Immediate MS projects are available in Microtechnique and Bioengineering for the 2024-2025 academic year. Projects are on the development of lab-on-a-chip nano-biosensors. The students will be exposed to nanophotonics, nanofabrication, microfluidics, cellular/molecular biology.
For students interested in Master projects or semester projects, the following projects are available to be performed in the summer or during academic semesters. Please send your questions, CV and your availability to the corresponding supervisor.
Description:
Infrared (IR) spectroscopy is a gold-standard bioanalytical technique for label-free, non-destructive and chemical-specific detection of biomolecules such as proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids by studying the vibrations of their molecular bonds. Recently, engineered nanophotonic metasurfaces have emerged as a powerful approach to significantly enhance the performance of IR spectroscopy for extreme sensitivity, faster response time, miniaturization and lab-on-a-chip integration. As a result, this new method, which is called Surface-Enhanced Infrared Absorption (SEIRA) spectroscopy is promising for a wide range of applications including disease diagnostics, environmental monitoring and safety. This project will aim to bring the application of IR metasurfaces and SEIRA to answer interesting and unexplored questions in the field of biology by trying to understand the molecular composition and function of biomolecules and study new types of biological samples – like identifying and studying protein biomarkers related to neurodegenerative disorders.
Who we are looking for:
A motivated student curious to explore the limits of SEIRA for biosensing application in an experimental laboratory.
No prior experience in photonics/infrared spectroscopy is required as we offer you a chance to learn the basics and applications of infrared spectroscopy as well as cutting-edge nanophotonics with hands-on experience.
Proficiency and experience in Python are preferred for spectral data analysis.
The project is available as an internship/thesis with at least a minimum duration of 4-6 months. Students able to start in Fall 2024 will be given preference. The project can be tailored for EPFL students as a Bachelor or Master project.
Contact persons at BIOS:
Mikhail Masharin: [email protected]
Felix Richter: [email protected]
Relevant publications:
Description: Metasurfaces offer the possibility for manipulating light at the nanoscale. This disruptive technology can be used for a wide field of applications. However, challenges in designing the best possible metasurfaces persist and cannot keep up with the demand for advanced optical functionality. This project aims to tackle the optical design challenge of metasurfaces for chiral sensing. We want to use modern machine learning approaches with high quality optical simulations to find the metasurfaces suited best to characterize chiral molecules such as DNA, drugs or proteins with high accuracy and low sample volume.
Who we are looking for: We are looking for a motivated student curious to explore the limits of inverse metasurface design towards the new regime of chiral sensing. Since this endeavor is mainly of computational and theoretical nature, we are looking for a student with high affinity towards programming and prior experience with machine learning.
What we offer: We offer a deep insight into photonics, optics and cutting-edge nanotechnology. Throughout the project, you will learn essential skills related to optical design, metasurfaces, and deepen your understanding of machine learning approaches. High performance equipment with up-to-date GPU.
Additionally, we appreciate a friendly atmosphere and offer a pleasant and stimulating working environment.
Contact BIOS Group @ EPFL:
Felix Richter: [email protected]
Project Description:
This project focuses on developing the advanced fabrication technique for nanophotonic structures using Deep-UV lithography. As a master Student, you’ll work at the renowned CMi facility, developing and optimizing a process for fabricating nanoplasmonic structures in the cleanroom. Using cutting-edge techniques like DUVL lithography, ion beam etching, and advanced characterization tools, you’ll process wafers with precision, contributing to groundbreaking nanotechnology research and gaining hands-on experience.
Who we are looking for:
We are looking for students interested in gaining practical experience in nanophotonic structure fabrication and optical characterization. The project is available as a Master thesis study with at least 4-6 months minimum. If you have a background in engineering or physics and are interested in developing low-cost fabrication techniques, please get in touch with us to learn more.
Contact persons at BIOS:
Or apply here:
https://forms.gle/SSkK5hA9p2EUYo856