Job title

*Important for non-EU students: You'll need to be registered at a Dutch university to meet immigration requirements.

The peripheral nervous system (PNS) connects the central nervous system (CNS) to organs, muscles, and skin, enabling bi-directional communication that influences overall body function. There is growing interest in peripheral nerve stimulation as an alternative or complement to medication for conditions like epilepsy, pain, depression, and chronic inflammatory diseases. A key challenge in PNS is stimulation selectivity and precise control of fiber activation.
At imec, we have developed novel stimulation methods and systems to achieve precise spatio-temporal control of fiber activation which have been validated in acute pre-clinical studies. The goal of this project is to explore the effects of these new stimulation paradigms during non-invasive electrical stimulation in human subjects towards sensory-motor control.

What you will do

The project involves experimental work and optionally computational work. The student will:

• Review relevant literature and become familiar with standard as well as novel neuromodulation paradigms with a focus on the peripheral nervous system.
• Prepare and execute internal small-scale human clinical studies. This includes but is not limited to: setup and protocol development, stimulation parameter exploration and optimization and evaluation of stimulation effects.
• Analyse signal responses (EMG) and compare different stimulation protocols.
• Document findings and, depending on results, contribute to scientific publications.
• (Optional) Explore the safety of internally-developed systems for human studies.
• (Optional) Design and conduct computer simulations to optimize stimulation strategies and implement/test closed-loop frameworks.

What we do for you

• You will be working on state-of-the-art technology and tools for stimulation of peripheral nerves that can be deployed to improve efficacy of neuromodulation treatments in the healthcare domain.
• You will be working in an inspiring high-tech environment, located within the Holst Centre in Eindhoven, and part of the larger IMEC organization, world-leader in R&D on nanotechnology and electronics.
• You will receive support from experienced researchers having diverse backgrounds relevant for the execution of the project.
• You will be a member of our multi-disciplinary team of researchers, engineers and innovators, and will be offered an opportunity to contribute to our ambitious aims in making real impact on actual healthcare needs.

Who you are

Experimental Expertise

• Strong background in processing bio-signals, including neural activity. EMG and evoked compound action potentials (eCAPs).
• Ability to interpret neural responses
• Strong programming skills in Python and/or Matlab.
• Skilled in using lab instrumentation (e.g., signal generators, oscilloscopes).
• Familiarity with experimental setup and protocol preparation for neuromodulation studies is a plus.
• Experience in designing, preparing, and executing experiments with human subjects as well as animal models is a plus
• Ability to deploy and evaluate closed-loop control paradigms in live settings is a plus.
• Experience with electronic system design and evaluation (e.g., PCB design) is a plus.

Additionally, the following expertise is considered a plus:

• Experience with FEM platforms such as COMSOL or neural simulation frameworks such as Neuron is a plus.

General Qualifications

• Excellent MSc student in Biomedical Engineering, Neuroscience, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or equivalent.
• Entitled to do an internship in The Netherlands (EU nationality and/or currently studying at a Dutch university).
• Available for 9 months or longer.
• Eager to take ownership of the project, with a structured and independent working style.
• Good command of spoken and written English.

Interested

Does this position sound like an interesting next step in your career at imec? Don’t hesitate to submit your application by clicking on ‘APPLY’.
Should you have more questions about the job, you can contact jobs@imec.nl.