Student Projects
Project Descriptions
Additional projects are always available. Please consult our list of ongoing research projects and contact the involved people listed on the top right to enquire about additional projects.
Special projects/internships:
Embedded Firmware Development for a Multimodal fNIRS Wearable
This project focuses on the firmware development: you develop the cutting edge embedded software that drives multimodal signal acquisition on the device and integrate novel sensor measurements with the existing fNIRS firmware into a unified, synchronised system. The candidate will define the software architecture, implement low-level drivers, and ensure that both modalities operate reliably and in sync under the real-time constraints of a wearable platform.
Keywords
Brain, Imaging, Neuroscience, Firmware, real-time, multimodal, software, BCI
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Internship , Master Thesis
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Published since: 2026-08-09
Organization Rehabilitation Engineering Lab
Hosts Wyser Dominik
Topics Information, Computing and Communication Sciences , Engineering and Technology
Development and Validation of Brain Oxygenation Recordings
In this project, you develop the firmware for a brain imaging wearable to recording brain oxygenation and validate it on the bench and in vivo.
Keywords
Brain oxygenation, algorithm, firmware, embedded, neuroscience, wearable
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Semester Project , Internship , Bachelor Thesis , Master Thesis
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Published since: 2026-08-09
Organization Rehabilitation Engineering Lab
Hosts Wyser Dominik
Topics Information, Computing and Communication Sciences , Engineering and Technology
Design and Experimental Evaluation of an Integrated Hardware Architecture for a Modular Handheld Rehabilitation Device
Upper-limb impairments after stroke, traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury often limit hand function and daily activities. Intensive, task-specific home-based rehabilitation can help close the gap left by limited clinical resources. The ReCover platform is a modular rehabilitation system built around a universal handheld device with interchangeable therapeutic attachments. Its current electronics rely on manually interconnected commercial modules, which increases complexity, limits scalability and raises concerns around signal integrity, electromagnetic compatibility and long-term reliability. This thesis develops an integrated PCB architecture with automated attachment identification for the handheld device and evaluates it experimentally against the original prototype in terms of signal integrity, communication reliability, EMC behaviour, power performance, manufacturability and usability. The results will inform engineering design guidelines for future modular rehabilitation devices and similar compact mechatronic systems.
Keywords
Rehabilitation, PCB design, modular hardware architecture, embedded systems, EMC, signal integrity, home-based rehabilitation, medical device engineering
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Internship , Master Thesis
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Published since: 2026-08-03 , Earliest start: 2026-08-16 , Latest end: 2027-06-01
Organization Rehabilitation Engineering Lab
Hosts Retevoi Alexandra
Topics Engineering and Technology
Evaluation of an fNIRS-Based Neurofeedback BCI
Can people learn to deliberately regulate their own brain activity? This project explores that question using a non-invasive brain–computer interface based on functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). The system measures activity in the prefrontal cortex and converts it into real-time feedback, allowing participants to observe, and learn to modulate their own brain signals. You will contribute to both the experimental and analytical sides of the project, from recording brain activity to evaluating whether participants successfully learn through neurofeedback. Building on encouraging results from an initial pilot study, the project will test the approach in a larger group of healthy participants and assess whether a brain-specific signal-processing algorithm improves BCI performance.
Keywords
functional near-infrared spectroscopy, fNIRS, brain imaging, neurofeedback, BCI, brain-computer interface
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Semester Project , Internship , Lab Practice , Bachelor Thesis , Master Thesis
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Published since: 2026-07-31 , Earliest start: 2026-08-03 , Latest end: 2027-01-31
Applications limited to ETH Zurich , University of Zurich
Organization Rehabilitation Engineering Lab
Hosts Pescatore Camille
Topics Medical and Health Sciences , Engineering and Technology , Behavioural and Cognitive Sciences
Masterpraktikum | Hippocampale Bildgebung und Gedächtnis im Alter (AAAgingFR)
Mit zunehmendem Alter verändert sich das Gehirn, aber welche molekularen Mechanismen stehen dahinter, und wie lassen sie sich gezielt beeinflussen? Die AAAgingFR-Studie geht dieser Frage auf synaptischer und Netzwerkebene nach: Wir untersuchen, wie die Supplementierung mit L-Serin, einer natürlichen Aminosäure die als Ko-Agonist des NMDA-Rezeptors wirkt und somit essenziell für die synaptische Plastizität hippocampaler Netzwerke und assoziativer Gedächtnisfunktionen ist. Um dies zu erfassen, setzen wir auf ein einzigartiges multimodales Neuroimaging-Protokoll: fMRI, FDG-PET, MRS und EEG, kombiniert mit neuropsychologischen Testungen. Diese Kombination erlaubt es uns, altersbedingte Veränderungen hippocampaler Netzwerke gleichzeitig auf metabolischer, struktureller und funktioneller Ebene zu charakterisieren.
