VVZ API is not affiliated with ETH Zurich. Data might be outdated or incorrect. Please view the official ETHZ Vorlesungsverzeichnis for binding information.

227-0981-00L 4 Credits MSC D-HEST , D-MAVT , D-PHYS , D-ITET
You're viewing possible stale or outdated data. Please check the latest semester for more up-to-date information.

Cross-Disciplinary Research and Development in Medicine and Engineering

Lecturers & Examiners: Prof. Dr. Vartan Kurtcuoglu, 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. IMPORTANT: Note that a special permission from the lecturers is required to register for this course. Contact the head lecturer to that end.
VVZ CR 2.8

Last Updated: 2026-06-01 11:30:43

Abstract

Cross-disciplinary collaboration between engineers and medical doctors is indispensable for innovation in health care. This course brings 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 most evident during actual collaborative work, the course is based on a project in physiology, medical or clinical research that combines medicine and engineering. For the engineering students, the specific aims of the course are to: - Identify and precisely define a clinical need; - Acquire a working understanding 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 solution concept to a cross-disciplinary audience; Preliminary need and solution validation;

Content

After a general introduction to interdisciplinary communication, need identification and product development, the engineering students will team up with medical students to 1) identify a clinically relevant need, 2) develop early-stage solution concepts to it. 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 project is usually defined by the team itself, but can also be guided by the lecturers. The course will end with each team presenting identified need and solution concept to a cross-disciplinary audience.

Resources

Lecture Notes

Lecture handouts and relevant material 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 Tuesday, September 23rd, 2025 - end on Tuesday, December 9th, 2025
  • 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