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227-0981-00L 4 Credits MSC D-HEST , D-MAVT , D-PHYS , D-ITET
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Cross-Disciplinary Research and Development in Medicine and Engineering

Lecturers & Examiners: Prof. Dr. Vartan Kurtcuoglu, Dr. Marianne Schmid Daners, Prof. Dr. Mirko Meboldt, Prof. Dr. Oliver Ullrich, Diane de Julien de Zelicourt
A maximum of 12 medical degree students and 12 (biomedical) engineering degree students can be admitted, their number should be equal.
VVZ CR 2.8

Last Updated: 2026-02-05 15:35:58

Abstract

Cross-disciplinary collaboration between engineers and medical doctors is indispensable for innovation in health care. This course will bring together engineering students from ETH Zurich and medical students from the University of Zurich to experience the rewards and challenges of such interdisciplinary work in a project based learning environment.

Objective

The main goal of this course is to demonstrate the differences in communication between the fields of medicine and engineering. Since such differences become the most evident during actual collaborative work, the course is based on a current project in physiology research that combines medicine and engineering. For the engineering students, the specific aims of the course are to: - Acquire a working understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the investigated system; - Identify the engineering challenges in the project and communicate them to the medical students; - Develop and implement, together with the medical students, solution strategies for the identified challenges; - Present the found solutions to a cross-disciplinary audience.

Content

After a general introduction to interdisciplinary communication and detailed background on the collaborative project, the engineering students will team up with medical students to find solutions to a biomedical challenge. In the process, they will be supervised both by lecturers from ETH Zurich and the University of Zurich, receiving coaching customized to the project. The course will end with each team presenting their solution to a cross-disciplinary audience.

Resources

Lecture Notes

Handouts and relevant literature will be provided.

General Information

Language
English
Levels
MSC
Frequency
Yearly recurring

Examination

Type
graded semester performance

Registration & Places

Max Places
12

Course Components

Type Title Time & Place Hours
lecture Cross-Disciplinary Research and Development in Medicine and Engineering
Permission from lecturers required for all students. **together with University of Zurich** In order to synchronize the schedule between ETH and UZH students, the course will start on 22.09.2020. The final lecture will be on 01.12.2020.
  • Tue 10:15-12:00 (HG E 41)
2 h weekly
independent project Cross-Disciplinary Research and Development in Medicine and Engineering
Permission from lecturers required for all students. **together with University of Zurich** 2 hours of group work to be scheduled independently by the joint teams of medical and engineering students.
No time listed 2 h weekly

Offered In