ESBiomech24 Congress in Edinburgh

PhD in endometriosis biomechanics @Université Paris-Est Créteil Val de Marne

Location: Paris area
Laboratoire Modélisation et Simulation Multi Echelle (MSME, UMR 8208 CNRS)
Université Paris-Est Créteil Val de Marne (UPEC)
61, avenue du Général de Gaulle 94010 Créteil Cedex France

Starting date: Fall 2024

Context: Endometriosis is an inflammatory and chronic disease that affects near 1 in 10 women. It is characterized by the presence and the pathological proliferation of tissue similar to the endometrium (uterine mucosa) outside the uterus. This project partially funded by the patients’ association EndoFrance and the French Endometriosis Research Foundation (Fondation pour la recherche sur l’endométriose, EndoMeca project) targets endometriosis biomechanics. The overarching goal is to evaluate the influence of endometriosis on the distribution of forces in the abdomen, and the perception of these stresses within the pathological tissues. The role of mechanics in the development of endometriosis and patient symptoms is a subject that is mostly unexplored. However, it is evident today that endometriosis alters the mechanical properties of tissues and that these pathological developments have an impact on pelvic pain and the functioning of organs.

Objectives: The goal of the EndoMeca study is to uncover the role of mechanobiology on endometriosis physiopathology at the different scales, from cell mechanosensation to organ mechanics. The candidate will collect the first data on mechanobiology of endometriotic tissue, and subsequently provide the tools to quantify endometriosis-induced changes in local and macroscopic mechanics and biochemistry.

Within the scope of this project, three research axes will be explored over the next years. The first axis focuses on experimental work in histology and mechanics – investigating the links between the tissue mechanical behavior and the pathological micro-environment. Significant 2D and 3D data will be obtained from the analysis of biopsies through several imaging modalities. The second research axis involves image analysis including rendering, segmentation and meshing of 3D heterogeneous volumes to perform a quantitative analysis of the impact of endometriosis on various pelvic organs. The third part of the project is centered on theoretical and numerical modeling. The challenge will be to reproduce the changes in pelvic tissue geometry, microstructure and biomechanical properties through the definition of a relevant growth and remodeling law.

The candidate will be expected to conduct the research within one or several of these axes.

The candidate: The scope of this study is broad and we currently accept applications from various backgrounds: mechanical engineering, materials science / engineering, biomechanics, bioengineering, biology or image processing.

We will give priority to candidates with at least 2 of the following skills:

  • 2D/3D segmentation
  • Finite element analysis
  • Histology
  • Light/ Fluorescence Microscopy
  • Mechanics of materials
  • Programming knowledge (C, Matlab, Python…)
  • The interest in living tissue and clinical applications will be appreciated but is not necessary.

Deadline: March 29th, 2024. After that date, please contact Dr Martin as other opportunities may be available then.

How to apply: Please send your CV and cover letter to Madge MARTIN (madge.martin@cnrs.fr), Matthieu CARUEL (matthieu.caruel@u-pec.fr) and Vittorio SANSALONE (vittorio.sansalone@u-pec.fr).

Post-doctoral position on “Bone behavior around a self-tapping dental implant during its insertion, analysed through synchrotron radiation-based fast computed tomography” @INSA Lyon

INSA Lyon is inviting applications for a postoctoral position on the analyses of dental implant insertion into bone based on microcomputed tomography.

The candidate mission will be to analyze this data set of Sr-μCT scans in order to better
understand the influence of the implant geometry on bone biomechanical behavior during
insertion. Bone morphological characterizations will be held to follow the formation of debris
and the bone volume fraction around the implant. Digital Volume Correlation will also be
applied to follow peri-implant bone strain development during the insertion.


Requested skills:
The post-doctorate candidate must have a strong experience in the manipulation and
processing of volumetric data. Skills in computer languages such as Python or Matlab will be
needed for the further treatment of the data. Some knowledge in biomechanics are preferable
as a digital volume correlation algorithm will be use to investigate bone strain/stress behavior
during implant insertion.

