Postdoc Mechanical Optimization of Scoliosis Treatment

The Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) has the following vacancy: Postdoctoral researcher – Mechanical Optimization of Scoliosis Treatment

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Job description

About TU/e:

The TU/e is a University of Technology with a focus on Health, Energy and Mobility. Within the Health area, several departments cooperate on topics such as Chemical Biology, Regenerative Medicine, Computational Biology, and Biosensing, with close links to healthcare and industry. The TU/e is an open and inclusive university with short communication lines. The people are curious, collaborative, and strive for excellence. TU/e enables its academic staff to develop research and education at an internationally renowned level. Our lively campus community facilitates connections between staff and students, in an open, friendly, vibrant atmosphere that welcomes and inspires.

About BME:

The Department of Biomedical Engineering offers a research driven BME Bachelor program and Masters in Biomedical Engineering and Medical Engineering in its Graduate Program. Its research areas range from Molecular Bioengineering and Imaging, Biomechanics and Tissue Engineering to Biomedical Imaging and Modelling. The department has more than 800 students and up to 200 tenured and non-tenured employees.

About the Orthopaedic Biomechanics group:

This group combines the disciplines of engineering and biology to increase our knowledge of the adaptive, developmental and physiological nature of musculoskeletal tissues. This knowledge is then applied to explore and develop regenerative treatment strategies, currently applied to bone, articular cartilage, intervertebral disc and tendons/ligaments. The group consists of multi-disciplinary scientists and engineers at all levels employing numerical and experimental as well as engineering, imaging, biological and chemical techniques.

About InSciTe:

This position is part of the Chemelot Institute for Science & Technology (InSciTe), a public-private institute for developing smart healing biomedical materials for high quality, affordable healthcare. With its physical nucleus at Brightlands Chemelot Campus, it enables entrepreneurship, expertise, experimentation and education in an open innovation network. In this project, the founding partners, MUMC+, TU/e and DSM will work together with other partners to achieve their aim of bringing a new treatment for scoliosis to first-in-man trials.

Job description

In earlier work, the partners developed a new strategy for the treatment of scoliosis (an abnormal curvature of the spine) in growing children. With this strategy, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fibres are used in combination with metal rods to correct the spinal deformity. The number of levels to be treated, as well as the placement of fixation screw, however, are dependent on the severity of the deformation and other patient-specific factors. In order to optimize the design, a computer model is developed based on the finite element method. This model can represent the spine and the instrumentation and can be made to fit the patent by adjusting a limited number of parameters. The aim of the project is to develop this model into a pre-clinical and a patient-specific pre-operative tool to optimize the treatment. As these suggestions for optimization involve other parts of the project, there will be close interaction with the entire team.

 

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Job requirements

We are accepting applications from enthusiastic candidates who are interested in a dynamic, stimulating and ambitious environment to perform their work. The candidate must have a PhD degree in biomedical engineering, mechanical engineering, physics or equivalent.

Candidates are expected to have good (bio)mechanical insight, extensive experience with (non-linear) finite element analyses (e.g. using MSC.Marc, Abaqus or Ansys), mechanical testing techniques, and interested in manufacturing and developing a product and establishing dedicated testing environments. The candidate will be able to effectively communicate scientific ideas, foster collaboration and have a capability for independent thinking. Moreover, the candidate should be able to work independently within a dynamic team and be skilled in written and spoken English.

Conditions of employment

We offer you:

• An exciting job in a dynamic work environment
  • A full time appointment for 1 year by Eindhoven University of Technology (www.tue.nl/en). After a good evaluation your contract can be extended with an additional year.
  • A gross monthly salary is in accordance with the Collective Labor Agreement of the Dutch Universities (scale 10 ), depending on your experience.
• The possibility to present your work at international conferences.
• An attractive package of fringe benefits, including end-of-year bonus (8,3% in December), an extra holiday allowance (8% in May), moving expenses and excellent sports facilities.

 

Information and application

Information and procedure

• Information about the InSciTe program can be found on: http://www.chemelot-inscite.com/en
• Information about the Biomedical Engineering department can be found on: https://www.tue.nl/en/university/departments/biomedical-engineering/
• Questions regarding the academic content of the position can be directed to dr. Bert van Rietbergen (b.v.rietbergen@tue.nl) or prof.dr. Keita Ito (k.ito@tue.nl)
• Other information can be obtained from the HR department, email: HRServices.Gemini@tue.nl

If you would like to apply, please send us your application by using the ‘apply now’ button on the TU/e website.

Your application should be addressed to dr. Bert van Rietbergen or prof.dr. Keita Ito, and must include:  a one-page personal motivation letter, a CV including the names and contact details of two recent references and a transcript of your masters studies. Only complete applications will be considered.

Screening of applicants will start as soon as applications are received and will continue until the position has been filled.

Online application: https://jobs.tue.nl/en/vacancy/postdoc-mechanical-optimization-of-scoliosis-treatment-328493.html