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Cross-Disciplinary Research and Development in Medicine and Engineering
Last Updated: 2026-06-03 00:07:31
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
Does not take place this semester.
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 [WOCHENTAG] [DATUM]
- end on [WOCHENTAG] [DATUM]
|
No time listed | 2 h weekly |
| independent project |
Cross-Disciplinary Research and Development in Medicine and Engineering
Does not take place this semester.
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
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Recommended Elective Courses (These courses are particularly recommended for the Bioelectronics track. Please consult your track advisor if you wish to select other subjects.)
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Recommended Elective Courses (These courses are particularly recommended for the Molecular Bioengineering track. Please consult your track advisor if you wish to select other subjects.)
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