Taste of Research Summer Scholarships

2027 Projects - Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering

Biomedical Engineering Research Areas

Biomedical Engineering Projects

No School Research Area

Project Title:	Engineering a Freeform Stimulator for Neuromodulation in Vision Loss and Chronic Pain
Name of Supervisor:	Mohit Shivdasani
Email of Supervisor:	m.shivdasani@unsw.edu.au
Name of Joint/Co-Supervisor:	.
Email of Joint/Co-Supervisor:	.
School:	Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering
Faculty Research Area (Theme):	Health & Medical Technologies
Applicable to other Engineering schools/disciplines:
Terms:	Summer
Abstract:	Existing devices for neuromodulation in sensory and neurological conditions rely on conventional electrical pulses that do not selectively activate neurons needed for precise therapy. We have been working on developing new therapies for vision loss and chronic pain that aim to selectively activate different classes of neurons. For these applications, our team is developing a new Freeform Stimulator (FS) that uses a combination of electronics, precision motor control and a microfluidic neural interface to deliver electrical current in almost any waveform shape. This could enable more selective activation of neurons and contribute to a new generation of devices. The student will work closely with other researchers in the team to refine the engineering of the existing FS prototype and prepare it for experiments. Depending on the student’s background and interests, the project may involve: - Characterising the electrical and mechanical performance of the current prototype. - Improving motor control, phase sensing and synchronisation of stimulation cycles. - Refining electronic, mechanical or microfluidic components. - Developing automated benchtop tests for waveform accuracy, stability and repeatability. - Troubleshooting hardware and software integration. - Documenting design changes and recommending improvements for the next-generation device. This is a hands-on project suited particularly to students with a mechatronics or electrical engineering background. Experience or strong interest in electronics, embedded systems, instrumentation, control systems, CAD, programming or prototyping would be highly valuable.
Research Environment:	The student will join a multidisciplinary neural engineering team within the School of Biomedical Engineering and work alongside PhD students developing new approaches to electrical stimulation. The project will provide hands-on experience with a working research prototype and exposure to electronics, mechatronics, microfluidics, electrophysiology and medical device development. The student will participate in regular project discussions, receive practical guidance from experienced researchers and see how engineering design decisions affect real biological experiments. The broader research program brings together expertise in implants, electrophysiology, computational modelling, microfluidics and freeform neural stimulation, including collaboration with researchers at Johns Hopkins University who pioneered the Freeform Stimulator technology.
Novelty and Contribution:	.
Expected Outcomes:	By the end of the project, the student is expected to have contributed to the engineering refinements and benchtop characterisation required prior to biological experimentation. Depending on the results, the work may also inform future device designs, research publications and the longer-term development of new prostheses for vision and chronic pain.
Reference Material Links:	https://unsw-my.sharepoint.com/personal/z3488395_ad_unsw_edu_au/_layouts/15/Doc.aspx?sourcedoc=%7B095FEB63-D4B8-4A8A-BE25-597245B9BD0F%7D&file=Summer%202026-2027_ToR%20Flyer_Shivdasani_Mohit%20Shivdasani.pptx&action=edit&mobileredirect=true
Will the student visit the premises of an industry partner, or undertake any activity on premises external to UNSW?	No

