The Berlin School of Movement Science (BSMS), graduate school of the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, is offering a

PhD position with focus on the human neuromuscular function during perturbed movement

for a period of 3 (4) years hosted at the Department of Training and Movement Sciences of the same university starting in January 2018.

Project description

The purpose of the research project focuses on the neural control of the lower limb muscle-tendon unit function during perturbed motion in humans. According to daily life situations,

perturbation paradigms may be continuous and/or acute as well as unexpected and/or predictable. Different perturbations will be induced electro-mechanically by drops in surface height during contact phases of cyclic locomotion and acyclic movements (e.g. jumping) to challenge the system in different configurations of loading and muscle intrinsic properties (force-length-velocity relationship).

To investigate how the central nervous system organizes and uses specific muscle activation patterns (the so-called muscle synergies) to control the muscle-tendon unit behaviour and, thus, global stability, three techniques will be used. First, the electromyographic activity of relevant lower limb muscles will be measured and using a non-negative matrix factorization algorithm the muscle synergies will be extracted. Second, ultrasonography and kinematic analysis will be combined to assess vastus lateralis and gastrocnemius medialis muscle fascicles as well as respective muscle-tendon unit length. Lastly, the local dynamic stability will be estimated using the concept of the Lyapunov exponents.

We are looking for a PhD candidate interested in investigating the neurophysiological and muscle mechanical aspects underlying human motor control of perturbed movements.

Qualifications
– Candidates should hold an MSc or equivalent in Biomechanics, Engineering,
Mathematics or Sport Engineering
– A very good mathematics and physics background, together with direct experience in
signal processing are required.
– Previous work on measurements of surface electromyographic activity,
muscle/tendon ultrasonography and/or dynamic stability will constitute an important reason for preference.
– Strong experience in the use of programming languages such as R or MATLAB.
– Very good knowledge of the English language in speaking and writing is required.

Eligibility
– With the beginning of the scholarship the Master or equivalent studies must be
completed.
– The latest degree may not date back longer than 6 years.
– At the time of the nomination the candidate may not be in Germany for more than 15 months.
– During the scholarship period, staying abroad is limited to 9 months in total and no longer than 3 months per year.

The position is funded with a DAAD scholarship (Graduate School Scholarship Programme) and it includes:
– Monthly scholarship of 1000.00 €.
– Health, accident and liability insurance.
– Funding of a German language course (2, 4 or 6 months).

Application procedure
The application can only be submitted electronically. It should be written in English and must contain the following:
– Letter of motivation
– Detailed curriculum vitae
– Letter of recommendation by two university professors from the home university, issued during the last 2 years (see the DAAD form attached)
– Copies of certificates or copies of translated documents:

o Copy of the school leaving certificate qualifying for admission to higher
education in your own country
o Copies of certificates of annual examinations taken at the home university
(transcripts of records)
o Copies of certificates of any academic degrees or advanced qualifications
showing grades and explain the home’s grading system

– Certificates of internships (when available)
– The master thesis (or equivalent) and any publications or manuscripts

Contact information for this position
Dr. Sebastian Bohm (sebastian.bohm (at) hu-berlin.de, +49 (0) 30 2093 46010)
We invite you to apply before the 31st October 2017. Applications must be submitted as one pdf file containing all materials to be given consideration. Please send your application document via email to: sebastian.bohm (at) hu-berlin.de

The Department of Training and Movement Sciences at the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin provides basic and applied research in the areas of training and movement sciences as well as biomechanics. Our main research fields include adaptation mechanisms of mechanical and morphological properties of muscles and tendons, plasticity of movement control and interaction between the neuronal and musculoskeletal systems in order to increase human performance and improve life quality.

Host institution and work environment

The Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF) was established in 1990 in Barcelona as a public university with a strong dedication to excellence in research and teaching. It is the 1st Spanish university in teaching and research performance (U-Ranking, BBVA Foundation & Ivie, 2016), in terms of quality output, normalized impact and percentage of collaborative papers with international institutions (Scimago 2014).

DTIC is the UPF ICT department. It was created in 2009 and has an important track record of active participation in international projects (66 FP7 and 20 H2020 projects up to now). DTIC is the Spanish university department with the largest number of ERC grants (19 from FP7 on), and it has been awarded the “Maria de Maeztu” excellence award by the Spanish government for the quality and relevance of its pioneering scientific research.

The proposed PhD will take place at DTIC as a collaborative project between the Biomechanics and Mechanobiology and the Medical Imaging Analysis research areas of BCN MedTech. BCN MedTech (http://bcn-medtech.upf.edu/) is the Barcelona Centre for New Medical Technologies at UPF. Its focus is on biomedical integrative research, including mathematical and computational models, algorithms and systems for computer-aided diagnosis and treatment of health problems. It has a team of 60 full time researchers working on computational simulations, medical image analyses, signal processing, machine learning, computer-assisted surgery and biomedical electronics.

