From micro-robots in the bloodstream to the rover on Mars

You studied mechanical engineering at D-MAVT from 2016 to 2021. In your Bachelor's thesis with Prof. Brad Nelson, you worked on micro-robots for the treatment of aneurysms. What exactly did you investigate?

During my Bachelor’s thesis in the Multi-Scale Robotics Lab, I worked on the development of a novel minimally invasive method for treating brain aneurysms. It was the first time I had an opportunity to work on a research project, and I quickly realized how much I enjoyed this kind of work. The tasks were quite varied: I used MRI data from patients to create a digital, high-fidelity 3D model of brain arteries, which was then 3D-printed and served as a test platform for experiments. The goal was to use electromagnetically controlled microrobots that navigate through the blood vessels into the aneurysms to stabilize them. My work ranged from modeling and simulation to experimental tests, which I carried out first with water and later with animal blood. This allowed the empirical determination of the current levels required by the electromagnetic system to control the microrobots within the blood stream. My experience at the Multi-Scale Robotics Lab had a lasting impact on my research interests.

How did you switch from tiny robots in the bloodstream to a rover on Mars?

During my Bachelor’s thesis, I was faced with the decision of either directly continuing with my Master’s degree or first doing an internship. I have always been fascinated by the work of NASA, especially the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), which is known for its pioneering role in robotics research. An internship at JPL initially seemed like a distant dream to me. When I applied and was offered the opportunity to work on the navigation software for the Perseverance Rover, which was still under development at the time, I was overjoyed. At first, I was nervous about joining such a prestigious institution, but then I quickly got to grips with the work. I owe this partly to the support of the JPL team and partly to the problem-solving skills I had acquired at ETH.

But to come back to the question: There are actually a surprising number of parallels between the navigation of microrobots in brain arteries and the control of the rover on Mars. In both cases, robots enable us to explore areas previously inaccessible to humans. Both scenarios present us with significant hurdles – whether it’s the tiny dimensions and currents in blood vessels or the extreme conditions on Mars. These challenges excite me: developing creative solutions and designing systems that perform even under the most challenging conditions.

You then wrote your Master's thesis at the Department of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering under Professor Luc van Gool?

After completing my internship at JPL, I received an offer for a permanent position after my Master's degree. Therefore, I returned to Zurich and continued my studies in the Robotics, Systems and Control Master's program. Because my work on image analysis and processing  for the Mars Perseverance Rover had sparked my interest in computer vision, I decided to conduct my Master's thesis under the supervision of Luc van Gool at the Computer Vision Lab. I worked on a mobile robotic system for 3D surface reconstruction under uncalibrated lighting conditions - a key challenge in robotics when precise 3D models are needed in uncontrolled environments. In this project, I combined deep learning approaches with classical computer vision techniques. This enabled our system to reconstruct precise 3D surfaces from a single viewpoint and a single camera setup - an excellent example of how to address complex problems using minimal hardware and efficient algorithms.

The “International Day of Women and Girls in Science” aims to inspire girls and women for science and research. Is it a concern for you that women are in the minority in mechanical engineering?

Yes, it can be challenging. After attending a language-oriented grammar school, where women were in the majority, it was a big change for me at ETH. I also often experienced astonished reactions when I told people that I was a woman studying mechanical engineering. Over time, I learned that it is important to trust in your own abilities and not be overly influenced by the opinions of others. Looking back, I'm proud that I didn't allow myself to be discouraged by uncertainty and that I instead chose to go my own way. At the same time, it is important to me to encourage other women to pursue the fields of science and technology.  At JPL, we have some highly qualified female researchers who personally inspire me. However, women are still in the minority in the robotics department. Nevertheless, I am confident that this will improve in the future. We have had our first female director at JPL for almost three years now, and I believe that such strong role models can make a big difference.

Can you imagine returning to Switzerland one day - perhaps even to ETH?

I really enjoy my experience abroad and am learning a lot, but Zurich will always be my home. I could definitely imagine coming back one day and putting my experience to use in Switzerland - perhaps even at ETH, which has opened so many doors for me.