Join Us Building a total artificial heart takes more than one kind of expertise. We're a team of ETH students from different fields, and we're looking for new members for the coming year: engineering, life sciences, computer science or business. What counts is curiosity and the will to work on a hard problem as a team.
Join Us
Mini-Hackathon
How to join CURE-C:
New members can join CURE-C through our Mini-Hackathon on November 14th, 2026.
For one day, you'll team up with fellow students and a few of our team members, working in small groups on real questions from our Total Artificial Heart project. Along the way you'll get to know the people behind CURE-C, see how we work, learn from each other, and find out which part of the project interests you most. It isn't a job interview or an exam, and there's no pressure. The day is as much for you as it is for us: a relaxed way to find out whether CURE-C is the right place for you and whether we'd work well together.
What you could do
These aren't job openings. They're examples of what our members work on, to help you see where you might fit. The team is going through a restructuring phase for the upcoming year, many other roles could open!
Pump design and development
Shape the pumping unit at the core of the artificial heart, from first sketches to tested prototypes.
You could:
- Design pump components in CAD
- Run CFD and FEA to guide design choices
- Build and test prototypes
Typical backgrounds: Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Health Science and Technology, or related fields.
Control & Electrical
Develop the electronics and control systems that drive the artificial heart and keep it running safely.
You could:
- Integrate sensors for pressure, flow and motion
- Design the power supply and drive the actuators
- Develop control algorithms, from fault detection to adaptive heart rate
Typical backgrounds: Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, or related fields
Testing & Simulation
Find out whether the artificial heart does what it should, on the test bench and in simulation.
You could:
- Build test setups and define validation protocols
- Run stress tests on components and prototypes
- Model the system in MATLAB/Simulink or as a digital twin
Typical backgrounds: Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computational Science, Health Science and Technology, or related fields
Integration & Biocompatibility
Make sure the heart and its components are safe, durable and compatible with the human body.
You could:
- Select and evaluate materials in contact with blood and tissue
- Study hemocompatibility and biocompatibility
- Work in a lab with bacteria
- Design driveline components in CAD
- Manufacture driveline components
Typical backgrounds: Health Sciences and Technology, Interdisciplinary Sciences, Biology, Materials Science, Biomedical Engineering, or related fields
Sponsoring & Relations
As the CURE-C project keeps growing, so does the need of new partners and resources. This task will help you create important connections in industry and academia that might help you more than what you can imagine!
You could:
- Reach out to sponsors and industry partners
- Prepare pitches and funding applications -
- Keep partners updated on our progress
Typical backgrounds: open to all
Social Media & Marketing
A Total Artificial Heart is useless if nobody knows about it! Tell the story of the project and make people want to be part of it.
You could:
- Run our social media channels
- Create content, from posts to videos
- Design merchandise and visuals
Typical backgrounds: open to all
Membership Types
Open Roles
DISCLAIMER: the team is going through a restructuring phase for the upcoming year, many other roles are open or will to be open.
Please do not hesitate to send in your applications even if a role hasn't been described.
We will update the website as soon as possible.
Pump Development – Simulation Engineer
We are looking for a team member interested in fluid simulations, contributing to design choices by performing and evaluating simulations of our blood pump.
Key skills:
- Experience with CFD in ANSYS or comparable simulation tools
- Understanding of fluid systems, turbomachinery, or pump design is preferred
- Ability to interpret, critically assess, and validate simulation results
Testing & Simulation – Simulation Engineer
We are looking for a team member interested in system modeling and simulation, contributing to the development and evaluation of the artificial heart’s dynamic behavior.
Key skills:
- Experience with Simulink / MATLAB for system modeling and simulation
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- Experience in dynamic system modeling is a plus
Control & Electrical – Electrical Engineer
We are looking for a hands-on team member interested in practical electronics work, supporting the implementation of sensors and other electronics of the artificial heart.
Key skills:
- Experience with circuit design, PCB work, or electronics testing setups
- Ability to build and troubleshoot small experimental setups
- Experience with lab equipment such as oscilloscopes and power supplies is a plus
Business Team
We are looking for a communicative and proactive team member to support the growth of the project through fundraising, sponsorship outreach, and collaboration with industry partners.
Key skills:
- Experience with fundraising, sponsorship acquisition, or grant applications is preferred
- Strong communication and networking skills
- Ability to prepare pitches and interact with industry partners
Pump Design
In this sub-team you will focus on the design and development of the artificial heart’s pumping unit. This includes system engineering, computer-aided design (CAD), computational fluid dynamics (CFD), and finite element analysis (FEA). You will also be involved in prototyping, testing, and maintaining the mechanical aspects of the system. Beyond technical work, you will collaborate with industry partners and academic experts who support our project.
Target profiles: Students from Biomedical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering, but open to all motivated students with relevant skills.
Open positions: 0
Control & Electrical
In this sub-team, you will work on the development of the electronic and control systems that drive the artificial heart. Your responsibilities will include integrating and managing sensors (e.g. for blood CO₂, motion, pressure, flow, and respiratory rate), operating electrical valves and similar actuators, and designing a reliable electrical power supply. On the control side, you will contribute to the design of state observers, fault detection systems, and adaptive heart rate regulation. Close collaboration with other sub-teams, academic experts, and industry partners will be essential.
Target profiles: Students from Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, and Mechanical Engineering, as well as other motivated students with relevant skills.
Open positions: 1
Testing & Simulation
In this sub-team, you will focus on the validation and verification of the artificial heart. Your work will include developing testing equipment and validation protocols, running testing cycles, and conducting stress tests on components and prototypes. On the simulation side, you will apply computational fluid dynamics (CFD), finite element analysis (FEA), and digital twin methods to identify potential single points of failure, predict system performance, and ensure long-term reliability. This team plays a crucial role in guaranteeing that the artificial heart meets safety and functionality standards.
Target profiles: Students from Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Computational Science & Engineering, as well as other motivated students with relevant skills.
Open positions: 0
Integration & Biocompatibility
In this sub-team, you will work on ensuring that the artificial heart is safe, durable, and compatible with the human body. Your responsibilities will include selecting and evaluating materials, studying hemocompatibility and biocompatibility, and supporting integration tasks such as coordination with other teams, production processes, and experimental validation. You may also contribute to customer experience research and market analysis to align technical development with future patient and clinical needs.
Target profiles: Students from Health Sciences, Biomedical Engineering, and Materials Science, as well as other motivated students with relevant skills.
Open positions: 0
Sponsoring & Relations
In this sub-team, you will focus on building and maintaining connections with industry partners, companies, and other organisations that support our project. Your tasks may include reaching out to potential sponsors, maintaining regular contact with partners, and contributing to external communications such as newsletters. This team ensures that the project has the resources, visibility, and professional network needed to grow.
Target profiles: Open to all motivated students, regardless of background.
Open positions: 1
Social Media & Marketing
In this sub-team, you will represent the association to the outside world. Responsibilities include managing social media channels, creating engaging content, and designing promotional materials. You will also contribute to merch design such as T-shirts, uniforms, or creative items (e.g. custom wine bottles). This role is ideal for students who want to be part of the team and enjoy creative work, but prefer a commitment that is less technical or time-intensive.
Target profiles: Open to all motivated students, especially those interested in design, communication, or creative projects.
Open positions: 1
Joining
E-mail
applications@curec.ch
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