The project

The successful candidate will work on the modelling of adult spine deformity (ASD), focussing on patient-specific modelling techniques and intelligent analyses of biomechanical simulation outcomes in ASD patient cohorts. The project is a collaboration among UPF, the Instituto Ortopedico Galeazzi (Milan, Italy), the Hospital del Mar (Barcelona, Spain) and the Hospital de Vall d’Hebron (Barcelona, Spain). It will combine patient data with statistical shape modelling, finite element analyses and machine learning techniques to infer on the physical rationales that lay behind current clinical classifications of ASD patients.

The PhD thesis will be funded full time for a period of four years and will be co-supervised by Dr Jérôme Noailly and Prof Miguel Ángel González Ballester (UPF), and by Dr Fabio Galbusera (Instituto Ortopedico Galeazzi).

Requirements and application

Candidates are expected to have a Bachelor and Master in Physics, Applied mathematics, Biomedical engineering or in related fields. Proficient English is necessary. Applications should be sent by email to Dr Jérôme Noailly (jerome.noailly@upf.edu) and to Dr Fabio Galbusera (fabio.galbusera@grupposandonato.it) and should include a full CV, letter of motivation, Bachelor and Master academic transcripts and the contact of two referees.

Empa – the place where innovation starts
Empa is the research institute for materials science and technology of the ETH Domain and conducts cutting-edge research for the benefit of industry and the well-being of society.

Our Laboratory for Mechanics of Materials and Nanostructures is looking for a PhD Student in the field of Biomechanics

Your Tasks
You will work on a research project funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation that will contribute to the understanding of deformation and failure of bone on the microscale and its impact on whole bone strength. You will be enrolled in a doctoral program at ETH Zürich and exploit the micromechanical yield- and postyield properties of bone on the level of the extracellular matrix. During the course of the project, you will be involved in sample preparation, micromechanical experiments at different environmental conditions, electron microscopic imaging, Raman spectroscopy, as well as data analysis and interpretation.

The project is initiated in cooperation with Prof. Edoardo Mazza of the Institute of Mechanical Systems of ETH Zürich.

Your Profile
You must hold a Master’s or an equivalent Degree in Mechanical Engineering or Materials Science. A high motivation to work at the leading edge of measurement science and to work in international, multidisciplinary research teams is essential. Knowledge of English (oral and written) is important and knowledge of German would be an advantage. Experience in nanomechanical testing techniques like nanoindentation, electron microscopy based techniques as well as programming (e.g. Matlab, Labview, Python) is desirable.

For further information about the position please contact Dr. Jakob Schwiedrzik, jakob.schwiedrzik@empa.ch or Dr. Johann Michler, johann.Michler@empa.ch and visit our website www.empa.ch/web/s206 and Empa-Video

We look forward to receiving your online application including a letter of motivation, CV, diplomas with transcript and contact details of two referees. Please upload the requested documents through our webpage https://apply.refline.ch/673276/0889/pub/1/index.html.
Applications via email will not be considered.

1) FINITE-ELEMENT MODELING AND PATIENT-SPECIFIC PREDICTION OF ANEURYSM GROWTH AND RUPTURE IN THE ASCENDING THORACIC AORTA 

Keywords: Finite-element method, nonlinear mechanics, mechanobiology, aortic aneurysm, extracellular matrix degeneration, nonlocal mechanics, fluid-structure interactions.

Academic context: This PhD thesis is part of the interdisciplinary Biolochanics – Localization in biomechanics and mechanobiology of aneurysms: Towards personalized medicine – project (2015-2020) awarded to Stéphane Avril (http://www.mines-stetienne.fr/stephane-avril) under the European Research Council Consolidator Grant scheme (http://erc.europa.eu/consolidator-grants). His group at Mines Saint-Etienne leads major international research projects in the domain of soft tissue biomechanics, focused especially on aortic aneurysm through a longstanding collaboration with the Saint-Etienne University Hospital. The Biolochanics project also relies on collaborations with Yale University (USA).

Scientific context: The growth of aortic aneurysms is associated with several mechano-chemo-biological interactions leading to modifications of the tissue structure including the fragmentation of elastin and changes in the amount and organization of collagen. We have modeled these mechanisms in a constitutive model based on the constrained mixture approach, where each constituent has an elastic constitutive response governed by an anisotropic strain energy function and an inelastic constitutive response governed first by a scalar [1–d]-type damage formulation and second by a permanent deformation gradient related to the growth. The model is implemented as a user material in the Abaqus software.

Project summary: In this thesis, we will first start by performing different sensitivity studies on the numerical model, permitting to calibrate different parameters, including the different degradation rates of collagen and elastin and the related time evolution of stress and strain distribution. Calibration will be performed against experimental data acquired by another person working on the project. After this stage we will apply the model to simulate the growth of ATAA in patients for whom we have reconstructed the aortic geometry for several years (on going longitudinal study at the university hospital of Saint-Etienne). In addition to the geometry, we have also access to hemodynamics through 4D MRI also acquired longitudinally for these patients, and even stiffness of the wall through an inverse method developed by another student working also on the project. All these data will be used to calibrate the finite-element model on a cohort of +20 patients in order to better understand how aneurysms grow and how the damage localizes in the tissue. The final goal will be to simulate numerically the scenario of growth and possible rupture for any patient’s aneurysm, just from the 4D MRI data, thus aiding the surgeon to take important decision such as surgical repair.