Project Title:	Engineering Two-Dimensional Indium Sheets from Liquid Metals for Electrocatalytic Applications
Name of Supervisor:	Dr Dorna Esrafilzadeh.
Email of Supervisor:	d.esrafilzadeh@unsw.edu.au
Name of Joint/Co-Supervisor:	.
Email of Joint/Co-Supervisor:	.
School:	Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering
Faculty Research Area (Theme):	Advanced Materials
Applicable to other Engineering schools/disciplines:
Terms:	Summer
Abstract:	Two-dimensional (2D) materials provide high surface-to-volume ratios, short charge-transport pathways and large densities of accessible surface sites, making them particularly attractive for electrocatalysis. However, most elemental metals do not possess intrinsically layered crystal structures, making the direct synthesis of ultrathin, free-standing metallic nanosheets challenging. Indium (In) is particularly interesting because of its catalytic activity toward selective reactions including electrochemical CO? reduction. Recent studies have demonstrated highly active 2D metallic indium prepared through electrochemical conversion of specially synthesised coordination-polymer precursors. In parallel, molten indium spontaneously forms an atomically thin oxide skin through self-limiting surface oxidation, and this skin can be exfoliated to produce large-area In?O? sheets only a few nanometres thick. Despite these advances, the possibility of using the unique liquid-metal interface as a direct synthetic platform for producing 2D metallic or metal-rich indium nanosheets remains comparatively unexplored. For full project description, please refer to https://www.unsw.edu.au/engineering/student-life/undergraduate-research-opportunities/advertised-taste-research-areas
Research Environment:	The project will be based in the School of Biomedical Engineering at UNSW and supervised by Dr Dorna Esrafilzadeh, whose expertise in liquid metals, low-dimensional materials and functional material systems will guide the development of the proposed 2D indium platform. The project will be conducted in close collaboration with the UNSW School of Chemistry, providing complementary expertise and access to electrocatalysis and materials-characterisation capabilities. The candidate will therefore have access to a broad range of laboratory resources, materials synthesis facilities, advanced characterisation techniques and electrochemical testing capabilities across Biomedical Engineering and Chemistry.
Novelty and Contribution:	.
Expected Outcomes:	Conventional reduction of ultrathin metal oxides can result in particle formation, sintering or loss of the original 2D morphology. Developing conditions that retain the nanosheet geometry while controlling the Indium reduction ratio could therefore establish a new pathway toward non-layered 2D metals. The project will aim to establish a reproducible synthesis–structure–property relationship and determine whether the resulting ultrathin In or In/In?O? structures provide enhanced electrochemically accessible surface area, charge transfer and catalytic performance compared with conventional indium materials.
Reference Material Links:	https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202404272
Will the student visit the premises of an industry partner, or undertake any activity on premises external to UNSW?	No

Project Title:	High Throughput Screening Platforms for Animal-free Product Testing
Name of Supervisor:	Dr. Jonathan Yeow
Email of Supervisor:	j.yeow@unsw.edu.aiu
Name of Joint/Co-Supervisor:	Prof. Megan Lord
Email of Joint/Co-Supervisor:	.
School:	Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering
Faculty Research Area (Theme):	Health & Medical Technologies
Applicable to other Engineering schools/disciplines:
Terms:	Summer
Abstract:	How can we create better alternatives to animal testing while improving our ability to predict human responses to new products? This project explores the development of next-generation screening platforms that mimic the glycocalyx, the sugar-rich outermost layer of the cell surface that forms the first point of contact between human cells and their environment. In this project, you will work alongside an industry partner utilising their advanced plasma-based surface engineering technologies to immobilise macromolecular sugars onto material surfaces to create human-relevant and animal-free testing platforms for cosmetic, healthcare, and biotechnology applications. In this project, you will develop hands-on experience in biomaterials, surface modification, and biological characterisation techniques while contributing to research that aims to make product testing faster, reproducible, and ethical. This project is most suitable for students interested in: Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Biotechnology, Nanotechnology, Chemistry, or related disciplines.
Research Environment:	You will work within a highly multidisciplinary cross-institute team of academics, industry collaborators, postdocs and research students spanning expertise across material science, cell biology, physics and biomedical engineering
Novelty and Contribution:	.
Expected Outcomes:	1. Protocols for the high throughput immobilisation and characterisation of macromolecular sugars on surfaces. 2. Validation of sugar-immobilised surfaces to mimic the native cellular glycocalyx in binding and mediate biomolecular processes relevant to cosmetic, healthcare, and biotechnology applications.
Reference Material Links:	https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.biomac.5c02490 https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.202514076
Will the student visit the premises of an industry partner, or undertake any activity on premises external to UNSW?	No