Keywords
Neuroscience, Neuroimaging, Cognitive Neuroscience, Clinical Research, Healthy Ageing, Hippocampus, Memory, MRI, fMRI, EEG, PET, Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, MRS, Neuropsychology, Human Participants, Clinical Study, Master Thesis, Research Internship
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Semester Project , Internship , Master Thesis
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Published since: 2026-07-23 , Earliest start: 2026-08-01
Organization Rehabilitation Engineering Lab
Hosts Berthet Mathieu
Topics Medical and Health Sciences , Behavioural and Cognitive Sciences
Optimizing Motor Tasks for fNIRS-Based Neurorehabilitation
Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is increasingly used to investigate brain activity during movements. However, there is currently no consensus regarding which motor tasks provide the most robust, reproducible, and clinically meaningful measures of cortical activation. Existing studies employ a wide range of paradigms, from finger tapping, hand opening and closing, to motor imagery. An ongoing project at the Rehabilitation Engineering Laboratory (RELab) investigates the use of fNIRS for assessing cortical plasticity induced by non-invasive brain stimulation. As part of this work, selecting an appropriate motor paradigm is a key methodological challenge. We are looking for a motivated student to evaluate candidate motor tasks through literature review, experimental protocol development, pilot recordings, and data analysis, ultimately contributing to more standardized and clinically relevant fNIRS research.
Keywords
functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), motor task, upper-limb function, brain imaging, experimental design, pilot study
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Semester Project , Internship , Master Thesis
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Published since: 2026-07-23 , Earliest start: 2026-08-16 , Latest end: 2027-04-01
Organization Rehabilitation Engineering Lab
Hosts Perrin Cléo
Topics Medical and Health Sciences
Multimodal Analysis of Brain Plasticity Following Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation
Functional neuroimaging and neurophysiological techniques provide complementary insights into human brain function and plasticity. While functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) measures task-related brain activation with high spatial resolution, functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) offers a portable alternative for assessing cortical hemodynamics, and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) provides direct measures of corticospinal excitability. Combining these complementary modalities offers a unique opportunity to better understand how the human brain responds to non-invasive brain stimulation. An ongoing project at the Rehabilitation Engineering Laboratory (RELab) investigates whether fNIRS can detect cortical modulation induced by non-invasive brain stimulation. As part of this project, multimodal data (fNIRS, fMRI, TMS, and behavioral measurements) are collected. We are looking for a motivated student to contribute to the analysis and integration of these multimodal datasets. The project will focus on identifying complementary biomarkers of brain plasticity, exploring relationships between imaging, neurophysiological and behavioural measures, and evaluating how different modalities capture short-term cortical changes.
Keywords
non-invasive brain stimulation, non-invasive brain imaging, functional near-infrared spectroscopy, functional magnetic resonance imaging, signal processing, data analysis
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Semester Project , Master Thesis
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Published since: 2026-07-10 , Earliest start: 2026-09-01 , Latest end: 2027-04-01
Organization Rehabilitation Engineering Lab
Hosts Perrin Cléo
Topics Engineering and Technology
Semester Project / Master Thesis / Internship — Marketing Content & Visual Communication for Medical Device Startup
Develop marketing content and visual communication for SmartVNS, a Class IIa wearable medical device for stroke rehabilitation, as a semester project or master thesis. The work includes visual assets, short videos, illustrations, and supporting marketing material for digital channels, pitch decks, and clinical communications, plus simple tracking of marketing effectiveness. Note: Research internships are only possible if explicitly approved by the student's school; no direct internship with Skaaltec is offered. ETH students are preferred for internship arrangements, while students from other universities must first verify with their institution whether a research internship or equivalent format is approved.
