mammary Tissue Engineering

Background: Collagen, the most abundant structural protein in the extracellular matrix, is essential for tissue architecture, integrity, and cell function. Its biocompatibility makes it attractive for tissue engineering. Volumetric 3D printing (see attached image) enables the rapid fabrication of complex, cell-friendly scaffolds with high resolution. In this project, the student will bioprint tissue constructs that mimic native architecture and function, including mammary tissue, using collagen based materials and volumetric printing. Further the student will work on advancing our culture platforms from static systems to dynamic, flow-integrated models . The project will build on the lab’s current expertise in volumetric bioprinting and in collagen-based material design: • Volumetric printed biomimetic scaffolds support in vitro lactation of human milk-derived mammary epithelial cells. A. Hasenauer et al. Science Advances, 2025 • Rapid Deep Vat Printing Using Photoclickable Collagen-Based Bioresins. M. Winkelbauer et al. Advanced Healthcare Materials, 2025 We are looking for a motivated student, and experience with the following would be an advantage: • Experience in CAD design (e.g. Fusion 360) • Basic coding/programming skills (e.g., Python or MATLAB) for data analysis Preferred Duration: 6 months This thesis offers an exciting opportunity to combine cutting-edge volumetric bioprinting technology with advanced collagen scaffold design, building on the lab’s strong foundation in bioprinting and biomaterials research.

Keywords

Volumetric Printing Collagen Tissue engineering Mammary Tissue Perfusion

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Internship , Master Thesis , ETH Zurich (ETHZ)

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Published since: 2025-09-14 , Earliest start: 2025-10-06 , Latest end: 2026-07-31

Organization Zenobi-Wong Group / Tissue Engineering and Biofabrication

Hosts Zenobi-Wong Marcy , Hasenauer Amelia

Topics Medical and Health Sciences , Engineering and Technology , Biology

Exploring the 3D Mineralization Behavior in Material-Induced Osteoinduction Through a Multiscale Micro-CT Imaging Approach

The project aims at investigating material-induced osteoinduction using the available mouse model of orthotopic or ectopic bone graft substitute (BGS) application. Through the 3D-3D registration of ex vivo and in vivo multiscale micro-CT images, crucial 3D mineralization behavior of the BGS can be investigated.

Keywords

Femur, Bone Graft Substitute, Critical Size Defect, Osteoinduction, in vivo, micro-CT, 3D-3D Image Registration, Image Analysis, Image Processing, Python, Computational

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Semester Project , Bachelor Thesis , Master Thesis

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Bone defects that do not heal spontaneously despite surgical stabilization and require further surgical intervention are termed critical sized defects (CSD). They pose dramatic consequences to a person’s well-being and life expectancy due to their impact on the skeletal system’s integrity. Bone graft substitutes (BGS) present a treatment approach by enhancing and facilitating the natural healing capacity of the bone tissue using their osteoconductive and osteoinductive potential and filling up the physical space of lost bone for mechanical support. The key property of a BGS in treatment of a large bone defect is osteoinduction. Physiological processes in bone usually happen on different spatial scales, spanning from the whole organ, to tissue, to cellular and even to the molecular level. Therefore, an ideal imaging setup to **unravel the underlying mechanisms of material-induced osteoinduction** would require a **multiscale approach** to connect orang and tissue level processes with the cellular and subcellular scale. Micro-CT can be considered the gold standard in hierarchical 3D imaging of bone structure and function and allows a non-destructive _ex vivo_ and _in vivo_ image acquisition. **Time-lapsed _in vivo_ micro-CT images** can reveal distinct information on the longitudinal development of implant calcification or resorption. However, its resolution is relatively low and certain details can not be detected. _Ex vivo_ micro-CT on the other hand allows scans of higher resolution and therefore complements the _in vivo_ micro-CT well. The 3D-3D registration of high-resolution _ex vivo_ and low-resolution _in vivo_ micro-CT images generates a multiscale micro-CT imaging approach. Advanced image analysis methods can help identify newly formed bone and generally distinguish bone and the BGS. By combined analysis of multiscale micro-CT measurements of murine femur samples with implanted ectopic or orthotopic BGS, critical 3D mineralization behavior in material-induced osteoinduction can be investigated.

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Published since: 2025-09-08 , Earliest start: 2025-09-22 , Latest end: 2026-07-31

Organization Müller Group / Laboratory for Bone Biomechanics

Hosts Lindenmann Sara

Topics Medical and Health Sciences , Engineering and Technology

RegaSpine: Development of an IMU-based approach to measure cervical spine motion during cervical spine immobilization

Injuries to the cervical spine are common in severely injured patients and can lead to the most serious health impairments, such as para- or tetraplegia, due to potential spinal cord injuries. Therefore, immobilization of the cervical spine is indicated in emergency medicine. However, there is still considerable disagreement regarding the preferred procedure. The cervical orthosis, which has been established for many years and is commonly used in these settings, has many disadvantages (such as pain, pressure ulcers, increased intracranial pressure, and in practice often being relatively complicated and time-consuming to apply), and is therefore subject of controversial debate. At the same time, clear evidence of the effectiveness of the cervical orthosis compared to alternative methods (such as head blocks in a vacuum mattress) is lacking. This project creates the programming basis for a clinical trial investigating the effectiveness of different immobilization approaches in preventing cervical spine movements using IMUs.

