Student Projects
You are interested in a master or a student project? Great! Below you will find some general research topics of our group with potential projects to work on. You can also check our Research and Methods section to learn more about our ongoing projects and the respective techniques applied. If you want to know more please reach out to us. We look forward hearing from you!
Method development for cryo-EM
Cryo-EM is a mature and powerful method that is amazingly productive. Nevertheless, it has its limitations, if the samples are too small, or if the samples are too flexible. If the atomic structure of such particles should still be determined, more contrast in cryo-EM would be needed. The projects below aim at increasing contrast in cryo-EM of single particle proteins.
4D STEM (Ptychography)+-
In this project, the master student will participate in the development of an automated toolchain for high-throughput data collection via ptychography, using a prototype cryo-EM instrument that is tailored to this task. Ptychography is a method, in which a focussed electron beam is stepped over the sample in a 2D raster, while 2D electron diffraction patterns are recorded with a very-high-speed camera. This method is therefore also called 4D STEM (4D = 2D + 2D).
Method development is required at various parts in the development of this novel workflow for life sciences cryo-EM. Involved disciplines are electron optics, instrument automation, hardware remote control, high-volume / high-speed data processing, deep learning, computer algorithms (matlab, python).
Microfluidics of cryo-EM sample preparation+-
In this project, the prototype CryoWriter that is installed in our lab, will be adapted and specialized towards becoming able to target individual locations in tissue slices and extract fibrillar samples from those locations for subsequent cryo-EM investigations. The CryoWriter is a microfluidic device that is developed and produced by the CryoWrite AG.
This technology is based on developments in our former lab at the University of Basel, done by the Group of Thomas Braun.
Our lab purchased the first prototype of the commercially available CryoWriter, which will be the basis of this research project. Involved disciplines are microfluidics, mechanical engineering, 3D printing, python programming.
Contact+-
Henning Stahlberg
Office: BSP 421
henning.stahlberg(at)epfl.ch
phone +41 21 693 45 07
Structural studies on human brain and skin
In these projects, the master student would prepare chemically fixed human brain tissue for high-resolution imaging with electron microscopy. For this, a continuous workflow from tissue sectioning, fluorescent and heavy metal staining, resin embedding, and serial sectioning with ultramicrotomy is needed. You will collect light and fluorescent microscopy images and high-resolution electron microscopy images to assess the ultrastructure of different types of inclusions. We work on different disease types, outlined below.
Ultrastructural determination of alpha-synuclein deposits in human skin from Parkinson's disease+-
Parkinson’s disease is the second-most common neurodegenerative disorder. Its main pathological hallmarks are Lewy bodies and alpha-synuclein inclusions in the brain and peripheral tissues (skin, gut, salivary glands) of affected patients. Interestingly, peripheral tissues are easily accessible and believed to play a crucial role in Parkinson’s disease, especially in its early stages. In this project, we aim to gain high-resolution morphological and biochemical insights into alpha-synuclein deposits in the skin from Parkinson’s disease donors.
Contact+-
Marta di Fabrizio
Office: BSP407
marta.difabrizio(at)epfl.ch
Amanda Lewis
Office: BSP419
amanda.lewis(at)epfl.ch
phone +41 21 693 88 78