PhD Positions in Neurotechnology: Next Generation Non-invasive Neurotechnologies & Brain Therapies ETH Zürich in Switzerland

The Neurotechnology Group of Prof. Mehmet Fatih Yanik at ETH Zurich is recruiting outstanding PhD students for a newly funded LOOP Zurich Flagship Project focused on bringing a breakthrough non-invasive targeted drug delivery technology for the brain closer to clinical use.

The project centers on focused ultrasound-mediated delivery platforms that can localize therapeutic compounds to specific brain regions without invasive surgery. The group’s recent work, published in Nature Communications, forms the basis for an integrated precision drug delivery approach that combines focused ultrasound, ultrasound-responsive micro/nano carriers, adaptive closed-loop control, and real-time sensing to achieve high local drug concentrations while minimizing systemic exposure and preserving blood-brain barrier integrity.

The PhD project is highly interdisciplinary and aims to advance the technology from proof-of-concept toward clinical translation. Research directions may include next-generation focused ultrasound system development, fMRI-guided targeting, optimization of targeted drug delivery and dosing, closed-loop ultrasound neuromodulation, custom hardware and software design, electrophysiology, multimodal neurophysiology, and rodent or large-animal neuroscience experiments. The work also includes collaboration with clinicians to prepare first-in-human clinical studies and may involve medical device development and regulatory considerations.

The project sits at the interface of neuroscience, biomedical engineering, physics, electrical engineering, medical imaging, robotics, and translational medicine. It is conducted in close collaboration with Swiss Epilepsy Clinic Lengg, the Department of Neurosurgery at University Hospital Zurich, and the Vetsuisse Faculty of the University of Zurich.

Applicants should have a Master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Neuroscience, Computer Science, Chemistry, or a related field. The ideal profile includes an excellent academic record, strong quantitative and analytical ability, laboratory experience, programming skills, and a strong interest in novel biomedical technologies and translational neuroscience. Experience with focused ultrasound, fMRI, electrophysiology, medical imaging, robotics, drug delivery, or biomedical instrumentation is an advantage. Candidates must be willing to participate in animal experiments.

The successful candidate will join one of Europe’s leading neurotechnology environments at ETH Zurich, with access to high-field 7 Tesla MRI, microscopy, electrophysiology, brain-machine interfaces, prototyping workshops, microfabrication, chemical synthesis, cell culture, and small- and large-animal facilities. The student will be enrolled in the Department of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering (D-ITET), the Institute of Neuroinformatics, and the Neuroscience Center Zurich PhD Program.

Applications should be submitted online as a single PDF including a cover letter, CV, transcripts, degree certificates, publications if applicable, and contact details for at least two academic referees. The preferred start date is September 2026, with earlier or later starts possible for exceptional candidates. Questions about the position should be sent to [email protected].