Research Phase and Master's Thesis in the M.Sc. Biomedical Engineering and Medical Physics

During the last year of the Master's program Biomedical Engineering and Medical Physics you will have the unique opportunity to work on exciting research topics. During this so-called research phase, you can choose from an extensive number of research groups and current projects.

Aliaksandr Bandarenka and a Master's student in his group discuss about their research. Foto: TUM.PH/Eckert. The research phase constitutes one thematic block, culminating in the dissertation of the Master's thesis.

Research Phase

The build-up of the research phase

To the scope of the one year research phase (60 ECTS) belong firstly, the development of the necessary special knowledge within a cutting-edge research line and secondly, the acquisition of the corresponding experimental or theoretical skills, that are necessary for the realization of the research project within the frame of the Master's thesis. Each of these steps conforms a module, the Master's seminar and the Master's training. Both modules belong intrinsically together and account in total for 30 ECTS. Subsequently, the independent research project can be carried out as part of the Master's thesis, which corresponding module comprises 30 ECTS. The research phase is completed with the Master's colloquium, the defense of the Master's thesis, within this module.

During the research phase, the fulfilment of an independent scientific work is tighly connected with the acquisition of additional skills, such as project management, team work as well as the depiction and presentation of scientific results.

Module	Description	Credits (CP)	PL/SL*
Master's seminar	Literature research and specialization	15	S
Master's training	Methodology and project planning	15	S
Master's thesis		30	P
Sum		60

*: P="Prüfungsleistung", graded exam,
S="Studienleistung", non graded exam (pass/fail)

Finding a topic

Students have to take contact by their own with the working groups and potential supervisors, in order to agree on a topic for the research phase/master thesis. Additionally to this, supervisors have the option to announce topics in the section below (supervisors see "Access for supervisors" on the right). However this possibility is not used by all institutes and not all topics are listed. Therefore it is recommended to ask the professors or in the institutes for topics.

Furthermore, it is recommended to start early (at least one semester in advance) to search for an appropriate topic. Having face-to-face interaction with the group, you can see if you like the topic and if you feel comfortable in the group (you will be working one year there!). We discourage you from simple e-mail exchange, as it is usually not successful.

Filtering in the offers for possible theses

You can search through the offers of Master’s thesis topics at the Physics Department.

Search for:

Offers of Master’s thesis topics

	Topic	Supervisor
	Auswirkung von Puls- und Atembewegungen auf die Dosisverteilung der Mikrostrahltherapie	Wilkens
	Research group Associate Professorship of Medical Radiation Physics (Prof. Wilkens) Description Background: Microbeam radiation therapy (MRT) is a novel, still preclinical approach for cancer treatment that uses micrometer sized x-ray treatment fields. One of the major obstacles for a clinical application of MRT is the availability of appropriate radiation sources. Currently only large synchrotrons provide the necessary dose rates and radiation quality required for clinical treatments. In our team, we developed a system that generates microbeams for preclinical studies with a conventional x-ray tube. In order to analyze the MRT dose distribution with focus on the effect of pulse and breathing motion, we are currently seeking a motivated and curious master student. Tasks: - Design and fabrication of a phantom to analyze effects of motion on the physical dose distribution of microbeams - Phantom measurement of the motion effects at our preclinical x-ray source - Possible: Simulation of the motion effects with Monte Carlo (TOPAS) - Ex-/In-vivo experiments at our preclinical treatment machine with an interdisciplinary team of physicists and biologists - Possible: Development of in-vivo gating (e.g. ECG or breathing gating) including programming a user interface for our preclinical treatment machine Profile: - Genuine interest in medical physics - Advantage: programming skills (e.g. Matlab, Python, or C++) - Advantage: wet lab experience Contact: stefan.bartzsch@tum.de Contact person Stefan Bartzsch
	Electron Spin Qubits in Quantum Dot Molecules - Towards a Quantum Repeater	Finley
	Research group Semiconductor Nanostructures and Quantum Systems Description Quantum communication using single photons provides one route towards physically secure data transmission. However, the total length of today’s quantum key distribution systems is limited to about ~300km due to photon absorption in the “quantum channel” - typically an optical fiber. To overcome this problem, one can build so-called “quantum repeaters” in which the channel is broken down into shorter segments connected by quantum links. In our group we are working towards building a quantum repeater using optically active semiconductor-based quantum dot molecules. We aim to make use of trapped pairs of charges – singlet-triplet (S-T) spin qubits. In the first part of this MSc. project you fabricate a quantum photodiode structure containing coupled quantum dots. This will involve clean-room fabrication, as well as electrical characterization of the fabricated diodes. In the second part, your focus will be on optical characterization of the S-T spin qubits. The goal is to measure exceedingly long coherence times (>>1µs) for special electric fields where the energy gap of the qubit is insensitive to electric and magnetic field fluctuations. Prior knowledge in optics, clean-room fabrication and programming are helpful – but secondary to high motivation and an open and curious mindset to tackle challenging problems. You will get experience in state-of-the-art nanofabrication, optical spectroscopy at cryogenic temperatures, as well as understanding of semiconductors in the context of quantum information and technology. Contact person Christian Dangel
	Machine Learning/ AI algorithms applied to advanced phase- and darkfield-CT reconstruction algorithms.	Pfeiffer
	Research group Biomedical Physics Description This project will focus on applying machine learning algorithms/ AI to improve reconstruction algorithms for advanced CT imaging, namely grating-based phase- and darkfild-CT. The project will involve working with PyTorch and/or TensorFlow/Keras, and will be carried out within a collaboration with TUM Informatics (PD Dr. Tobias Lasser). // Character of thesis work: mainly computational physics & image processing // For more information, please contact: Tobias Lasser (tobias.lassser@tum.de), Clemens Schmid (clem.schmid@tum.de), or Franz Pfeiffer (franz.pfeiffer@tum.de) Contact person Clemens Schmid
	Optimierung von Dual Energy CT in der Kleintier-Computertomographie am MRI	Wilkens
	Research group Associate Professorship of Medical Radiation Physics (Prof. Wilkens) Description Introduction: Computed tomography is a three-dimensional imaging method in which X-rays can be used to calculate slices of an object. Dual Energy CT uses the energy dependence of X-rays: The respective object is measured with different X-ray spectra, and the images obtained are subsequently processed and reconstructed. With the help of different algorithms, Dual Energy CT can extract much more information from the image than conventional imaging (monoenergetic images, electron density, material images, ...). Dual Energy CT devices are in use in human medicine since a few years; in this work the method is used on a small animal irradiation device for mice. Our dual energy method uses a calibration using calibration cylinders and two different X-ray spectra. Tasks: The master thesis focuses on the optimization of X-ray spectra and calibration and its effect on the measurement. When choosing the X-ray spectra, many combinations are possible by using different voltages and filters. The optimal combinations should be found by using different criteria and verified with a phantom. The calibration cylinders should be examined and improved with regard to their geometry and material. It should also be considered whether different calibration phantoms are advantageous for different measurement objects. Furthermore, it should be checked how stable the calibration is depending on the position in the device and the time. In all optimizations, the focus is on ensuring that the subsequent measurement of the object provides the most accurate possible result. Requirements: You are interested in medical physics, especially in X-ray diagnostics/radiotherapy? You like to work experimentally and can imagine working in a clean room? You have basic experience with Python and enjoy programming? Contact: Manuela Duda manuela.duda@tum.de Medical Radiation Physics / Prof. Wilkens Klinikum rechts der Isar (MRI) Contact person Manuela Duda

