The Biomedical Data Science (BMDS) Lab investigates data-driven solutions for healthcare applications with a focus on neurological conditions such as spinal cord injury (SCI), lower back pain, neuro-degenerative disorders and neurological tumors. At the core of our research is the collaboration across disciplines spanning expertise in medicine, biology, computer and data science. We are seeking a research assistant to join this growing team and contribute to current research studies. The anticipated start date is August 1, 2026.
Low back pain (LBP) is amongst the leading causes of disability worldwide and its effective treatment is challenging. Lumbar steroid injections are a common therapy for LBP, irrespective of the underlying cause. However, its effectiveness shows high variability across patients. There is a need for a more personalized approach to the treatment of LBP with injection therapy. Personalized approaches require a comprehensive understanding of the patient’s health status beyond static information from clinical consultation. In recent years, mobile health and wearable technologies have presented a framework to assess objective and subjective measures continuously in a patient’s natural environment. In this research project, we set out to develop a patient-centered smartphone application for remote patient monitoring of patients with LBP to predict their individual treatment outcome after injection therapy. We are currently conducting a usability and feasibility study to test the application in a real-world scenario and ensure its functionality. We will then conduct an observational study and collect data to predict injection treatment outcome using machine learning methods with the goal to include these models as a personalized prediction tool in the smartphone application.
- Data Collection: Conduct data acquisition for ongoing research studies on low back pain
- Data Management: Enter, organize, and clean datasets to ensure accuracy and high data quality
- Participant Recruitment: Support the project lead in recruiting and enrolling study participants
- Administrative Coordination: Schedule study appointments and assist with coordinating team activities and responsibilities
- Research Collaboration: Work closely with the PhD researcher to support all aspects of the project
- You hold a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Neuroscience, Psychology, Health Sciences, or a related field
- You have prior experience working in research settings and are familiar with standard study procedures
- You are highly organized, dependable, and able to manage multiple tasks efficiently
- You are motivated to contribute to a collaborative and interdisciplinary research environment and are committed to scientific excellence
- You are fluent in German (written and spoken) and confident communicating in English
We offer a 1-year project-based contract at the BMDS Lab (80% - 100% workload).
- A stimulating, collaborative environment in a multidisciplinary team at ETH Zurich and Schulthess Klinik, combining academic and clinical perspectives
- Support ongoing studies on low back pain with direct relevance to patient care and clinical practice
- Gain hands-on experience in research processes, including data collection, data management, and study coordination
- Develop insights into how research is conducted in close collaboration with a leading specialized clinic
- Become part of a motivated, supportive, and collaborative team environment
- Learn from experienced researchers and clinicians while contributing to an active research project
In line with our values, ETH Zurich encourages an inclusive culture. We promote equality of opportunity, value diversity and nurture a working and learning environment in which the rights and dignity of all our staff and students are respected. Visit our Equal Opportunities and Diversity website to find out how we ensure a fair and open environment that allows everyone to grow and flourish. Sustainability is a core value for us – we are consistently working towards a climate-neutral future.
We look forward to receiving your online application with the following documents:
- Curriculum Vitae (CV): outlining your educational background and previous positions
- Short video task (approx. 1 minute): Please record a brief video in which you describe one of your recent research experiences. We are interested in how you communicate and present your work, so feel free to keep it informal and focus on clearly explaining what you did and your role in the project. We do not expect a professionally produced video; a recording made on your smartphone will be perfectly fine. Please then upload the video to a platform of your choice (Dropbox, YouTube, Vimeo, Google Drive, etc.) and include the relevant URL link in your cover letter.
- Contact information from two references
Please note that we exclusively accept applications submitted through our online application portal. Applications via email or postal services will not be considered. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Further information about the BMDS lab can be found on our website. Questions regarding the position should be directed to Reka Enz or Prof. Dr. Catherine Jutzeler, by email [email protected], [email protected] (no applications).