Project Title:	Surface Functionalisation of Liquid-Metal-Derived 2D Materials with Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs)
Name of Supervisor:	Dr Dorna Esrafilzadeh
Email of Supervisor:	d.esrafilzadeh@unsw.edu.au
Name of Joint/Co-Supervisor:	Prof Kang Liang
Email of Joint/Co-Supervisor:	kang.liang@unsw.edu.au
School:	Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering
Faculty Research Area (Theme):	Advanced Materials
Applicable to other Engineering schools/disciplines:
Terms:	Summer
Abstract:	Like the T-1000 in Terminator, liquid metals can flow, reshape themselves, and form new structures while remaining highly reactive at their surfaces. The T-1000’s ability to transform its shape in response to its surroundings provides a useful way to understand these materials: rather than being fixed and rigid, liquid metals can continuously reorganise, spread, deform, and expose fresh reactive surfaces. In science, this unusual combination of fluidity, adaptability, and surface reactivity allows liquid metals such as gallium and its alloys to produce atomically thin oxide sheets. These 2D sheets can then act as active platforms for building new materials. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are porous materials with large surface areas and selective chemical environments. They are valuable in many applications, including sensing, capturing pollutants and environmental remediation. While MOFs have been grown on liquid-metal particles, much less is known about attaching them to isolated liquid-metal-derived 2D oxide sheets. This project will merge the science behind two material categories to create 2D metal oxide/MOF heterostructures. Selected MOFs will be grown or anchored onto oxide sheets using surface treatments that encourage controlled growth and stable functionalisation. The project will investigate how the interface affects the structure, stability, and function of the combined material. A focused proof-of-concept study will evaluate their capacity to detect or capture an environmentally relevant gas or water pollutant.
Research Environment:	The project will be based in the School of Biomedical Engineering at UNSW, in close collaboration with the School of Chemical Engineering. The candidate will be jointly supervised by Dr Dorna Esrafilzadeh and Prof Kang Liang, providing complementary expertise across liquid metals, 2D materials, MOFs and characterisation and functional applications. The candidate will have access to the laboratory infrastructure and advanced materials-characterisation capabilities available across both research teams, providing an interdisciplinary environment in which to undertake the proposed research.
Novelty and Contribution:	.
Expected Outcomes:	1) Establish viable strategies for MOF nucleation and stable attachment on liquid-metal-derived 2D sheets. 2) Determine relationships between interfacial chemistry, morphology, stability, and functional properties. 3) Demonstrate a proof of concept in conversion or sensing models.
Reference Material Links:	https://doi.org/10.1039/c7cs00043j https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.202100300
Will the student visit the premises of an industry partner, or undertake any activity on premises external to UNSW?	No

Projects offered by other Engineering Schools that may be of interest are:

Project Title:	Combination Therapy with Antimicrobial Peptides to Combat Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria
Name of Supervisor:	Edgar Wong
Email of Supervisor:	edgar.wong@unsw.edu.au
Name of Joint/Co-Supervisor:	.
Email of Joint/Co-Supervisor:	.
School:	School of Chemical Engineering
Faculty Research Area (Theme):	Health & Medical Technologies
Applicable to other Engineering schools/disciplines:	Biomedical Engineering Computer Science & Engineering Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering
Terms:	Summer
Abstract:	Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is now considered a critical global healthcare challenge and urgently requires new therapeutic strategies to overcome this issue. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and mimics thereof have been shown to effectively synergise and revive the 'lost' activity of antibiotics against multidrug-resistant bacteria. This approach is promising in combating AMR and we aim to build upon our initial work and develop further. The project will look at testing more combinations and against wider panel of bacteria including priority pathogens such as Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter baumannii.
Research Environment:	Very biofocussed project and hence the scholar will be mainly working in a PC2 microbiology lab to perform antimicrobial assays. Scholar needs to have good attention to detail.
Novelty and Contribution:	.
Expected Outcomes:	Tested various combinations of AMPs and antibiotics against different bacteria strains. The results are expected to lead to high impact publication and also further in vivo testing in animal models with collaborators, which would form the basis of preclinical work for future translation. The scholar will learn/enhance technical skills at working in a biolab and also develop deep knowledge in the AMR field.
Reference Material Links:	https://www.edgarwonglab.com/ https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acsinfecdis.2c00087 https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acs.biomac.4c01137 General reading on antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and combination therapy
Will the student visit the premises of an industry partner, or undertake any activity on premises external to UNSW?	No