Institute of Energy and Process EngineeringOpen OpportunitiesFor a carbon-neutral energy system, it is key to achieve a high electrification of heat and transport and, at the same time, a high increase in energy supply from photovoltaics. However, energy supply and demand have to match every minute, and for example, photovoltaic power does not produce energy in the hours when power for heat pumps is in the most demand.
As a result, flexible power supply technologies like gas turbines have gained attention as a potential solution to balance energy demand (or to be used in case of emergency) [1]. In the first case, a carbon capture process is necessary to fit the definition of “net-zero” if natural gas is used. Alternatively, other promising fuels are emerging to reduce environmental impacts while phasing out other fossil fuels e.g. green ammonia and green hydrogen. Furthermore, the recent energy crisis boosted research on multi-fuel turbines [2], including bio-fuels [3].
While literature already investigated different multi-fuel gas turbines from a techno-economic perspective, a comparative prospective environmental assessment remains untapped.
- Engineering and Technology
- Master Thesis
| Conventional pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products (e.g., sport supplements) provide limited control over the release of bioactive ingredients (AIs) and poor absorption and bioavailability. To grant a proper therapeutic effect and athletic performance, common products need frequent intake at high dosages. This scenario is associated with an increased risk of short and long-term complications that can affect the performance of athletes as well as compromise the health long-term. Recently, novel techniques (e.g., 3D printing) and biomaterial formulation have become available for personalized sport supplements. The high versatility, flexibility, and increase absorption resulting from such products, open the way for increasing performance in sport but also for health benefits to generic people by target physiological characteristics and needs of specific groups. - Biomedical Engineering, Biotechnology, Chemical Engineering, Human Movement and Sports Science, Industrial Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Macromolecular Chemistry, Manufacturing Engineering, Materials Engineering, Medical Biochemistry and Clinical Chemistry, Medical Physiology, Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Internship, Lab Practice, Master Thesis, Semester Project
| In 2021, solar and wind power for the first time provided more than 10% of the world’s electricity [1]. This makes wind a major and strategic part of the mix to achieve the energy transition and a green economy. Despite broad public support for renewables in general, challenges in social acceptance for wind continue to occur regionally and locally. The opposition usually focuses on aspects such as wildlife safety, biodiversi-ty protection, noise, visibility and landscape impacts, and loss in property values [2, 3]. For the effective implementation of wind farms, it is crucial to understand and address these varying facets of social accept-ability. This study aims to assess the perspectives of residents living near wind farms across different Euro-pean regions, employing Multicriteria Satisfaction Analysis (MUSA) [4]. The objective is to devise region-specific strategies to enhance the acceptability of wind energy projects. Additionally, this research will ex-plore the relationship between socio-demographic and geographical characteristics of the residents and their acceptance of wind power, aiming to uncover underlying factors influencing the social acceptability of wind energy. - Engineering and Technology
- Master Thesis
| Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is one of the most widespread nutritional deficiencies worldwide, increasing the risk for disability and death for more than two billion people. Iron supplements are needed for prevention of iron deficiency, especially among infants, children and pregnant women, and for correction of IDA in all affected individuals. Conventional iron supplements, commonly cause nausea, epigastric discomfort and other gastrointestinal side effects that lead many individuals to discontinue and avoid their use.
In this project, gastric resident systems (GDSs) will be produced using advanced manufacturing approaches (e.g., 3D printing) and the resulting release kinetic of the bioactive compounds will be characterized. Based on the results, different GDSs 3D design, formulations, and combination of active compounds will be tested. - Biology, Chemistry, Engineering and Technology, Medical and Health Sciences
- Master Thesis, Semester Project
| In the past few years, there has been significant progress in developing 3D in vitro cancer models. These models serve as a link between 2D cell culture models and in vivo xenograft mouse models, which are considered the gold standard in cancer research and preclinical drug assessment. Various 3D methods have been explored, and among them, spheroids have shown great potential as an alternative to traditional methods. These are often used in a scaffold-free context lacking the physical environment and interactions present in vivo. Therefore, scaffold-based approaches have gained more attention due to their ability to mimic the tumor microenvironment (TME), which is a crucial factor in tumor behavior. By providing a scaffold that mimics the TME, we can gain a better understanding of the influence of TME on tumor spheroid behavior and drug response.
