Student project at imec (Thesis)

What will you be doing?

Bioimpedance is a versatile non-invasive sensing technique that allows monitoring of electrical properties of human tissues. It typically uses 4 electrodes, of which 2 are used for an alternating current injection and the other two are used to measure the resulting potential. Changes in the measured human tissues, such as fluid accumulation in the lungs, change the electrical properties of the tissue. It has been shown that with local measurements such changes can be detected.

Bioimpedance measures an aggregate of tissues, i.e., it measures a combination of tissue underlying the electrode positions. For example, in the example of local measurements on the thorax, the measured bioimpedance can contain contributions of skin, adipose tissue, lungs and heart.

This project aims to develop methodology to be able to acquire targeted localized bioimpedance. Using this methodology, the measurement will no longer contain an aggregate of tissues, but will be able to specifically target a region of interest in the human body.

To achieve this goal the student will perform a literature review, design and perform simulations (e.g., in COMSOL), and write a report and present the results.

Student tasks:

• Literature review.

• Develop a finite element model.

• Design and perform simulations.

• Analysis of the simulation results.

• Report and documentation, depending on results write a paper.

What we do for you

You will be working on cutting-edge research on a topic that is very relevant to both academic and industrial research groups. To help you in this journey, we offer a flexible environment where you can be the leader of your own research while at the same time have support of a team of multidisciplinary experts to complete your tasks.

IMEC has in-house experts in bioimpedance and computational techniques who can help you in shaping this multi-disciplinary research project.

Who you are

• You are a Msc student in Physics or Electronics Engineering.

• You are available for a period of 9 months.

• You have knowledge of finite element simulations through course and/or project work.

• You are interested in physiology.

• You are entitled to do an internship in the Netherlands.

• You are self-starter and able to work independently.

• Good written and verbal English skills.

Interested

Click on 'apply' to submit your application. You will then be redirected to e-recruiting.