Registering the research phase

The registration to all modules belonging to the research phase is done at once in the Dean's Office (Dekanat), normally at the beginning of the third Master's semester. When doing this, the certificate of mentor counseling has to be included. After agreeing on a topic with the future supervisor, students can print out the registration form in the student access.

After six months the Master's thesis should begin. Passing the Master's seminar and the Master's training will be recorded in TUMonline and you are officially alowed to start the thesis.

Handing in the thesis and getting the grade

Before handing in the Master's thesis, you must fill in the final titel of the thesis in the database (student access) and upload an electronic copy (PDF-file). Afterwards, you have to hand in two printed versions in the Dean's Office (Dekanat). You have to hand in the thesis at the latest on the deadline, please keep this on mind.

Extension of the deadline is only possible for good reasons. See FAQ on Thesis extension.

The Master's thesis will be evaluated by the supervisor and a second examiner. The second examiner is appointed by the examination board on suggestion of the supervisor (after official registration of Master’s thesis).

The supervisor and the second examiner will also grade the Master's colloquium, which completes the research phase.

Re-enrollment during the research phase

For any examination you must be enrolled as a student of TUM. Hence you need to re-enroll for one semester more e.g. if you hand in your Master’s thesis or your Master’s colloquium takes place after the current semester ends.

With a due date for your thesis or a scheduled date for the colloquium e.g. in October, you should not forget to re-enroll for the winter semester and the corresponding deadline would be August 15.

Organization of the colloquium

The Master’s colloquium is organised and conducted by the supervisor together with the second examiner. The Master’s colloquium takes approximately 60 minutes, consisting of a 30 minutes talk and 30 minutes examination. Naturally, the inclusion of the colloquium in a group seminar is possible.

Completing your Master studies

At the end of the semester in which you reach the necessary 120 ECTS in your Master's degree program and passed all required exams you will be exmatriculated (according to §13(1) enrolment rules of TUM). In most cases the Master's colloquium will be the last exam to reach this point.

Taking further exams and final documents

You are principally allowed to take further exams after reaching the 120 ECTS, i.e. to replace previous results in the catalog of the focus areas with better results. Therefore it is generally not possible that the final documents are generated before you are exmatriculated. In case you need the final documents (or even preliminary documents) earlier, you have to request for it explicitly. See the Remarks on end of studies and final documents for further information.

Deriving the final grade

The final grade is the ECTS-weighted average of the graded exams.

Module	CP	ca. %
PH2001 Biomedical Physics 1	5	6,25
PH2002 Biomedical Physics 2	5	6,25
Fokus area	40	50
Master’s Thesis	30	37,5
Summe	80	100