Keywords
Semester project; Master thesis; Marketing; Content creation; Visual communication; Graphic design; Video editing; Social media support; Marketing KPIs; Analytics; Medical device; MedTech; Healthtech; Class IIa; Stroke rehabilitation; Wearable; Branding; Illustration; Canva; Figma; Adobe; Investor materials; Startup; ETH Zurich; SmartVNS
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Semester Project , Internship , Master Thesis
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Published since: 2026-07-07 , Earliest start: 2026-08-01
Organization Rehabilitation Engineering Lab
Hosts Fornera Reda
Topics Journalism, Librarianship and Curatorial Studies , Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services
Semester Project / Master Thesis / Internship— Full Stack Web Development for VNSConnect HUB (React / Django / Automated Testing)
Work directly with our engineering team on VNSConnect HUB, the web dashboard and cloud backend for SmartVNS, a Class IIa wearable medical device, as a semester project or master thesis. You will develop React/TypeScript frontend features, Django REST backend APIs, PostgreSQL/TimescaleDB data queries, and automated tests that help the HUB mature under ISO 13485 and IEC 62304 guidance. Note: Research internships are only possible if explicitly approved by the student's school; no direct internship with Skaaltec is offered. ETH students are preferred for internship arrangements, while students from other universities must first verify with their institution whether a research internship or equivalent format is approved.
Keywords
Semester project; Master thesis; Full stack; React; TypeScript; Django; Python; DRF; PostgreSQL; TimescaleDB; SQL; Hub; Dashboard; Web development; Frontend; Backend; REST API; Database; Automated testing; Unit tests; Integration tests; E2E tests; DevOps; CI/CD; Docker; Cloud; Medical device; ISO 13485; IEC 62304; WebSocket; JavaScript; HTML; CSS; Git; Agile; ETH Zurich
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Semester Project , Internship , Master Thesis
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Published since: 2026-07-06 , Earliest start: 2026-08-01
Organization Rehabilitation Engineering Lab
Hosts Fornera Reda
Topics Information, Computing and Communication Sciences , Engineering and Technology
Mapping Statistical and Methodological Practices in Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation for Stroke Rehabilitation Research: Contribution to a Scoping Review
Understanding and predicting how and why individuals respond to non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) is one of the major challenges in current neurorehabilitation research. Although a growing number of studies propose predictors of treatment response, the statistical approaches used in this field vary widely. This makes it difficult to compare results, assess reliability, or build robust personalized rehabilitation tools. An ongoing project at the RELab aims to systematically map how statistical and methodological practices are used to define, assess, and predict NIBS response across the neuroscience and rehabilitation literature. This forms the foundation of a larger research program on biomarker-guided neurorehabilitation. The project involves conducting a scoping review of several thousand studies, examining how researchers define “responders”, what statistical models they use, and how prediction frameworks are validated. This position is ideal for a motivated master’s student interested in neuroscience, data science, and research methodology.
Keywords
non-invasive brain stimulation, statistical methods, predictors, scoping review, personalized medicine, neurorehabilitation, research methodology, bibliographic research
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Semester Project , Internship
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Published since: 2026-07-03 , Earliest start: 2026-07-15 , Latest end: 2026-12-15
Organization Rehabilitation Engineering Lab
Hosts Perrin Cléo
Topics Medical and Health Sciences , Mathematical Sciences , Engineering and Technology
Semester Project / Master Thesis / Internship— Verification of Firmware, Electronics & Mechanical (Medical Device)
Support verification activities for SmartVNS, a Class IIa wearable vagus nerve stimulator, as a semester project or master thesis. Execute and document test protocols across firmware (nRF5340/Zephyr), electronics bench characterization, and mechanical validation under ISO 13485 and IEC 62304. Coding contribution possible for the right candidate. Note: Research internships are only possible if explicitly approved by the student's school; no direct internship with Skaaltec is offered. ETH students are preferred for internship arrangements, while students from other universities must first verify with their institution whether a research internship or equivalent format is approved.
