Biography

Professional Experience

since 09/2016
Doctoral Assistant, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland;

11/2014 – 11/2015
Master Thesis, Technical University of Munich, Germany, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Chair for Molecular Electronics

06/2013 – 09/2013
Bachelor Thesis, École Polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland
Laboratoire des Materiaux Semiconductors


10/2011
Internship, Daimler AG, Mannheim,
Competence center for emission-free Mobility
• Analyzed a CAD engine model and developed guide lines for its assembly


07/2009 – 03/2010
Military service in ski unit, Gebirgsfernmeldebataillon 210, Bad
Reichenhall

Academic education

since 09/2016
Ph.D. program in Microsystems and Microelectronics
École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland
Laboratory of Life Sciences Electronics

10/2013 – 06/2016
M.Sc. Physics, Technical University of Munich, Germany
• Specialization: Condensed Matter Physics

2016
Semester abroad, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
• Courses: Advanced Semiconductor Physics, Advanced Wafer Processing, Data Structures, Chinese Language 1

10/2010 – 09/2013
B.Sc. Physics, Technical University of Munich, Germany
• Specialization: Condensed Matter Physics

2012
Semester abroad, École Polytechnique, Paris, France
• Courses: Quantum and Statistical Physics, Fluids Mechanics, Experimental Project in Physics, French B1

08/2000 – 06/2009
Abitur, Altes Kurfürstliches Gymnasium, Bensheim, Germany

08/2006 – 06/2007
Diploma, Fountain Lake High School, Hot Springs, AR, USA

Current work

I am currently developping microfluidic devices using dielectrophoresis for cell trapping and cell analysis. One of my main focus is to integrate 3D electrodes within microfluidic channels in order to build stronger dielectrophoretic traps and combine dielectrophoresis with other forces acting on cells and particles.

Open Masterproject

Investigation of a High Sensitivity Single Cell Sensors and Electrical Parameter Extraction of Cells via Electrorotation


The goal of this master project is to investigate in label-free the physical properties of single cells using the highly sensitive method of electrorotation within three dimensional electrodes. When cells are placed in a rotating electrical field they start to rotate with a speed that correlates to the frequency of the rotating electric field and which reflects intrinsic electrical properties of cells. Electrorotation is a recognized method which is capable to extract inherent electrical properties, like membrane permittivity and cytoplasm conductivity of cells. The investigation of these properties can be employed to recognize different cells or to highlight cell states (e.g: healthy vs diseased cells). The high sensitivity of this technique and the possibility of single cell detection make this technology a potential candidate for non-invasive real-time observation of the cell state.

To increase the efficacy of the device we developed a process to
produce 3D electrodes within a microfluidic channel. With these electrodes we can achieve a homogenous electrical field over the complete channel width. Through this homogenous electrical field we can achieve higher rotation speeds at lower voltages and therefore a significant higher sensitivity.

The student will start with a literature survey of the technique of electrorotation and the 3D integration of the electrodes to understand the technique and the extraction of the electrical parameters of the cell from the electrorotation spectrum.

This task will be followed by electrorotation measurements of different cell types, data analysis and extraction of the cell parameters.

At a later stage of the project the LabView code used for the experiment might be improved to achieve a faster and more automated acquiring of data, in addition the layout of the microfluidics would have to be optimized in order to have a more effective cell trapping.


Advisor: Prof. Carlotta Guiducci

Supervisor: Kevin Keim (kevin.keim@epfl.ch)


Type of work: 10% literature study, 40% experimental measurements, 20% data analysis, 25% coding, 5% cell culturing


Required background: physics, electrical-engineering, bio-engineering, micro-engineering or similar


If you are interested in this master project, please send an email including CV and transcript of records to kevin.keim@epfl.ch .

Open Semester Project

PCB and chip design for cell trapping applications


The goal of this semester project is to design, produce and investigate a chip and PCB design for cell trapping applications. Cells can be trapped in microfluidic channels using negative dielectrophoretic forces (n-DEP) [1]. The trapping of cells is the first step in order to construct a fully automated cell sensor, which can immobilize, analyse and select different cells. For this purpose we developed an array structure of 3D electrodes, in which we could successfully trap cells using these forces and in which we want to differentiate between different cell populations using the technique of electrorotation [2].

One of our major goals is to trap, analyse and release each cell in each trap separately. For this purpose a new chip layout is needed in which every single electrode is addressed separately.

