Design and implementation of dissolvable elastic electrodes for stable neuronal activity recording

Vision and Future Application
In our group, we can fabricate penetrating electrode arrays with low impedances on thin, and flexible substrates. These electrode arrays allow us to record local field potentials and putative spikes from deep structures of the brain. The big challenge of working with this flexible electrode is reproducible implantation process. Currently, we would like to improve the quality of implantation process to maximize the success rate of the long-term neuronal recording.

To work on this goals, we can build the flexible electrodes and wireless recording infrastructure for continuous recording for a long period. By this approach, we are aiming to have a unique dataset where we will have recorded the electrical activities of populations of neurons in the form of local field potentials and spikes in different areas of the brain. As a result of this added information, the possibility of a more quantitative analysis of the data.
Project Description
The successful candidate can work on exciting new materials and fabrication process. Depending on the interests and motivation of the student, they can work on either one or both of the following aspects of the project: (1) Fabrication and assembly of elastic electrode arrays using different polymers and doing the further optimizations in hardware for facilitating electrophysiology recordings; (2) Fabricating electrochemically dissolvable electrodes in collaboration with other group on campus.
Type of Work & Requirements
Background in physical sciences or engineering is recommended; any background and strong interest for in polymer sciences, hydrogels and/or vivo electrophysiology is bonus. Experience with Python would be very helpful for data analysis and simulations.
The student will have the opportunity to work in a cleanroom environment for microfabrication in case of a master thesis. For semester projects, this is not possible due to logistical reasons.