MRes Neurotechnology
Thesis: Dry-Contact In-Ear EEG for Investigating Neural Responses to Music, supervised by Dr. Rylie Green. Modules spanned neuroscience, systems physiology and brain-machine interfaces.
Medicine · Biophysics · Neurotechnology
Hi! I'm Ellen, an incoming medical student in Austria with a background in biophysics and two research master's degrees. My work has taken me from nanomedicine to neurotechnology, and I am passionate about bringing these fields into medicine to help shape patient-centered innovations.
With foundations in physics, biophysics, nanomaterials, and neurotechnology, I approach medicine through the perspective of both research and clinical training, with a particular interest in translating engineering and scientific discoveries into meaningful advances in patient care.
Before entering medicine, my research focused on wearable neural interfaces and electrophysiology, most recently through the development and validation of an in-ear EEG system at Imperial College London. Earlier work in nanomedicine and biomechanics taught me to think across scales, from engineered materials and cellular systems to the electrical signals generated by the human body.
Observing craniotomies and spinal procedures at King's College Hospital gave these experiences a new perspective. Concepts that had once existed as data, models, and laboratory experiments became tangible in the operating theatre, where precision, decision-making, and the interpretation of biological signals directly shaped patient care. It was this intersection of engineering, neuroscience, and surgery that confirmed my desire to pursue medicine.
Thesis: Dry-Contact In-Ear EEG for Investigating Neural Responses to Music, supervised by Dr. Rylie Green. Modules spanned neuroscience, systems physiology and brain-machine interfaces.
Thesis: Development of Artificial Lipid-Based Nanogels for mRNA Delivery, supervised by Dr. Nazila Kamaly and Dr. Rüdiger Woscholski. Modules included membrane biophysics, materials chemistry, and chemistry of nanomaterials.
Thesis: Determining the Young's Moduli of Collagen Fibrils with the Winkler Foundation Model, supervised by Dr. Patrick Mesquida. Awarded the Josh Amesbury Prize 2022.
Modules included biophysics, medical physics & clinical engineering, classical physics (mechanics, electromagnetism, thermal physics), modern physics (quantum mechanics, solid state & condensed matter physics), experimental physics (incl. X-ray diffraction), mathematics, computation, optics, and nanotechnology.
GPA: 4.1. Honors: High Honor Roll, AISV Physics Book Award.
GPA: 4.0. Honors: High Honor Roll.
One-semester study abroad in Grade 9, playing basketball and tennis (Coach's Award). Also received the Toshiba ExploraVision Medical Physics Award, French Bronze Medal, and Latin Cum Laude Award during this time.
Led end-to-end development of a dry-contact in-ear EEG prototype: earpiece design and 3D printing, PEDOT:PSS electrode synthesis, impedance characterisation, and human data collection (N=15) with Python-based signal analysis. Conducted a music-based study collecting EEG signals from participants listening to different string textures of a musical piece played only by a string ensemble.
Synthesised and formulated artificial lipid-polymer nanogels for mRNA delivery; characterised via DLS and TEM and demonstrated functional transfection. Developed artificial lipid-based nanogels and liposomes for mRNA delivery, tested on HeLa and bEnd.3 (brain) cells. Presented at ICMSN 2024 and the Imperial Drug Student Research Network Conference.
Determined the Young's moduli of collagen fibrils using AFM force curves and the Winkler foundation model. Published in Microscopy Today (2024) and presented at MMC 2023.
Led CAD and prototyping for an ergonomic, minimalistic hearing aid concept, iterating manufacturing and materials across 3D-printing workflows.
Devised a concept for a gas-form antibiotic delivery system in a group project, using sublimation and vaporisation to administer medicine by inhalation as a more comfortable and convenient alternative to oral or injectable dosing. Awarded Honorable Mention at the 2017 USA Toshiba ExploraVision Competition.
One-day surgical observation under Prim. Univ.-Prof. Dr. Michael Hermann; gained insight into the diagnosis and surgical management of Hashimoto's thyroiditis, thyroid and parathyroid carcinomas, and Graves' disease.
Observed brain and spine procedures including craniotomy, endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery, and spinal decompression. Contributed to a case report on ventriculoperitoneal shunt failure in pregnancy with Chiari malformation I.
Contributed to nanoparticle synthesis for a photodynamic cancer therapy project and assembled a benchtop microfluidics processor, working with hazardous materials under SOP and COSHH protocols.
Supported a zebrafish cardiac-marker study within a multidisciplinary cancer research team, carrying out molecular cloning, xenografting, and cell culture, and quantifying fluorescent markers to assess PFOS/PFOA responses.
Rotated across four specialties: Surgical Oncology (mastectomy, with clinic exposure to ultrasound), Endocrine Surgery (thyroidectomy), Hepato-Biliary Surgery (biliary procedures), and GI Endoscopy (gastroscopy and colonoscopy). Also attended a radiology seminar on chest X-ray interpretation.
Supported front-of-house, session logistics and interview coordination at the world's largest ageing conference.
Saturday evening shifts in the Accident & Emergency Department at St Mary's Hospital. Supported triage and patient flow by chaperoning patients, restocking clinical supplies, and upholding infection-prevention protocols.
Coordinated events and networking for a leading UK synthetic biology hub featured in Nature and Synbio Alliance; created public-facing biotech posters and ran the society's weekly mailing list.
Founded the school's chapter, which worked with the Mukwashi Trust School and helped support the Mukwashi Sanitation Project, and led fundraising for women's health and education in Zambia.
Coordinated school fundraisers for the Austrian Red Cross, supporting emergency response, first aid, and patient support.
Raised funds and helped build a home in Portugal for a family facing financial hardship after losing a family member to brain cancer, supporting their path back to housing stability.
Launched a community drawing workshop and provided academic tutoring for underserved children, advancing health equity.
Interested in short-term research collaborations, neurotechnology and thoughtful ideas about the future of neurosurgical practice.