The KlaesLab specializes in exploring the intersection between biological and artificial systems. Professor Klaes holds the professorship for neurotechnology at the Ruhr-University Bochum. He is an expert in human and monkey brain-computer interfaces, both invasive and non-invasive. Currently, the lab is focused on using state-of-the-art machine learning approaches for brain-machine interfaces to control devices, developing advanced neural analysis methods to control human hand exoskeletons, and conducting virtual reality research. The lab uses VR, EEG, and invasive neural recordings from humans, providing a wide range of research opportunities. The lab has a broad network of collaborations within Ruhr-University Bochum, as well as with external partners such as Caltech, Ruhr University of Applied Sciences (Iossifidis Lab), German Primate Center, University of Coimbra, Snap Gmbh, and many others.
Welcome to KlaesLab
News and Events
20.05.2025
Open Call for Masters and PhD Candidates
KlaesLab at Ruhr University Bochum seeks motivated Masters and PhD candidates passionate about virtual reality, brain-computer interfaces, and AI in medicine. Join our cutting-edge neurotechnology projects! Contact us at neurotechnologie@rub.de
17.03.2025
Prof. Dr. Christian Klaes has been awarded the IOP Outstanding Reviewer award.
The IOP Outstanding Reviewer award recognizes exceptional dedication to peer review, highlighting a significant contribution to maintaining the quality and integrity of scientific literature.
11.02.2025
Check out KlaesLab Paper Trails, our podcast-style series where we dive into the latest research from our lab! 🎙️ Explore groundbreaking neuroscience, brain-computer interfaces, and machine learning innovations in an accessible, engaging format.
🎧 Listen now:
17.12.2024
Following up on the 2024 VRS Hackathon’s challenge, we are hosting a Special Research Topic at Frontiers in Virtual Reality, focused on interdisciplinary communication in virtual spaces. Contribute now!
18.11.24
Interested in the terahertz.NRW project? take a look at our newest video, posted by our partners at the Frauenhofer Institute FHR!
06.11.2024
Your body is probably more flexible than you think.
A new paper from our lab at Communications: Psychology!
17.09.2024
It’s slightly more than a week remaining to our awesome conference VRS24.
Come and join us at O-Werk!
22.08.2024
This summer we had a guest postdoc from Brazil: Caroline Pires Alavez Moraes visited our lab thanks to a RUB Research School scholarship. She is interested in our BCI work and we were really happy to work together. Thanks Caroline, we are looking to seeing you back!
22.07.2024
Last year, Constantin Sinaschuk and his team won our VRS23 Hackathon by creating a mobility solution for paralyzed people in virtual reality. RUB News Portal just wrote a piece about this:
https://news.rub.de/transfer/2024-07-18-virtual-reality-ich-bin-suechtig-nach-der-challenge-geworden
©RUB
20.06.2024
We are hiring!
We need a research assistant to help us develop our game for AI-supported neurological diagnosis.
Click the image for more info!
18.05.2024
We will be at ESCAN 2024 conference in Ghent, talking about Phantom Touch Illusion. Come by!
10.05.2024
Check out the new paper from our lab by Susanne Dyck who showed beta oscillations being a good proxy for implicit learning processes.
17.04.2024
Prof. Dr. Christian Klaes has been awarded the IOP Trusted Reviewer status.
The ‘IOP Trusted Reviewer’ status indicates a high level of peer review competence and the ability to constructively critique scientific literature to an exceptional standard.
Awarded by IOP Publishing on April 17th, 2024
01.12.2023
We will be at the HumanTech Summit Conference from December 9-10 at the SWPS University.
Prof Klaes is giving a Keynote on Virtual Bodies at day one. We will be happy to see you there, in person or online!
Key research areas
The use of virtual reality for diagnostics of neurological disorders
We develop a standardized test for diagnosing motor function disorders in Virtual Reality (VR). We use modern Machine Learning (ML) algorithms, such as deep learning, in the context of diagnosis and therapy of neurological diseases with hand and arm dysfunctions.
Neural signal processing using artificial intelligence on an embedded platform
Smart upper-limb exoskeleton
We are interested in developing a key component –a bio-mechanically designed, adaptive exoskeleton for the upper extremity — to explore and enable patients with arm and grip function impairment due to various neurological diseases in their journey of rehabilitation. The exoskeleton is a holistic rehabilitation system that includes the design and implementation of movement tasks in VR, a feedback system based on biosignals and a generic decoder for invasive and non-invasive brain-computer interfaces.
Collaborative robotics
Together with Ruhr University for Applied Sciences, University of Coimbra and University of Madeira, we develop a framework for trustful and efficient motor collaboration between humans and robotic agents. We use human biomarkers as a proxy of human state in order to adaptively guide actions of the collaborative robot.
Terahertz
We apply terahertz radiation to discover novel methods for imaging brain activity for future brain-machine interfaces.
Phantom Touch
This line of research explores phantom touch illusion —the perception of touch without physical contact in virtual reality. This can be useful for neurorehabilitation and sensory augmentation. By integrating VR, brain-computer interfaces, and haptic technologies, we aim to enhance motor recovery, rewire neural pathways, and improve sensory experiences for patients with neurological disorders.
If you are interested in our projects and/or working with us,
please reach out to us.