Keywords

Trauma, orthotics, spine, IMU, programming, motion analysis

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Master Thesis

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Published since: 2025-09-01 , Earliest start: 2025-11-01 , Latest end: 2026-12-01

Applications limited to ETH Zurich , University of Zurich , University of Berne

Organization Functional Spinal Biomechanics

Hosts Bertsch Martin

Topics Medical and Health Sciences , Engineering and Technology

Exploring the Mechanoregulation of Bone Regeneration

In over 100 years, the remarkable ability of bone to adapt to its mechanical environment has been a source of scientific fascination. Bone regeneration has been shown to be highly dependent on the mechanical environment at the fracture site. It has been demonstrated that mechanical stimuli can either accelerate or impede regeneration. Despite the fundamental importance of the mechanical environment in influencing bone regeneration, the molecular mechanisms underlying this phenomenon are complex and poorly understood.

Keywords

Bone, Mechanobiology, Spatial transcriptomics, Gene expression, Finite element modelling, Image processing

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Semester Project , Internship , Bachelor Thesis , Master Thesis

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Published since: 2025-08-21 , Earliest start: 2024-11-01 , Latest end: 2026-08-31

Organization Müller Group / Laboratory for Bone Biomechanics

Hosts Mathavan Neashan

Topics Medical and Health Sciences , Engineering and Technology

The Biomechanics of the Golf Swing

The golf swing can significantly contribute to lower spine degeneration and consequent lower spine pain due to the repetitive and intense forces it exerts on the lumbar spine. Lower back pain makes up for about a quarter of all golf injuries and affects players of all ages and with varying skill levels. Different styles of golf swings exist, but in general, they are characterized by extensive rotational movements and powerful downward movements that can place particularly high stress on the spine (primarily on the intervertebral disc and the facet joints). These complex loading patterns consist of a combination of compression, torsion, and shearing and are placed on the spine at a high frequency (professional golfers may perform hundreds of swings a day). Characteristic damage to the spine caused by repeated minor traumatic injuries might be the result. In addition to targeted strengthening of muscles around the lumbar spine, understanding and consequently potentially modifying the swing biomechanics may help mitigate the risk of spine degeneration in golfers. The aim of this project is to determine the player-specific loading of the lumbar spine through a detailed biomechanical analysis of the player’s swing. Similar analyses have been successfully conducted for baseball but have yet to be applied in golf.

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Internship , Master Thesis

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Published since: 2025-08-14 , Earliest start: 2025-08-01 , Latest end: 2026-07-31

Applications limited to ETH Zurich

Organization Snedeker Group / Laboratory for Orthopaedic Biomechanics

Hosts Fasser Marie-Rosa

Topics Medical and Health Sciences , Engineering and Technology

PhD position in meta-biomaterials synthesis and 3D-printing

The Biomaterials Engineering (BME) group of Professor Xiao-Hua Qin is hiring a PhD student in the synthesis and advanced manufacturing of metamaterials.

Keywords

polymer chemistry, materials science, metamaterials, additive manufacturing, cell-material interactions

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PhD Placement , ETH Zurich (ETHZ)

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Published since: 2025-07-07 , Earliest start: 2025-09-01 , Latest end: 2028-12-31

Applications limited to EPFL - Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne , ETH Zurich , IBM Research Zurich Lab , Paul Scherrer Institute , Wyss Translational Center Zurich , University of Zurich , University of Geneva , University of Berne , University of Basel , Empa , Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen , European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) , Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin , Ludwig Maximilians Universiy Munich , Max Planck Society , TU Dresden , Universität Ulm , TU Darmstadt , TU Berlin , Technische Universität München , Technische Universität Hamburg , RWTH Aachen University , University of Erlangen-Nuremberg , University of Hamburg , University of Konstanz , Imperial College London , University of Cambridge , University of Oxford , University of Nottingham , UCL - University College London , Delft University of Technology , Radboud University Nijmegen , Utrecht University , European Molecular Biology Laboratory , Massachusetts Institute of Technology , Peking University , Princeton University , Technical University of Denmark , The University of Tokyo , University of California, Berkeley , University of Toronto , Yale University , Uppsala Universitet , University of California, San Diego , National University of Singapore , IDEA League , Harvard , Stanford University , The University of Edinburgh , Tsinghua University , Université de Strasbourg , University of Queensland , The University of Melbourne , University of Fribourg

Organization Qin Group / Biomaterials Engineering

Hosts Qin Xiao-Hua, Prof. Dr.

Topics Engineering and Technology , Chemistry