More information:

4 positions at the Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering (IMBE) in Leeds, UK

The Institiute of Medical and Biological Engineering (IMBE) in Leeds, UK, is currently recruiting for 4 positions:

  1. researcher (research fellow requiring a PhD or research assistant requiring a Master) in computational damage biomechanics: https://jobs.leeds.ac.uk/vacancy.aspx?ref=EPSME1154 (for the research assistant role, check your UK working eligibility by contacting InternationalHR@leeds.ac.uk)
  2. post-doctoral research (research fellow requiring a PhD) in knee and hip biomechanical evaluation: https://jobs.leeds.ac.uk/vacancy.aspx?ref=EPSME1155
  3. PhD student in spine biomechanics: https://phd.leeds.ac.uk/project/1826-integrating-morphology-and-mechanics-developing-a-statistical-shape-and-appearance-model-ssam-for-spinal-health-assessment-intervention-planning
  4. PhD student in bone healing: https://phd.leeds.ac.uk/project/1820-computational-biomechanical-modelling-of-external-fixation-of-fractures-to-predict-bone-healing

All details of application processes are available on the respective links, deadlines within the next month.

The multi-disciplinary IMBE is embedded within the School of Mechanical Engineering and the Faculty of Biological Sciences at the University of Leeds. It is a dynamic world-renowned medical engineering research centre which specialises in research and translation of musculoskeletal and cardiovascular medical technologies that promote ’50 active years after 50’.

As a researcher or PhD student within IMBE, there will be opportunities to contribute to wider activities related to medical technologies including public and patient engagement, group training and social events. Groups of researchers working on aligned projects or using similar methods meet regularly to share ideas and best practice, and we encourage collegiate working. We will support your long-term career ambitions through bespoke training and encourage external secondments, laboratory visits or participation at international conferences.

10 PhD positions in the Europe Horizon Marie Skłodowska-Curie Project REBONE

REBONE is a four-year Doctoral Network, funded by the Europe Horizon Marie Skłodowska programme, aiming at innovatively training a new generation of researchers to develop a multidisciplinary optimization process aimed at providing technologies for personalized bone-substitute implants, based on bioactive ceramics to address the health and societal burdens of trauma and bone diseases.

The musculoskeletal system is extremely vulnerable to ageing and traumatic events, and common clinical conditions often impose a high burden on the clinical system. For patients requiring bone-substitute implants to treat critical-size bone defects, new solutions are needed to address important unmet needs: personalised solutions for better clinical outcomes; improvements in materials to ensure higher mechanical reliability without compromising bioactive and bioresorbable properties; optimised manufacturing technologies for materials and products of high reliability and quality.

In order to achieve these ambitious goals REBONE is about to open 10 fully funded PhD positions to  construct a platform of computational tools that will enable clinical experts to produce customized bone graft substitutes for the treatment of critical-size bone defects. This innovation will ensure that an ideal treatment solution is found on a patient-specific basis in terms of:

  • mechanical and mechano-biological performance,
  • surgical implantability, and
  • manufacturing process reliability.

Furthermore, REBONE will develop state-of-the-art in silico models based on advanced computational methods and advanced characterisation and validation techniques to obtain personalised implants with a surgical planning visualization system in mixed reality with the following characteristics:

  • tailored and reliable mechanical and physical properties;
  • best osteointegration capability;
  • targeted mechanical, physical and mechano-biological functions with patient-specific constraints taking into account the load-bearing anatomical location. Four selected clinical cases will be used as demonstrators of the optimization design and manufacturing processes.

LIST OF AVAILABLE PhD POSITIONS

Complete list of the 10 Doctoral positions available within REBONE:

  1. Position 1: Methods for optimization of bone-substitute architectures (Politecnico di Milano, Italy);
  2. Position 2: Micro- and macro-mechanical characterization of materials and devices and in-silico Models (Politecnico di Milano, Italy);
  3. Position 3: 3D printing technologies for Glass-Ceramic and Glass-Ceramic-based composite BTE scaffolds (Politecnico di Torino, Italy);
  4. Position 4: Tissue-scaffold biological interaction (Università del Piemonte Orientale, Italy)
  5. Position 5: Design of bone inspired scaffolds and biomechanical characterization of the bone-scaffold construct (Université de Liege, Belgium)
  6. Position 6: Industrial process for glass-ceramic device manufacturing through VPP (Lithoz GmbH, Austria)
  7. Position 7: Characterization of fracture relevant bone sites for information on the structural/compositional requirements of the implant (Ludwig Boltzmann Institute, Austria)
  8. Position 8: Models for Tissue growth and fundamental relationships with micro-architecture of scaffolds (University of Salzburg, Austria)
  9. Position 9: Biomimetic in vitro culture models for evaluation of novel bone substitute implants (University of Belgrade, RS)
  10. Position 10: Mixed reality for planning of implant surgery for bone defects of irregular shapes (MEDAPP SPÓŁKA AKCYJNA, Poland)

