We are currently recruiting a PhD student for a project that was funded by the National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), France. The project deals with the development of a computational model to better understand spinal growth and bone adaptation. In particular, the project addresses the question how vertebral bodies grow under normal and pathological loading conditions such as in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS), i.e. a spinal deformity that leads to abnormal vertebral loading, vertebral wedging and ultimately to a significant deformity of the spine. Furthermore, the altered loads on vertebral bodies may lead to a change in bone mass and re-orientation (i.e., adaptation) of the trabecular bone architecture which could play an important role for the development of osteoporosis at later stages in life. Access to longitudinal MRI data both from healthy and AIS subjects will allow for patient specific modeling of spinal growth and adaptation.

Candidates are expected to have a strong background in continuum mechanics and numerical simulations. A previous experience in a domain related to biomechanics and/or imaging techniques will be an asset.

The PhD project is a collaboration between Prof Vittorio Sansalone, Biomechanics team of the Multiscale Modeling and Simulation lab (CNRS UMR 8208), from the University of Paris Est Créteil (UPEC, France) and Professor Peter Pivonka, Director of Biomechanics and Spine Research Group, from Queensland University of Technology (QUT, Australia). The selected candidate will spend half of the time at UPEC, Paris and half of the time at QUT, Brisbane. The successful completion of PhD studies will lead to doctoral degrees both from the University Paris Est Créteil and Queensland University of Technology.

If you are interested in this position, please send your CV together with a cover letter to either Prof. Vittorio Sansalone (Email: vittorio.sansalone@u-pec.fr) or Prof. Peter Pivonka (peter.pivonka@qut.edu.au) by Friday, May 1, 2020.

A PhD position shared in collaboration between the Computational Mechanobiology Group at the Julius Wolff Institute (Charite Medical School in Berlin) and the Computational and Structural Mechanics group at the Institute of Mechanics in Technische Universität Berlin is vacant. 

Topic 

Bone has the ability to self-regenerate after injury, however, large bone defects often lead to delayed healing or non-unions. The treatment of these conditions remains a clinical challenge. To overcome the limitations of current bone treatment options, novel alternatives hold promise as the next generation of tissue engineering scaffolds. Experimental trial and error in the design of these scaffolds could be reduced by the development of a computer platform that could support the design of these scaffolds. The project therefore aims to develop suitable numerical models to investigate the behaviour and optimal design of tissue engineering scaffolds and their influence on the bone regeneration process. 

Your tasks 

You will employ engineering, mathematical and computational techniques (FEM) to determine the mechanical and electrical signals generated due to the physiological stimulation of a scaffold and to investigate how these signals influence the bone regeneration process. You will also investigate how different parameters influence the bone healing process. Using this understanding, the potential design optimization of scaffolds (concerning scaffold geometrical and material properties) will be also investigated. You have to be able to employ experimental data available to validate and qualify the numerical prediction. 

Your profile 

 Highly motivated candidate with a Master’s or comparable degree in mechanical engineering/biomedical engineering/material science and engineering/mathematical biology or a related discipline 

 Strong skills in Finite Element Modelling (e.g. Abaqus) 

 Ideally knowledge or experience in material science in particular piezoelectric materials 

 Knowledge in Programming is advantageous (e.g. C/C++, Matlab, Python) 

 Willingness to work in a multidisciplinary project 

 Very good English language skills (oral and written) 

What we provide 

This position is fully funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) for a period of three years (100%, E13 salary group). You will work in friendly teams of highly qualified researchers and in unique research environments. Expected start date is at the earliest convenience, ideally May 1st, 2020. 

Application / Contact 

Please submit your application before March 31st, 2020 via e-mail to Dr. Melika Mohammadkhah (Melika.mohammadkhah@tu-berlin.de). Your email should contain a single PDF document (subject: “Application: PhD position”) including the letter of motivation, your CV (with contact information of at least two references), transcripts of the bachelor’s and master’s diploma, proof of English language skills. 

Three fully funded PhD positions are currently available in the field of soft tissue biomechanics and medical technologies at the School of Mechanical and Design Engineering of the University of Portsmouth (UK).

All of the three projects arise from a close and strong collaboration between the research group of Biomechanics and local and national hospitals. They all have a strong drive in clinical practice, from which the underlying research question originates.

The first project is aimed to predict the artero-venus fistula outcome/evolution in patients undergoing hemodialysis; the second project is aimed to provide an in vivo measurement of heart valves deformation; the third project is focused on improving clinical practice for lesion detection and diagnosis in gastroscopy.

Further details about the three projects are available online at:

https://www.findaphd.com/phds/project/in-silico-assessment-tool-for-reducing-the-risk-of-failure-of-arterio-venous-fistula-avf-in-patients-subjected-to-haemodialysis/?p115898

https://www.findaphd.com/phds/project/investigating-the-physiological-deformation-of-heart-valves-using-in-vivo-and-in-vitro-techniques/?p115894

and
https://www.findaphd.com/phds/project/enhanced-endoscopic-screening-of-polyps-in-the-upper-gastrointestinal-tract/?p116271

Brilliant and ambitious students attracted by multidisciplinary subjects, interested in medical applications and strongly oriented to authentic teamworking are invited to apply.

The three positions are opened for UK/EEA applicants.

The deadline for the online application is Friday 23rd 2020.