Master Internship/Thesis Project Topics
2025/2026
If interested by the any of the topics below, please contact by email the co‐supervisor with CC: to Adrian Ionescu
Co‐supervisor: Fabio Bersano
Overview
This project aims to optimize key nanofabrication steps in the production of spin qubit devices in silicon. The student will receive training in our academic cleanroom and will be tasked with fine-tuning the engineering parameters of the fabrication process to enhance device quality. Prerequisites include a thorough understanding of semiconductor physics and a general knowledge of basic microfabrication techniques.
Co‐supervisor: Ali Gilani
Project Overview
Graphene’s exceptional properties, such as high electrical conductivity, large surface area, and atomic-scale thickness, make it ideal for biosensing applications. Functionalizing graphene with aptamers—synthetic oligonucleotides and antibody that selectively bind to cortisol, a critical stress biomarker—enables the development of a sensitive, selective, and scalable sensing platform. This project focuses on optimizing the aptamer functionalization process, characterizing the sensor’s performance, and integrating it into a hardware and software-based sensing system for real-time cortisol monitoring.
Objectives
• Functionalization: Optimize the binding of aptamers to graphene to preserve its electronic properties.
• Characterization: Analyze the graphene-aptamer interaction using Raman spectroscopy, XPS, SPR, QCM, and electrical measurements.
• Integration: Develop and test a complete hardware and software-based system for real-time cortisol sensing.
Methodology
• Conduct advanced characterization techniques (Raman, XPS, SPR, QCM) to validate aptamer functionalization.
• Analyze the electrical response of the graphene sensor to cortisol binding.
• Develop data analysis pipelines and Python-based coding solutions for sensor data interpretation.
• Collaborate on integrating the sensor platform with hardware and software systems for real-time monitoring.
Skills Acquired
Participants will gain expertise in:
• Nanotechnology and material science: Aptamer-functionalized graphene characterization.
• Bioelectronics: Sensing optimization and real-time detection.
• Characterization techniques: Raman, XPS, SPR, and QCM analysis.
• Hardware and software integration: Designing and testing sensing systems.
• Data analysis and Python coding: Developing solutions for sensor data evaluation.
Availability
• 1 Master’s Thesis: Focus on complete system development, from functionalization to integration and testing.
• 2 Semester Projects:
o Project 1: Antidbody functionalization and characterization using Raman, XPS, and QCM.
o Project 2: Electrical performance evaluation and integration of the graphene-based sensor with a hardware and software platform.
Co‐supervisor: Igor Stolichnov
Co‐supervisor: Ali Gilani
Project requirements: basic theoretical knowledge of cleanroom fabrication and biochemistry knowledge
Main tasks: Biosensor characterization
Starting date: As soon as possible
Recommended type of project: Master project or internship.
Work breakdown: 10% theory, 20% fabrication, 70% characterization.
Contact person: Ali Gilani
Co‐supervisor: Vanessa Conti
Overview
VO2 is a phase change material able to pass from an insulating-monocline phase to a conductive-rutile one when reaching a critical carrier concentration, while HfO2 is a commonly used high-k dielectric that exhibits ferroelectricity under particular process conditions (doping, controlled annealing), when crystallizing in an orthorhombic phase. A successful integration of these two materials would help into the development of an efficient way to gate a VO2 transistor, leading to the possibility to realize devices for neuromorphic computing and memory applications.
The aim of this project is to study the structural and electrical properties of Si:HfO2 and VO2 once the former is deposited on top of the latter. Particularly, the student will have the task to study the possibility to anneal the stack using a flash-lamp annealing (FLA) tool, which thanks to its highly localized heat supply should be able to cause a minor number of damages to the underneath VO2 layer with respect to a conventional rapid-thermal process (RTP).
In order to reach the goal, Si:HfO2 and its metallic capping layer will be deposited (ALD, sputtering) on top of an already made VO2 thin film PLD deposited. The stack will be subsequently annealed in different thermal and ambient conditions. Structural characterization of the annealed stack will be done by means of several techniques (SEM, XRD, scanning probe microscopies) and the output will be correlated with the different annealing processes. Subsequently, different set of measurements (ex. CV, PUND, C-AFM, PFM) will be done on the samples with the desired structural properties in order to characterize the ferroelectric properties of the Si:HfO2 and the integrity of the VO2. To fabricate the electrical test structures, the samples will be processed in CMi cleanroom (metal deposition, laser direct writing, etching).
Possibly, different capping layers options could be explored as an alternative to the standard TiN layer.