For info and application procedure please visit the project website https://rebone.eu/ and here:

Postdoc position on the Evaluation of Interactions between Motorcyclist, Airbag and Safety Barrier via Numerical Simulations @ Université Gustave Eiffel (Lyon or Marseille, France)

The objective of this joint project (LBA & LBMC) is to integrate the barrier impact into the airbag evaluation processes of the previous REGAM project. This objective thus feeds two strategic issues:

– Quantify the combined effects of wearing an airbag vest and of a safety barrier with or without a motorcyclist screen to reduce the risk of injury during an accident (definition, analysis and choice of injury criteria in a reference case).

– Identify the area of protection (gain/limits) offered by regulatory barriers for different impact situations with the motorcyclist (sensitivity analyses).

To do this, it is a question of establishing a crash numerical modeling combining motorcyclist, motorcycle, airbag and restraint device, based on the previous work on the subject at LBA and LBMC.

More details can be found here:

https://lbmc.univ-gustave-eiffel.fr/fileadmin/redaction/LBMC/Documents/Post-doc/REGAM2_Offre_de_PostDoc_FR_ANG.pdf

Postdoc-Position in Digital Materials Science @Clausthal University of Technology

The Institute for Materials Science and Engineering at Clausthal University of Technology is pleased to announce a postdoctoral position available for three years, with the potential for extension by an additional three years. We welcome applications from individuals who are motivated, enthusiastic, and collaborative, demonstrating a commitment to developing solutions for pressing global challenges. The salary scale for this position is EG 13 TV-L aligning with the German collective labour agreement (indicative gross monthly salary range is €4,188.00 – €6,037.00 depending on experience, family status, etc.). This opportunity is suitable for part-time work and is crafted as a qualification position for postdocs. However, we encourage outstanding candidates, including those without a PhD, to explore the opportunity to pursue a doctorate at Clausthal University of Technology.

The Institute for Materials Science and Engineering at Clausthal University of Technology has a strong application focus in Research and Teaching. The working group Digitalisation in Materials Science and Engineering has a focus on biologic, architectured materials and engineered living materials. The prospective candidate should strengthen this area strategically so that we seek a candidate with a background or interest in biological tissues.

You will find key duties, a description of your profile, what we offer, contact details, and how you can apply under https://tinyurl.com/ycxf74te. We review applications on an ongoing basis and close this advert as soon as we have found a suitable candidate. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions. We look forward to hearing from you!

2 PhD positions on atherosclerotic arterial wall biomechanics @Erasmus MC & TU Delft

The Cardiovascular Biomechanics Group at Erasmus Medical Center / TU Delft has two PhD positions available currently, both on atherosclerotic arterial wall biomechanics, one experimental and the other one computational.

Further info can be reached at https://aliakyildiz.net/vacancies/.

Application for the openings:

Position 1.) https://www.werkenbijerasmusmc.nl/en/vacancy/95506/phd-position-field-computational-vascular-biomechanics-48.24.23.tt

Position 2.) https://www.werkenbijerasmusmc.nl/en/vacancy/95504/phd-position-translational-and-experimental-biomechanics-atherosclerosis-48.23.23.tt

Senior postdoctoral researcher in computer methods @Universitat Pompeu Fabra

We are offering a 4-5-year postdoctoral position for our research line Computer methods for modeling based on finite elements and agents in multiscale simulations, within the context of the O-Health project. O-Health is a Consolidator grant from the European Research Council, awarded by the European Commission in the framework of the HORIZON Action (PREUR02822 – HEu – ERC – CoG – O-Health – 101044828) It is directed by Prof. Jérôme Noailly, from the BCN MedTech research unit of the Department of Information and Communication Technologies (DTIC), Pompeu Fabra University (UPF), Barcelona, Spain.

