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.