This project aims to establish a 3D scaffold-based spheroid tumor model that mimics the behavior of human squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) at varying degrees of aggressiveness. The model will be designed to replicate the tumor and its microenvironment using a molecular and biophysical defined system. The ultimate objective is to create optimized models that have a physiological similarity to human SCC, which can enhance overall knowledge and increase the predictive value, enabling preclinical-to-clinical translation. By doing this, we hope to provide a 3D in vitro model that can reduce and potentially replace the use of animal models as whenever possible. - Biology, Biomedical Engineering, Medical and Health Sciences
- Internship, Master Thesis
| To limit climate change and global warming to below 2°C; substantial emission reductions will be needed
to reach net-zero anthropogenic CO2 emissions by 2050 at the latest. Carbon capture and storage (CCS)
will be a key instrument for mitigating hard-to-abate point-source emissions. Another environmental
challenge of this century is the large amounts of waste materials produced by industry, which are often
landfilled or used for low-value applications and have a detrimental environmental impact due to the
leaching of heavy metals. For industrial waste management and small-scale CCS, a solution is offered
by ex-situ mineral carbonation: an accelerated form of natural rock weathering, i.e., the formation of
stable carbonates by the reaction of CO2 with naturally occurring oxides or silicates of magnesium, iron,
and calcium. Many industrial residues have been studied for mineralization, including iron and steel-making
slags, fuel combustion ashes, mine tailings, alkaline paper mill wastes, cement kiln dusts, and recycled
concrete aggregates. Mineralization of these industrial residues has the potential to permanently
store up to 360 Mt of CO2 per year in the form of carbonated minerals and generates value through the
use of the resulting products. One mineralisation pathway involves using a solvent, aqueous ammonium salts,
to accelerate the process. However, for economical and environmental reasons, the solvent must be recycled
multiple times. This aspect is often forgotten or not investigated in the literature. A novel experimental setup has
been developed to perform multiple cycle experiments, and this setup will be used to assess the process
stability and performance over multiple recycling cycles of the solvent. - Environmental Technologies, Mechanical Engineering, Membrane and Separation Technologies
- ETH Zurich (ETHZ), Master Thesis
| See attached pdf - Economics, Engineering and Technology, Mathematical Sciences, Policy and Political Science
- Bachelor Thesis, Master Thesis
| The study of small-molecule supramolecular hydrogelators (SMSHs) is of great interest, both fundamental and applicative. Their self-assembly most often leads to the formation of fibrillar structure and can be used as a model for the fibrillation of biologically-relevant entities, also their ability to form gels with tunable mechanical properties suggest many promising materials-related applications. In this context, aminoacid-based SMSHs (AA-SMSHs) have a special relevance because of opportunities offered e.g. in terms of biocompatibility and biomimetics, as well as in terms of variety of molecular design possibilities. Usually, the sol-gel behavior of AA-SMSHs is pH-dependent thanks to the presence of one or more pH-responsive groups, especially carboxylic acid –COOH ones. For these reasons, pH-responsive SMSHs (aminoacid-based and non) have been and still are the subject of intense investigation. Nevertheless, their behavior is far from being completely understood. - Biological and Medical Chemistry, Biomaterials, Materials Engineering, Physical Chemistry of Macromolecules, Supramolecular Chemistry
- Bachelor Thesis, Internship, Master Thesis, Semester Project
| Are you interested in designing novel hydrogel materials? We have a project available that focuses on formulating high-performance hydrogels for load-bearing applications. - Chemistry, Engineering and Technology
- Bachelor Thesis, Master Thesis, Semester Project
| The premise Python library is a comprehensive tool designed for the integration and analysis of emerging tech-nologies (e.g., battery electric vehicles, synthetic fuels) using “futurized” life-cycle inventories (LCIs). The library is now used by hundreds of researchers. As part of our commitment to accuracy, transparency, and usability, we are seeking a Master's student with a passion for sustainability, environmental science, or a related field, to assist in the enhancement of our documentation, the refinement of life-cycle inventory descriptions, and the rig-orous quality assurance of our datasets. This internship presents an opportunity to contribute to a vital resource used by researchers and professionals worldwide to make informed decisions on sustainability - Engineering and Technology
- Internship
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