The task of the student will be to design a new layout based on the existing structures in order to provide the electronic connections for the above mentioned purpose on the chip. The student has to calculate and analyse the losses on the chip and choose the layout which allows the highest possible amplitude of the megahertz signal to reach the electrodes.

Subsequently the corresponding PCB with active electronics or mechanical switches will be designed and assembled by the student. On this PCB as well the student has to pay close attention in order to reduce losses on the PCB as well as on the connections to the chip and to the cables.

Following the student has to assemble the PCB and verify the proper function of the PCB and the chip. Therefore the student will design test structures and investigate them electrically using impedance spectroscopy.


Advisor: Prof. Dr. Carlotta Guiducci

Supervisor: Kevin Keim (kevin.keim@epfl.ch)


Type of work: 5% literature study, 50% layout design, 20% assembling, 15% experimental measurements, 10% data

Duration: 3 month


Required background: electrical-engineering, micro-engineering or similar


If you are interested in this bachelor project, please send an email including CV and transcript of records to kevin.keim@epfl.ch .


[1] Lab Chip, 2009, 9, 1534-1540
[2] Analyst, 2013, 138, 1529–1537

Open Semester Project

Label-free cell sensors using electrorotation


The goal of this semesterproject is to extract label-free electrorotation spectra of cells in order to extract their dielectric parameters and differentiate between cells. Electrorotation is a well-established technique to extract cell parameters.
A cell is placed in an electrical field, which induces a dipole in
the cell. Subsequently the electric field is rotated. It is energetically favourable for the dipole to be aligned with the electric field, this cause a torque on the cell, which starts to rotate as well. This rotation can be observed with a microscope. The speed of rotation depends on the dielectric parameters of the cell, as well as on the frequency of the rotating field. Accordingly one can sweep the electric field frequency and observe the changes in the speed of rotation as shown in figure 1. Up to now
we used stained cells to extract the spectra. Anyways using glass chips and an inverted microscope, the cells can be observed without staining as well as shown in figure 2. However to extract spectra of high quality further improvements of the setup are needed.
The tasks of the student will be to improve the microscope setup in order to maximize the quality of the cells image and optimize the camera control used to observe the cells in LabVIEW. This will be followed by the electrorotation measurements on cells using the improved setup. In the last step the student will analyse the achieved spectra and extract the cells parameters.

Advisor: Prof. Dr. Carlotta Guiducci

Supervisor:Kevin Keim (kevin.keim@epfl.ch)

Type of work: 15% literature study, 25% microscopy, 20% programming, 25% experimental measurements, 15% data analysis

Duration: 3month

Required background:biology, bio-engineering, life sciences, micro-engineering or similar

If you are interested in this
semesterproject, please send an email including CV and transcript of records to kevin.keim@epfl.ch

Open Semester Project

Modelling of 3D Dielectrophoretic traps in COMSOL

The goal of this semester project is to model and design dielectrophoretic traps for cell trapping applications in COMSOL.
Dielectrophoresis is a phenomenon in which neutral particles are polarized in gradient electric fields. If the polarizability of the particle is larger than the one of the surrounding medium, the particle will move to higher electric field regions, which is called positive dielectrophoresis (pDEP), if the polarizability of the particle is smaller than the one of the surrounding medium, the particle will move to lower field regions, which is called negative dielectrophoresis (nDEP).
Using four electrodes in a square, creating a quadrupole an electric field trap using nDEP can be created, as shown in figure 1. The electric field between neighboring electrodes is much higher than in the middle of the quadrupole. Particles can be trapped in between the electrodes [1]. The trapping force depends on different parameters such as the conductivity of the surrounding medium, the dielectric parameters of the particle and the design of the traps.

The task of the student for this semester project is to implement a model of 3D dielectrophoretic traps in COMSOL. First the electric field within the electrodes has to be calculated, second the dielectrophoretic force exerted on the particle has to be modelled. In the next step, additional forces, such as gravity, buoyancy and fluidic flow have to be superposed.

Once the model is implemented different geometries and particles will be tested and compared in order to achieve the best possible geometry for trapping applications.

Advisor: Prof. Dr. Carlotta Guiducci

Supervisor: Kevin Keim (kevin.keim@epfl.ch)

Type of work: 35% literature study, 35% modelling, 30% design

Duration: 3 month

Required background: physics, mathematics, informatics, electrical-engineering, micro-engineering or similar

If you are interested in this semester project, please send an email including CV and transcript of records to kevin.keim@epfl.ch .