Doctoral Position in Digital Health Technologies for Development and Validation of Closed-Loop Movement-triggered Neurostimulation System for Stroke Rehabilitation

100%, Zurich, fixed-term

The Rehabilitation Engineering Lab (RELab) within the Department of Health Sciences and Technology (D-HEST) at ETH Zurich (ETHZ) is a cross-disciplinary team proficient in mechanical and electrical engineering, movement science, neurorehabilitation, and neuroscience. RELab’s mission is to facilitate sensorimotor rehabilitation and foster greater independence. By leveraging robotics, wearable sensor technologies, and non-invasive neurotechnologies, RELab pursues exploration, assessment and restoration of sensorimotor capabilities in individuals affected by neurological damage.

Project background

Skaaltec, a pre-incorporation ETHZ spinoff at RELab, is developing a novel closed-loop neural stimulation device for neurological movement disorders like stroke, spinal cord injury and Parkinson’s disease. In the framework of Innosuisse Innovation Project, we are opening a PhD position to facilitate the development and validation of the SmartVNS system. In this role, the PhD candidate will be part of a development and research team and will support the technical implementation of the system with the focus on the clinical application and validation. The candidate will be responsible for ensuring system readiness to enter clinical validation, will have to actively support the study approval process and will oversee the clinical study.

Stroke is a leading (and rapidly growing) cause of long-term disability worldwide. Physical therapy, which is the current standard of stroke recovery, doesn't directly address the core issue -the injured brain-, and it's primarily limited to short clinic stays. Currently, there are no advanced tools available for neural rehabilitation at home and there are more than 100 million people who need it. A novel neuroscience-inspired rehabilitation system - SmartVNS - is developed by ETHZ researchers Dr. Paulius Viskaitis and Dr. Dane Donegan at the RELab to bridge these gaps. SmartVNS addresses these challenges by combining non-invasive auricular vagus nerve stimulation (aVNS) paired with inertial measurement unit (IMU) based tracking of specific movements to improve motor function. Our goal is to combine these two promising technologies and transfer them into a clinically viable solution to provide neurotherapy to stroke patients. The utilisation of biomarker-guided assessments for novel interventions aligns with the contemporary paradigm shift towards personalised medicine in stroke research and clinical practice.

Job description

As the PhD candidate, your tasks will include:

• Familiarisation with the SmartVNS system architecture, including the hardware and firmware
• Explore signal processing algorithms for real-time and offline applications
• Implementation of unit testing for firmware and hardware
• Plan, conduct and coordinate studies to validate the system components and complete system in healthy subjects and patients as appropriate
• Disseminate research outcomes at international conferences and in peer-reviewed journals
• Actively contribute to grant writing

Your profile

The ideal candidate will have:

• A Master’s degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Information Systems, Biomedical Engineering, applied Neuroscience/brain computer interface (BCI) or related fields
• Experience with software engineering and, in particular, real-time signal processing. Prior experience in machine learning and AI are an advantage
• Experience with inertial measurement units in movement control related research. 
• Extensive experience with Python required. C++ experience an advantage.
• Firmware development is a plus.
• Strong interest in neurorehabilitation and neuroscience. Prior knowledge in brain anatomy/mechanisms is a plus
• Curiosity and motivation to perform scientifically rigorous experimental work
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Willingness to work with patients and clinicians
• Self-motivation, ability to work independently and solution-oriented mentality
• Good oral and written English skills, fluency in German a plus. 
• Willingness to support teaching and supervise MSc/BSc student projects

Your workplace

Your workplace

We offer

In this project you will have:

• A unique and stimulating work environment within a strong and very motivated team with a strong translational focus
• An interdisciplinary project ranging from hardware and software to collaborations with clinicians and industries
• Competitive salary according to ETH standards for doctoral students

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Curious? So are we.

We look forward to receiving your online application with the following documents:

• Cover letter outlining your motivation and experience in the field. Mention your earliest possible starting date
• CV including degree certificates
• Transcript of records

Please note that we exclusively accept applications submitted through our online application portal. Applications via email or postal services will not be considered.

Further information about the Rehabilitation Engineering Laboratory (RELab) can be found on our website . Questions regarding the position should be directed to Dr. Paulius Viskaitis [email protected] (no applications) and Dr. Dane Donegan [email protected] (no applications).

About ETH Zürich

ETH Zurich is one of the world’s leading universities specialising in science and technology. We are renowned for our excellent education, cutting-edge fundamental research and direct transfer of new knowledge into society. Over 30,000 people from more than 120 countries find our university to be a place that promotes independent thinking and an environment that inspires excellence. Located in the heart of Europe, yet forging connections all over the world, we work together to develop solutions for the global challenges of today and tomorrow.