Junior Research Assistant (BSc/MSc) in Development and Deployment of Robotic Technologies (2 years) in Zürich

100%, Singapore, temporary

ETH Zurich is one of the leading universities in the world with a strong focus on science and engineering. In 2010, it established the Singapore-ETH Centre (SEC) in collaboration with the National Research Foundation (NRF) to perform interdisciplinary research on pressing problems. 

In collaboration with the Nanyang Technological University (NTU), the National University of Singapore (NUS), Duke - NUS, the National Health Group (NHG), National University Health System (NUHS), and SingHealth, SEC is undertaking a research program on "Future Health Technologies FHT". It addresses pressing health challenges by developing a Connected Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies Concept that tackles the increase in patients suffering from chronic diseases such as stroke, as a consequence of a rapidly ageing population, covering the value chain from acute care to patient's private homes. Within this framework we are announcing the following job opening. The workplace is Singapore. 

The Connected Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies Module (Module 3) will develop enabling technologies that provide minimally supervised high-quality interventions via a “rehab gym” equipped with clinical intelligence. Available technologies will include new robotic devices and brain-computer interfaces that are tailored to the individual patient’s needs, linking unobtrusive technical assessments via multiple sensors with interventions in real or virtual environments.

Module 3 will develop and validate new tools for quantifying short-term and long-term rehabilitation outcomes (i.e. via specifically designed wearables, instrumented objects and automated assessments, which potentially interact with an FHT App) (Project 1), delivering rehabilitation training at all stages of the rehabilitation process and in a minimally supervised manner (i.e. via new therapy modalities using brain-machine interfaces and virtual reality (Project 2) as well as mobile and wearable rehabilitation robotics (Project 3)) and providing assistance in permanently impaired patients (i.e. via new wearable assistive robotics) (Project 4). We will, for the first time, develop and evaluate a technology-supported therapy and assistance concept for the upper extremity which spans across the continuum of care, i.e. extending from application at the bedside, to rehabilitation services provided by community centres and finally to patients’ homes. The collected data from devices across all projects will enable the identification of biomarkers for predicting recovery and treatment response, development of a personalised long-term care concept for stroke patients and estimation of social and economic long-term outcomes (i.e. value estimation).

As a Junior Research Assistant in this Module, you will support the developments and deployment of robotic technology for the upper extremity. You will closely collaborate with our research partners from Nanyang Technological University (NTU), as well as industrial partners at ARTICARES and experts in clinical rehabilitation at Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH).

Your tasks will include:

• Hardware developments and deployment of robotic technology within Module 3
• Coordinate manufacturing; assembly of robotic devices for assessment and therapy
• In-house testing and characterisation
• Technical maintenance in the lab and “in the wild”
• Contribution to all projects, with a stronger focus on Project 3 and 4

Successful candidates have:

• A Diploma/Degree in Mechatronics/Mechanical/Electrical Engineering or related studies.
• Excellent skills in mechanical/electrical design.
• Extensive practical experience with mechatronics systems
• Good knowledge of CAD software (e.g., SOLIDWORKS)
• Experienced in hands-on development and troubleshooting of mechatronic systems
• Strong documentation and English writing and communication skills
• Preferably more than 3 years of working experience

The Singapore-ETH Centre provides a multicultural and interdisciplinary environment to researchers working on diverse themes focussed on sustainable and liveable cities, resilient urban systems, and patient-centric healthcare. The centre is home to a community of over 100 doctoral, postdoctoral and professorial researchers working in three main programmes: Future Cities Laboratory, Future Resilient Systems, and Future Health Technologies.