Postdoctoral Researcher in the Development of Digital Tools for the Assessment of Cognitive Status in Zürich

ETH Zurich is one of the leading universities in the world, with a strong focus on Science and Engineering. In 2010, ETH established the Singapore-ETH Centre (SEC) in collaboration with Singapore's National Research Foundation (NRF) to conduct interdisciplinary research on pressing challenges relating to cities, systems and health.

In collaboration with the National University of Singapore (NUS), the Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Duke - NUS, the National Health Group (NHG), National University Health System (NUHS), and SingHealth, SEC is now undertaking a research programme on "Future Health Technologies (FHT)". The prorgam addressess immanent health challenges by developing a future-oriented Mobile Digital Health Concept that tackles the increase in patients suffering from chronic diseases such as dementia, diabetes, osteoporosis, obesity, and stroke as a consequence of a rapidly ageing population.

The prevalence of cognitive impairment in the ageing population presents a significant health challenge. It is estimated that 80,000 Singaporeans above the age of 65 will likely suffer from dementia by 2050. Individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and dementia often experience a reduction in cognitive functions (e.g., attention, language and memory) and suffer from impaired spatial and navigational abilities. Despite recent advancements in pharmacological interventions for dementia, there remains a compelling need for innovative digital  tools that can integrate various cognitive domains interactively to provide a nuanced understanding of an individual's cognitive status. Indeed, the development of these tools may help to overcome some of the existing limitations with the low diagnostic accuracy in current paper and pencil screening tools, as well as the high costs and invasive nature of imaging and fluid biomarkers.

This project leverages advances in virtual and immersive reality technology using phones and tablets to develop a comprehensive and user-friendly battery of tests for the assessment of cognitive status.Together, these tests will form part of a novel app to assist in the detection and managment of cognitive impairment.

The postdoctoral researcher will be embedded into a team of multidisciplinary researchers (e.g., psychologists, neuroscientists, computer scientists, biomedical scientist) already working on the fist generation of the app and will be tasked with spearheading the next phase of development. As a postdoctoral researcher, you will be responsible for:

• Developing an in-depth knowledge of the state of the art of digital assessment tools for dementia.
• Assisting the team in fine-tunning the first generation of the app.
• Leading the development of the new app using virtual and immersive reality mobile technology by designing and prototyping a battery of interactive tests that capture diverse cognitive functions.
• Developing methods for the automatic processing, visualisation, and analysis of large datasets.
• Assisting in the daily management of the Assessment of the Cognitive Ability project within the FHT program, including e.g. the co-supervision of PhD, MSc and BSc students, writing funding applications, preparing progress reports and general dissemination of the project results.

Candidates are required to have a PhD in computer science or a related field. Experience in app/game development with virtual reality applications (e.g., Unity and Unreal Engine) and deployment in app stores are considered essential for the position. Experience in developing apps and games tailored for senior audiences will be highly valued. Candidates should possess strong communication skills in English, both written and verbal, and be enthusiastic about collaborating within a diverse, international team setting. This is a contractual position for two years with potential extension.