The researcher will be responsible for the development of the multiscale simulation platform of the O-Health project, combining finite element (organ/tissue level) and agent-based (multicellular models) models and solvers.

The researcher will gradually become responsible for the conversion of models based on the physics and biology of the BMMB, into interoperable tools within automated simulation flows, through bottom-up and top-down modeling. Likewise, he will execute and be responsible for the conversion of the models based on the physics and biology of the BMMB, into interoperable tools within automated simulation flows, for the bottom-up and top-down modeling of O-Health. You will define, program and implement workflows using and adapting existing free and open solutions, such as SBML, HDF5 and MUSCLE.
The researcher must check that the project deadlines and deliverables are met, and that the project results can be adequately disseminated through scientific media, congresses and medical journals, as well as periodically report to the PI.

Application deadline: 21/12/2023

More information:

https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/113582

2 postdoc positions on computational modeling of Achilles tendon mechanics and/or mechanobiology @Lund University

We are hiring two ambitious and curious post-doctoral researchers in computational modeling of tendons. This position is within the ERC-funded project (Tendon_MechBio) with the scope to elucidate how mechanical loading affects tendon mechanics and tendon regeneration. The modeling will be based on unique experimental data collected within the team. We would like to employ two postdoctoral researchers with the following two aims. 

  1. To develop detailed structural and anatomical computational models of the tendon tissue, in order to understand how mechanical loading influences tendon function, structure and composition. The computational modeling will be based on unique collected experimental data of collagen fiber structure and. The detailed structural models will be key in the project to elucidate the mechanisms guiding the tendon organ and tissue level response to load.
  2. To investigate how mechanical loading influences healing tendon function, structure and composition. The project includes further developing and validating an existing adaptive mechanoregulatory model for tendon repair. This will be based on collected experimental data. The developed computational scheme will be important for the project to elucidate the mechanobiological mechanisms at play.

Applicants can present preferences between aim 1 or 2, or state interest in both options.

The link to the full advertisement and application system is below:

https://lu.varbi.com/en/what:job/jobID:673035/

Application deadline: 7th December

Postdoc position in Experimental Bone-Spine mechanics @University of Sheffield

Are you looking for an exciting PostDoctoral post in Experimental Bone/Spine mechanics?

Join us at Insigneo to work with Dr Enrico Dall’Ara and Prof Damien Lacroix on the recently EU funded METASTRA project!

This highly interdisciplinary post-doctoral position will advance our understanding of the biomechanics of metastatic spine and will create an experimental database for the validation of computational models for assessing metastatic vertebrae before and after treatment.

The position is within Insigneo and is funded as part of Horizon Europe/Innovate UK research project METASTRA (https://www.metastraproject.eu/) that aims to provide a combination of computational models biomechanically validated and demonstrated in relevant clinical environments that will be incorporated in a clinical decision support system.

This part of the project is focused on model validation using state of the art mechanical testing combined with imaging and digital volume correlation.

You will have an excellent PhD in biomechanics (or a related discipline), possess a solid knowledge of bone imaging and experimental biomechanics.

Ensuring the achievement of the project objectives will advance the vision of the Insigneo institute to validate computational models for the musculoskeletal system and produce a transformational impact on healthcare.

The PDRA will also sustain and strengthen collaboration within relevant Insigneo research groups and beyond; and will commit to Insigneo’s mission to produce high quality and impactful cutting-edge research. You will join the group of Dr. Enrico Dall’Ara and Prof Damien Lacroix. Our biomechanics group within the Department has an international and interdisciplinary profile and a strong commitment to clinical and industrial translation with impact in future healthcare. We are active in biomechanics and mechanobiology of the neuromusculoskeletal systems. We have access to a fully equipped human movement analysis laboratory, a tissue testing/mechanobiology laboratory, and to ex vivo and in vivo microCT imaging facilities

Link for Applications

Deadline applications: 6th December 2023

Tentative Start: 1st March 2024

Duration: 3 years


Corporate members of the ESB:

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