Research Assistant in Biomedical Engineering

Research Assistant in Biomedical Engineering University of Bern About the ARTORG Center

The ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering Research develops innovative healthcare technologies by bringing together biomedical engineering and medicine at the University of Bern
. The Neuro Robotics Group focuses on the development of advanced surgical instruments for neurosurgery, drawing on expertise in robotics and micromechatronics.

We are seeking a highly motivated Research Assistant (50%) to support the development of a medical robotics simulation environment
. The position is embedded in a multidisciplinary research team working at the interface of robotics, medicine, and simulation technology.

This project addresses key challenges in technology translation by developing a digital, interactive platform for early-stage prototyping of telemanipulated robotic systems
. The platform enables researchers and clinicians to collaboratively explore and evaluate robotic concepts in a virtual environment before physical components are manufactured. This approach reduces development costs, accelerates iteration, and enhances interdisciplinary collaboration.

The Research Assistant will:

Design, implement, and maintain a ROS2-based simulation environment for medical robotic systems

Integrate and evaluate relevant software packages and frameworks for (medical) robotics

Collaborate with researchers and engineers to model and simulate clinical use cases

Support data collection, visualization, and analysis from simulation runs

Document code, workflows, and results to ensure reproducibility and scalability

Enrollment in a Master’s degree program in robotics, computer science, or a closely related field

Strong programming skills in Python and C++, ideally with experience in ROS2 (Robot Operating System
2)

Experience with software integration,
Git-based version control
, and Linux systems

Prior experience with simulation environments (e.g.,
Gazebo, Ignition, SOFA, Coppelia Sim
) is highly advantageous

Basic understanding of robotic kinematics, control, and sensor integration

Interest in medical robotics or human–robot interaction is a plus

Strong communication skills and the ability to work both independently and in multidisciplinary teams

A dynamic, interdisciplinary research environment at the intersection of robotics, medicine, and simulation

Exposure to cutting-edge robotic systems and state-of-the-art simulation frameworks

Opportunity to align the position with a Master’s thesis or semester project

ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering Research
, University of Bern

Department of Neurosurgery
, Inselspital Bern

Start date: February 2026

Please apply by sending the following documents:

In your application, please refer to