Keywords
Semester project; Master thesis; Verification; Test engineering; Firmware testing; Electronics testing; Mechanical testing; Medical device; ISO 13485; IEC 62304; Zephyr RTOS; nRF5340; Embedded C; Python; Oscilloscope; Lab work; ETH Zurich
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Semester Project , Internship , Master Thesis
Description
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Published since: 2026-06-15 , Earliest start: 2026-07-01
Organization Rehabilitation Engineering Lab
Hosts Fornera Reda
Topics Engineering and Technology
Multimodal EEG-fNIRS Brain Imaging
Hardware Development, Clinical Study Data Collection, Multimodal Data Analysis
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Semester Project , Internship , Master Thesis
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Published since: 2026-05-29 , Earliest start: 2026-06-01 , Latest end: 2026-12-31
Organization Rehabilitation Engineering Lab
Hosts Schönhammer Josef
Topics Medical and Health Sciences , Engineering and Technology , Behavioural and Cognitive Sciences
Development of Regulatory Documentation for a Novel Neurorehabilitation Device: Preparation for FDA and Swissmedic Compliance
Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability, affecting millions annually and necessitating innovative approaches to rehabilitation. The Rehabilitation Engineering Laboratory (RELab) at ETH Zurich is developing a novel closed-loop neurorehabilitation device that integrates real-time motion tracking with non-invasive brain stimulation to enhance neural plasticity and promote motor recovery in stroke patients. To advance this technology toward clinical trials, comprehensive regulatory documentation is essential to meet the stringent requirements of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Swissmedic. This project focuses on preparing an Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) application for the FDA and supporting documentation for Swissmedic compliance, including technical descriptions, risk analyses, and clinical study protocols. The student will conduct literature reviews, draft regulatory documents, and support risk management in accordance with ISO 14971, contributing to the device’s regulatory pathway. This work offers a unique opportunity to gain expertise in medical device regulation, bridging biomedical engineering and neuroscience, and advancing a transformative solution for stroke rehabilitation.
Keywords
regulatory affairs, medical device, non-invasive brain stimulation, FDA, Swissmedic, investigational device exemption, IDE, stroke rehabilitation, compliance
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Semester Project , Internship , Bachelor Thesis , Master Thesis
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Published since: 2026-05-28 , Earliest start: 2026-01-01 , Latest end: 2026-10-01
Organization Rehabilitation Engineering Lab
Hosts Quast Max , Donegan Dane , Viskaitis Paulius
Topics Medical and Health Sciences , Engineering and Technology
Hardware & Software Test Setup for Medical Device Incoming Inspection and Verification
Design, build, and document multi-disciplinary test setups: electrical, embedded software, and mechanical; to support incoming component inspections and internal design verification activities for a novel wearable closed-loop vagus nerve stimulation device.
Keywords
Incoming inspection; Hardware-in-the-loop testing; Embedded systems; Test bench design; Electrical characterization; Mechanical verification; Medical device testing; IEC 62304; ISO 13485; Design verification; Test documentation; Wearable devices
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Semester Project , Internship
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Published since: 2026-05-05 , Earliest start: 2026-05-10 , Latest end: 2027-01-01
Organization Rehabilitation Engineering Lab
Hosts Quast Max , Viskaitis Paulius
Topics Information, Computing and Communication Sciences , Engineering and Technology
Studies on Mechatronics
If you would like to carry out a Studies on Mechatronics project in our group, please contact the assistant working on, or closest to, the research topic you are interested in.
We currently have an open studies on mechatronics project aiming to evaluate and compare mechatronic designs for sensory/mechanical stimulation and massage of the feet. If interested, please contact .
Your Own Project Ideas?
It is always possible to find a project for motivated students with innovative ideas in the fields of rehabilitation, assistive and healthcare technology as well as haptics and motor learning. Please contact us if you would like to pursue a project which is not on the list above.