Student project: Investigation of Charge Balancing Methods in Bidirectional Neural Interfaces

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

Explore latest imec's technology and state-of-the-art solutions in architecting a safe neuromodulation system for high-precision peripheral nerve stimulation implants. 

What you will do

At imec, we have developed an advanced neuromodulation technology capable of delivering electrical stimulation to neural tissue while simultaneously recording the resulting neural responses. Built around imec’s latest neuromodulation ASIC technology, we are exploring development of (external) benchtop platform for preclinical research as well as implantable, bidirectional neural interface that enables neuroscientists to investigate novel stimulation and recording paradigms in vivo.

Imec’s custom stimulation ASIC incorporates both active and passive charge-balancing mechanisms to enhance safety and robustness under single-fault conditions. However, advanced solutions are required from the system perspective to provide robust protection against all potential sources of unintended DC current arising from component failures, imperfections, and their interactions with biological tissue.

This project focuses on investigating design methodologies and architectural optimization strategies for the development of a single-fault-tolerant neuromodulation implant. Existing imec technologies, together with selected off-the-shelf solutions, will be evaluated and integrated into dedicated safety hardware blocks. Combined with the latest neuromodulation ASIC and benchtop platform architecture, these elements will serve as the foundation for the proposed system.
The project will encompass system architecture design and validation, PCB design, and embedded firmware development. The resulting prototype will be functionally evaluated through both in vitro and in vivo experiments to verify its safety, performance, and fault tolerance.

Student tasks will include:

• Literature review.
• Get acquainted with the available stimulation and recording system.
• Get acquainted with the current in-vivo experimental setup.
• Design and create a prototype neuromodulation system and perform electrical testing/verification.
• Prepare experimental design, including setup and protocol preparation.
• Design and perform experimental evaluations both in vitro and in vivo to verify the system's safety, performance, and fault tolerance.
• Prepare reports/documentation and, depending on results, write a paper. 

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 background 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

• Excellent MSc student in Electrical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering or equivalent.
• You are entitled to do an internship in The Netherlands (have EU nationality and/or currently study at Dutch University).
• Available for 9 months or longer.
• Have good experience in electronic system design and evaluation (e.g., PCB design in Altium).
• Have experience in performing circuit simulations using a commercial package (e.g., LTSpice and Tina TI)
• Have experience with lab instrumentation (e.g., signal generators, oscilloscopes).
• Experience in signal processing, especially processing of bio-signals, is a plus.
• Eager to take ownership for your student project.
• Have a structured way of working.
• Have 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.