Prof. Dr. Franz Pfeiffer

Courses and Dates

Offered Bachelor’s or Master’s Theses Topics

Advanced image processing for clinical darkfield chest X-ray applications

suitable as

• Master’s Thesis Condensed Matter Physics
• Master’s Thesis Nuclear, Particle, and Astrophysics
• Master’s Thesis Biophysics
• Master’s Thesis Applied and Engineering Physics
• Master’s Thesis Biomedical Engineering and Medical Physics

Supervisor: Franz Pfeiffer

Advanced processing algorithms for X-ray dark-field CT reconstruction

suitable as

• Master’s Thesis Condensed Matter Physics
• Master’s Thesis Nuclear, Particle, and Astrophysics
• Master’s Thesis Biophysics
• Master’s Thesis Applied and Engineering Physics
• Master’s Thesis Biomedical Engineering and Medical Physics

Supervisor: Franz Pfeiffer

AI/machine learning algorithms for the automated detection of respiratory diseases in chest CT scans

This project will focus on using AI/machine learning algorithms (i.e. deep convolutional neural networks) for the automated detection of respiratory diseases (e.g. COPD, COVID-19) in chest CT scans. The project will be carried out in close collaboration with the Department of Radiology at the TUM Klinikum Rechts der Isar and an external industrial collaborator.

Character of thesis work: mainly computational physics & image processing

For more information, please contact: Manuel Schultheiß (manuel.schultheiss@tum.de), Tobias Lasser (tobias.lasser@tum.de), or Franz Pfeiffer (franz.pfeiffer@tum.de).

suitable as

• Master’s Thesis Condensed Matter Physics
• Master’s Thesis Nuclear, Particle, and Astrophysics
• Master’s Thesis Biophysics
• Master’s Thesis Applied and Engineering Physics
• Master’s Thesis Biomedical Engineering and Medical Physics

Supervisor: Franz Pfeiffer

Evaluation of spectral photon-counting detectors for improvements in 2D (panoramic) dental imaging applications

This project will explore the use of latest hybrid-pixel photon-counting detectors for improving the image quality in 2D (panoramic) dental imaging applications. More specifically, the project aims at developing advanced dual-energy/ spectral artefact reduction algorithms and their experimental demonstration of their applicability in preclinical experiments. The project will be carried out in close collaboration with an industrial collaboration partner in the Munich area.

Character of thesis work: experimental physics (50%) & image processing (50%)

For more information, please contact: Thorsten Sellerer (thorsten.sellerer@tum.de), Franz Pfeiffer (franz.pfeiffer@tum.de)

suitable as

• Master’s Thesis Condensed Matter Physics
• Master’s Thesis Nuclear, Particle, and Astrophysics
• Master’s Thesis Biophysics
• Master’s Thesis Applied and Engineering Physics
• Master’s Thesis Biomedical Engineering and Medical Physics

Supervisor: Franz Pfeiffer

Evaluation of spectral photon-counting detectors for improvements in 3D (cone-beam CT) dental imaging applications

This project will explore the use of latest hybrid-pixel photon-counting detectors for improving the image quality in 3D (cone-beam CT) dental imaging applications. More specifically, the project aims at developing advanced dual-energy/ spectral artefact reduction algorithms and their experimental demonstration of their applicability in preclinical experiments. The project will be carried out in close collaboration with an industrial collaboration partner in the Munich area.

Character of thesis work: experimental physics (50%) & image processing (50%)

For more information, please contact: Thorsten Sellerer (thorsten.sellerer@tum.de), Franz Pfeiffer (franz.pfeiffer@tum.de)

suitable as

• Master’s Thesis Condensed Matter Physics
• Master’s Thesis Nuclear, Particle, and Astrophysics
• Master’s Thesis Biophysics
• Master’s Thesis Applied and Engineering Physics
• Master’s Thesis Biomedical Engineering and Medical Physics

Supervisor: Franz Pfeiffer

Machine Learning (AI)-based denoising of limited angle, sparse sampling CT post-processing for head and chest CT applications

This project will focus on the potential usage of AI-based CT denoising methods (i.e. convolutional neural networks) for post-processing of CT scans aquired with a reduced number of projections in head or chest CT applications. The project will be carried out in close collaboration with the Department of Radiology at the TUM Klinikum Rechts der Isar and an external industrial collaborator.

Character of thesis work: mainly computational physics & image processing

For more information, please contact: Manuel Schultheiss (manuel.schultheiss@tum.de), Tobias Lasser (tobias.lasser@tum.de), or Franz Pfeiffer (franz.pfeiffer@tum.de).

suitable as

• Master’s Thesis Condensed Matter Physics
• Master’s Thesis Nuclear, Particle, and Astrophysics
• Master’s Thesis Biophysics
• Master’s Thesis Applied and Engineering Physics
• Master’s Thesis Biomedical Engineering and Medical Physics

Supervisor: Franz Pfeiffer

Pre-clinical evaluation of spectral photon-counting detectors for chest X-ray cancer and tuberculosis screening

This project will explore the use of latest hybrid-pixel photon-counting detectors for improving the diagnostic accuracy of chest X-ray examinations. More specifically, this work will use dedicated phantoms for assessing the potential clinical benefit of photon-counting-based material decomposition algorithms for better lung cancer and tuberculosis detection. The project will be carried out in close collaboration with the Department of Radiology at the TUM Klinikum Rechts der Isar.

Character of thesis work: experimental physics (50%) & image processing (50%)

For more information, please contact: Thorsten Sellerer (thorsten.sellerer@tum.de), Franz Pfeiffer (franz.pfeiffer@tum.de)

suitable as

• Master’s Thesis Condensed Matter Physics
• Master’s Thesis Nuclear, Particle, and Astrophysics
• Master’s Thesis Biophysics
• Master’s Thesis Applied and Engineering Physics
• Master’s Thesis Biomedical Engineering and Medical Physics

Supervisor: Franz Pfeiffer

Quantitative X-ray dark-field imaging

This project will focus on methods to extract quantitative structural parameters from grating-based X-ray dark-field imaging that enable hardware independent studies in medical and material science applications.

The project will mainly involve experimental (laboratory) work, and image processing (primarily in Python).

Character of thesis work: experimental physics (50%) & image processing (50%)

For more information, please contact: Florian Schaff (florian.schaff@tum.de) or Franz Pfeiffer (franz.pfeiffer@tum.de)

suitable as

• Master’s Thesis Condensed Matter Physics
• Master’s Thesis Nuclear, Particle, and Astrophysics
• Master’s Thesis Biophysics
• Master’s Thesis Applied and Engineering Physics
• Master’s Thesis Biomedical Engineering and Medical Physics

Supervisor: Franz Pfeiffer

X-ray diffraction imaging at a compact synchrotron source

This project will focus on investigating the potential X-ray diffraction imaging at a compact synchrotron source. The student will design, conduct and evaluate experiments at the world's first X-ray source of its kind, the Munich Compact Light Source. 

The project will mainly involve experimental (laboratory) work, and image processing (primarily in Python).

Character of thesis work: experimental physics (50%) & image processing (50%)

For more information, please contact: Florian Schaff (florian.schaff@tum.de) or Franz Pfeiffer (franz.pfeiffer@tum.de)

suitable as

• Master’s Thesis Condensed Matter Physics
• Master’s Thesis Nuclear, Particle, and Astrophysics
• Master’s Thesis Biophysics
• Master’s Thesis Applied and Engineering Physics
• Master’s Thesis Biomedical Engineering and Medical Physics

Supervisor: Franz Pfeiffer