M.Sc. thesis position for intelligent cell spray instrument for burn surgery

Background

Skin grafting or skin transplantation is the gold standard treatment for deep and large burn wounds. When sites for obtaining healthy skin for transplantation are scarce, the grafts must be expanded by perforation to enable maximal coverage of the wound. Unfortunately, this expansion, or meshing, then generates holes in the skin grafts. The larger the holes, the longer time they take to heal. Moreover, the resulting new skin is fragile and unstable scars are readily formed. With the University of Helsinki, the Helsinki Burn Centre is currently developing and utilizing advanced cell therapy techniques to enhance the healing of largely meshed skin grafts. In the operating room cells isolated from a skin graft are sprayed onto the burn wound treated with a meshed graft.

Objective

This collaboration project between Aalto University, the University of Helsinki, and the Helsinki Burn Center aims to standardize and facilitate the cell spray administration procedure with intelligent assistance tools with displacement estimation and motion tracking.

Tasks

• Investigation of displacement measurement and estimation methods for burn surgery

• Design and implementation of intelligent instrument

• Optional: automatic spray control system

• Design and implementation of displacement estimation algorithms

• Testing the prototype in a simulated environment
  

The actual tasks will be determined at the beginning of the M.Sc. thesis process.

Requirements

The applicant should be an active Aalto University student in a degree programme. We expect the student to have previously studied several of the following topics: embedded systems, measurement technologies, control engineering, modelling and estimation, autonomous systems, instrumentation, etc. Basic programming skills are expected. Previous experience in hands-on projects and study in bioinformatics or biotechnologies are appreciated.

Ready to apply?
If you would like to be considered for the position, please submit your application through our recruitment system by using the “Apply now!” link below. Please send us your application by 15 May 2022.

To apply, please share the following application materials with us:

• CV
• Motivation letter
• Study transcripts
• Other supporting material

The position may be filled immediately as a suitable person is found. Aalto University reserves the right for justified reasons to leave the position open, to extend the application period and to consider candidates who have not submitted applications during the application period.

The employment contract is in principle made for 6 months. The M.Sc. thesis position will be paid according to the salary guideline of Aalto University School of Electrical Engineering (2335 €/month). The position will be supported by both Aalto University and the University of Helsinki in a 50/50 split.

For additional information about the position, please contact Professor Quan Zhou ([email protected]), and in recruitment process related questions please contact HR Coordinator Camilla Hanganpää ([email protected]).

Aalto University is where science and art meet technology and business. We shape a sustainable future by making research breakthroughs in and across our disciplines, sparking the game changers of tomorrow and creating novel solutions to major global challenges. Our community is made up of 12 000 students, 400 professors and close to 4 000 other faculty and staff working on our dynamic campus in Espoo, Greater Helsinki, Finland. Diversity is part of who we are, and we actively work to ensure our community’s diversity and inclusiveness. This is why we warmly encourage qualified candidates from all backgrounds to join our community.

The School of Electrical Engineering promotes high-quality science, technology and innovations for the benefit of the Finnish society and all of humankind. In our research environment, the natural sciences, engineering and information technology intertwine to form smart systems and innovations that save energy and promote well-being. With our research, we seek to respond to many challenges posed by sustainable development and the results are applied, for example, in mobile devices, electrical networks, health care and in satellites. The school’s special strength is linking the research with the Finnish and international business sector. We have around 2000 students in total, and around 250 master’s and 50 doctoral degrees annually. Our personnel consists of 700 people with over 70 professors.

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