Candidate profile: Candidates with strong backgrounds in engineering mechanics, biophysics, biomechanics, and/or applied mathematics are expected. Background in finite elements and nonlinear mechanics will be highly appreciated. Motivation for ground-breaking experimental work and interest in mechanobiology are recommended.

Administrative aspects: Situated in the dynamic Rhône-Alpes region (Lyon – France) in the heart of the European Union, Mines-Saint-Etienne is one of the oldest and most prestigious Grandes Ecoles, and has, since 1816, lived up to its motto “innovante par tradition – inspiring innovation“. Working in a culturally and scientifically most stimulating atmosphere, the successful candidate will earn

internationally competitive salaries. Employment durations is 3 years. The employer is Armines, linked by state-approved agreements to Mines Saint-Etienne. The thesis will start in October 2017.

If you are interested, send a curriculum vitae, a cover letter describing previous research experience and interests, the names and contact information of two references. Please, submit via email with “ERC Biolochanics D3” on the subject line to Prof Stéphane AVRIL, PhD (avril@emse.fr). Deadline for applications: 30th April 2017.

2) MULTISCALE CHARACTERIZATION OF PROTEOLYTIC REMODELING  AND OF ITS BIOMECHANICAL EFFECTS IN THE AORTIC WALL 

Keywords: Mechanobiology, aortic aneurysm, extracellular matrix degeneration, biomechanical tests, full-field measurements, digital image correlation, OCT, collagenase

Academic context: This PhD thesis is part of the interdisciplinary Biolochanics – Localization in biomechanics and mechanobiology of aneurysms: Towards personalized medicine – project (2015-2020) awarded to Stéphane Avril (http://www.mines-stetienne.fr/stephane-avril) under the European Research Council Consolidator Grant scheme (http://erc.europa.eu/consolidator-grants). His group at Mines Saint-Etienne leads major international research projects in the domain of soft tissue biomechanics, focused especially on aortic aneurysm through a longstanding collaboration with the Saint-Etienne University Hospital. The Biolochanics project also relies on collaborations with Yale University (USA).

Scientific context: The growth of aortic aneurysms is associated with several morphological abnormalities, particularly in the media. Two abnormalities standout from a mechanical standpoint: the fragmentation of elastin and changes in the amount and organization of collagen. Changes in the organization of these two load-bearing components signal that more than likely significant changes in the mechanical properties are occurring.

Project summary: In this project, we will focus on the contribution of collagen, as the fragmentation of elastin has been implicated in the normal aging process. In aneurysms the normal production and degradation rates of collagen are disturbed leading to enlargement and local weakening of the aortic wall. To investigate this localized weakening of the tissue through degradation of its collagen fibers we will develop a novel biochemically-based method to locally degrade the collagen fibers and characterize its biomechanical effects.

Sample will be cut from aortic tissue and tested in an inflation device. Using a digital image correlation system at the macro scale (developed by a post-doc also working on the project) and an optical coherence tomography (OCT) system at the micro scale (developed by another post-doc), images will be recorded during the inflation. While the pressure is held constant, a fine tipped syringe will be used to apply purified collagenase in buffered saline to a small region of the sample. After the application of collagenase the sample and testing device will be placed in a saline bath for incubation. The selected incubation times are short to ensure that the collagen fibers are only partially degraded. To verify that the enzymatic digestion of collagen occurred we will examine histological images. After the treatment, we will inflate the tissue to failure. We will subject a total of 30 ATAA wall specimens to this protocol.

The stress and strain fields at each pressure stage will be calculated using an inverse method based on the data of the digital image correlation system at the macro scale and of the optical coherence tomography system. The focus will be on determining if any novel local features are identified in the collagenase treated region, particularly at physiologic pressure. We will use the calculated mechanical properties to confirm that the collagenase treatment had the intended effect of weakening the mechanical properties at the application site. The experimental method is fully capable of capturing these local changes in material properties. By comparing the range of rupture stress, we will determine how localized collagen degradation impacts the final rupture stress.

Candidate profile: Candidates with strong backgrounds in engineering mechanics, biophysics, biomechanics, and/or applied mathematics are expected. Background in experimental mechanics

and optical measurement techniques will be appreciated. Motivation for ground-breaking experimental work and interest in mechanobiology are recommended.

Administrative aspects: Situated in the dynamic Rhône-Alpes region (Lyon – France) in the heart of the European Union, Mines-Saint-Etienne is one of the oldest and most prestigious Grandes Ecoles, and has, since 1816, lived up to its motto “innovante par tradition – inspiring innovation“. Working in a culturally and scientifically most stimulating atmosphere, the successful candidate will earn internationally competitive salaries. Employment durations is 3 years. The employer is Armines, linked by state-approved agreements to Mines Saint-Etienne. The thesis will start in October 2017.

If you are interested, send a curriculum vitae, a cover letter describing previous research experience and interests, the names and contact information of two references. Please, submit via email with “ERC Biolochanics D2” on the subject line to Prof Stéphane AVRIL, PhD (avril@emse.fr). Deadline for applications: 30th April 2017.