Department of Biosystems
Science and Engineering
Bio Engineering Laboratory
Mattenstrasse 26
CH-4058 Basel
www.bsse.ethz.ch/bel
Michele Fiscella
WRO-1058.8.3.60
Tel. +41 61 387 32 08
Fax +41 61 387 39 94
[email protected]
Master Thesis
CMOS-based MEA
Maize Root Cells
Project: Characterization of Plants Extracellular Signals
We have developed a CMOS-based microelectrode array (MEA) featuring high-density electrodes,
i.e., 11´016 metal electrodes and 126 on-chip circuitry channels, each of which includes recording
and stimulation electronics. This device enables extracellular electrical-activity recordings at subcellular spatial resolution and microsecond temporal resolution.
In plants, some cells are electrically excitable and active, releasing and propagating action potentials
(APs), which may affect important physiological processes, such as photosynthesis and respiration.
Moreover, electrical signals are believed to play a central role in intercellular and intracellular
communication at all levels of evolution from algae to higher plants
Your Task
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Characterization of extracellular action potential from maize root cells
Recording electrical activity from root slices by using a high-density MEA
Data analysis of electrical activity by Matlab
Cell imaging
Required Skills
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Motivation and self-organized working and good technical understanding
Interest in the interdisciplinary field of biology and engineering.
Programming basics
Matlab programming
You Learn
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Working with micro-electronic chips for biological applications
Extracellular electrophysiological recordings techniques
Data analysis of electrophysiological data
Interested?
Contact:
Michele Fiscella: [email protected]