Olivier Lambercy

The Singapore-ETH Centre, established by ETH Zürich and Singapore’s National Research Foundation, is a leading hub for research on urban sustainability, resilience, and health. This PhD position is part of the Future Health Technologies Programme, focusing on scalable, technology-driven solutions for stroke rehabilitation. The project centers on the RELab tenoexo, a soft robotic hand exoskeleton developed at ETH Zürich, designed to support upper limb rehabilitation for post-stroke subjects both in clinical and home settings. Building on prior clinical trials, the PhD researcher will further develop and evaluate the tenoexo device, aiming to demonstrate its effectiveness as a cost-efficient tool to increase therapy dose and improve upper limb function. Key objectives include optimizing design features, integrating behavioral interventions via a motivational AI chatbot, and conducting clinical validation in collaboration with local hospitals. The research will involve technical design, benchmarking, usability studies, and the extraction of digital biomarkers using advanced sensors. The position offers a unique opportunity to work in a multidisciplinary environment, collaborating with partners at Nanyang Technological University and Tan Tock Seng Hospital. The candidate will contribute to the supervision of master students and technical staff, and disseminate research outcomes at international conferences and in peer-reviewed journals. The workplace is diverse, inclusive, and supportive, with comprehensive healthcare insurance, annual dental benefits, paid leave, and flexible hybrid work arrangements. Applicants should have a MSc in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Biomedical Engineering, or related fields, with experience in robotic technology development, human-robot interaction, and usability evaluation. Strong communication skills, scientific curiosity, and motivation to work with clinicians and post-stroke subjects are essential. Applications must be submitted online, including a cover letter, CV with references, and university transcripts. For further information, contact Prof. Dr. Olivier Lambercy at ETH Zürich. ETH Zürich is renowned for its excellence in science and technology, offering a vibrant international environment and fostering independent thinking and innovation. The Singapore-ETH Centre is committed to equal opportunity, diversity, and sustainability, providing abundant networking opportunities and a positive working environment for all staff and students.

The Singapore-ETH Centre, established by ETH Zürich and Singapore’s National Research Foundation, is a leading hub for research on urban sustainability, resilience, and health. This PhD position is part of the Future Health Technologies (FHT) programme, focusing on scalable solutions for neurorehabilitation, particularly for stroke survivors. The project aims to address the growing demand for long-term rehabilitation by developing a soft robotic hand orthosis and an AI-based digital health intervention to support clinic-to-home rehabilitation. Building on prior work, the project will scale up innovative rehabilitation technologies and conduct extensive clinical evaluations. The PhD researcher will be responsible for designing and developing a digital platform, including an LLM-based conversational agent delivered via a mobile app. This platform will interface with the soft hand exoskeleton, enabling data transfer, real-time feedback, and remote monitoring. The app will be validated through a clinical trial to assess its impact on patient adherence to home-based rehabilitation. Key responsibilities include gathering evidence and stakeholder input to define technical and functional requirements, developing and validating machine learning models for motivation and adherence, app development and integration with rehabilitation hardware, and planning and coordinating clinical studies with local hospitals. The role involves close collaboration with research partners at Nanyang Technological University and Tan Tock Seng Hospital, as well as contributing to supervision of master students and dissemination of research outcomes. Applicants should have a Master’s degree in relevant fields (Computer Science, Software Engineering, Health Sciences and Technology, Information Systems, Informatics), hands-on experience in machine learning, app development (preferably mHealth), proficiency in Python and JavaScript/Typescript, and familiarity with cloud platforms. Prior experience with LLM integration is advantageous. Strong communication skills, motivation for translational research, independence, and scientific curiosity are essential. ETH Zürich offers a diverse and inclusive workplace, comprehensive healthcare insurance, annual dental benefits, 25 days annual leave, 1 day Birthday Leave, flexible hybrid work arrangements, and abundant networking opportunities. The Singapore-ETH Centre is committed to equal opportunity and family-friendly employment practices. To apply, submit your application online via the ETH Zürich portal, including a cover letter, CV with references, and university transcripts. For questions, contact Prof. Dr. Olivier Lambercy at [email protected]. Applications via email or postal services will not be considered. ETH Zürich is renowned for its excellence in science and technology, fostering independent thinking and providing an inspiring environment for over 30,000 people from more than 120 countries. The university is dedicated to sustainability and diversity, working towards a climate-neutral future and promoting equality of opportunity.