Roman Kuster

I am a movement scientist and postdoctoral researcher with a PhD in Medical Science from Karolinska Institutet, currently based at the Lake Lucerne Institute (Therapy Science Lab) in Switzerland. In parallel, I hold research appointments at the University Hospital Zurich (Department of Neurology) and here at the Division of Physiotherapy.

My work integrates biomechanics, medicine, and data science to develop and validate digital health technologies for objective and patient-centred monitoring. I specialize in translating clinical and physiological research questions into actionable data-driven approaches using wearable sensors, real-world data, and artificial intelligence. I have more than a decade of experience spanning academic, clinical, and industrial settings, including several years at my own start-up (rotavis AG, an ergonomic chair manufacturer) and at F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., where I contributed to digital biomarker development for neurological conditions. I am the (co-)author of over twenty peer-reviewed scientific publications, and my research has led to two European patents for sensor-based medical technologies.

My overall goal is to advance how we use remote digital health tools to personalize medical treatment, improve clinical decision-making, and enhance quality of life for individuals living with neurological and musculoskeletal conditions.

My research is driven by the ambition to make remote and wearable-based health monitoring valid, clinically meaningful and accessible. I aim to develop methods that capture physical activity, posture, and other bodily functions with high validity and usability in real-world contexts.

Current research topics include:

• Digital Health & Wearable Sensors – Development and validation of algorithms for passive activity monitoring in neurological populations (step counting, energy expenditure).
• Personalised Rehabilitation Technologies – Designing patient-specific digital tools for movement assessment and therapy planning.
• Clinical Data Science & Real-World Analytics – Applying data-driven methods to interpret health data from clinical environments.
• Health Economics & Evidence Synthesis – Evaluation of the cost-effectiveness of exercise interventions for chronic pain.
• Usability and Human Factors Research – Assessing user interaction with digital devices and software-as-medical-devices (SaMD) in clinical and home settings.

Past projects include the development of POPAI, the Poster and Physical Activity Index, the first valid single-sensor method to measure sedentary behaviour and active sitting in daily life, and the creation of an mHealth application to monitor bulbar and respiratory function in people with spinal muscular atrophy. Through these efforts, I strive to bridge engineering innovation and clinical application, ensuring that new technologies not only measure behaviour accurately but also translate into meaningful outcomes for patients and healthcare providers.

I am deeply committed to academic teaching and mentoring across disciplines. Over the past years, I have taught on PhD, Master, and Bachelor level at Karolinska Institutet, Lake Lucerne Institute, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, ETH Zurich, and the University of Bern, covering topics such as:

• Biomechanics and physiology
• Artificial intelligence and biostatistics
• Scientific writing and research methodology

I have also supervised more than 15 Bachelor’s and Master’s students and contributed to the supervision of several PhD students in biomedical engineering, movement science, and physiotherapy. My teaching approach combines conceptual understanding with hands-on data analysis and critical thinking to prepare students for interdisciplinary collaboration in health research.

In addition, I contribute to academic governance and community development as a former member of the Doctoral Education Committee at Karolinska Institutet and a reviewer for international journals in physical activity, digital health, and human factors.