Expected workload for the student:
- Initial literature review
- Fabrication of the capping layer – ferroelectric – VO2 stack (ALD, sputtering)
- Annealing of the stack (RTP, FLA)
- Structural characterization (mostly SEM, XRD, possibly AFM)
- Fabrication of capacitor structures on the stack (sputtering, MLA, wet etching / IBE)
- Electrical measurements (mostly with a parameter analyzer, possibly C-AFM and PFM)
Expected learning outcome:
- Basic understanding on the design of an experiment procedure
- How to interpret and communicate the data
- Microfabrication skills in a real cleanroom environment
- Structural and electrical characterization experience
- General knowledge on ferroelectric and phase change materials
Requirements:
- Background in electrical engineering, material science, physics et similar
- General knowledge about semiconductor physics and devices, characterization methods
- Basic understanding of microfabrication processes
- Python/MATLAB/… for data analysis
Starting date: Spring 2024
Recommended type of project: Master Thesis Project
Contact person: Vanessa Conti
Co-supervisor: Zahra Saadat
Vanadium dioxide (VO₂) exhibits a reversible metal–insulator transition (MIT) near 340 K that is exceptionally sensitive to lattice strain, making it a compelling material for next-generation sensing technologies. Our recent work demonstrates that VO₂ can achieve an outstanding gauge factor of up to 534 at strain levels below 0.1%, significantly outperforming conventional silicon-based sensors (gauge factor ≈ 120).
- Fine-tune microfabrication process parameters for VO₂ MEMS structures
- Analyzing and reporting results clearly and effectively
- Understanding the resonance frequency dependence on the strain field distribution
- Basic knowledge of MEMS and microfabrication
- Familiarity with cleanroom processes (EPFL- CMI access is a plus)
- Skills in documenting experimental processes, analyzing results, and presenting findings clearly and concisely
Co-supervisor: Damien Maillard
Why this project matters
The goal is to better understand and improve the detection mechanisms of non-faradaic EIS biosensors, bridging the gap between laboratory prototypes and practical, deployable systems.
You will combine theory, microfabrication, and experimental validation to uncover how these sensors truly work—and how to make them more reliable and sensitive.
What you will do
This is a hands-on, multidisciplinary project with a strong experimental component:
- Explore the field (~10%)
- Conduct a targeted literature review on non-faradaic EIS biosensing and identify current limitations and opportunities.
- Model the physics (~10%)
- Develop and refine electrical equivalent circuit models to describe the sensing mechanisms
- Design & fabricate devices (~40%)
- Iteratively design and microfabricate electrode structures in cleanroom.
- Test & validate (~30%)
- Perform measurements with different proteins to validate your models and quantify sensor performance.
- Communicate your work (~10%)
- Document your results and present your findings clearly
Who we are looking for
Motivation and curiosity are key, but here are some specifics.
Required:
- Basic programming skills (Python or similar)
- Ability to work independently and take initiative
Nice to have:
- Experience with microfabrication (e.g., cleanroom / CMi tools)
- Basic knowledge of electrochemistry or biosensing
- Laboratory experience (chemistry or biochemistry)
Co-supervisor: Yann Zosso, Damien Maillard, Johan Longo, Prof. Adrian Ionescu
Project Overview
- Design and optimize a novel bioreceptor immobilization strategy on Au sensor surfaces
- Develop surface chemistries for controlled bioreceptor immobilization
- Characterize the recognition layer and quantify protein binding performance
- Benchmark sensor sensitivity, selectivity, and reproducibility against relevant protein targets
Methodology
- Produce and validate custom bioreceptors through biochemical processing and purification
- Functionalize Au surfaces using thiol-based SAM chemistry with optimized antifouling strategies
- Characterize each functionalization step using XPS, Raman spectroscopy, QCM, SPR, and electrochemical methods
- Evaluate sensing performance in buffer and biologically relevant matrices
Required Skills
- Strong motivation and interest in the development of electrochemical biosensors.
- Theoretical knowledge of surface chemistry and biochemistry (i.e., Protein and antibody chemistry, purification, and binding assays)
- Good problem-solving skills and an ability to work independently within an interdisciplinary team environment.
Nice-to-have Skills
- Characterization Experience: SPR, QCM, XPS, Raman spectroscopy, BCA assays
- Familiarity with Electrochemical Methods (CV, EIS etc…)
This project is primarily addressed to SV students, but is open to Materials Science and Engineering, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, and Molecular and Biological Chemistry students with a strong interest in biochemistry and surface chemistry.
Contact: [email protected]