PhD on Computational modelling of respiratory biomechanics

Position PhD-student

Irène Curie Fellowship No

Department(s) Biomedical Engineering

FTE 1,0

Date off 17/11/2024

Reference number V50.7817

Job description

•    Are you inspired by working in a multidisciplinary and international environment and by collaborating with academic, clinical and industrial partners?
•    Are you passionate about the application of engineering methods and mathematical modeling to improve healthcare?
•    Are you eager to work on mathematical models of biological flows and respiratory physiology? 
Then the current PhD position could suit you perfectly well.

The respiratory system is of vital importance in sustaining life. Unfortunately, under various circumstances its function can be seriously compromised, for instance in COPD patients. Furthermore, under extreme conditions, patients require involved clinical intervention such as mechanical ventilation to maintain its function. The lung’s response to both pathophysiology and mechanical ventilation is impacted significantly by its mechanical environment. However, little is currently known about this environment, as it is difficult to quantify in vivo due to the heterogeneity of the lung tissue and the lack of straightforward measurement techniques. Computer modelling could play a major role in unraveling the lung’s response to pathophysiology and mechanical ventilation and in developing novel treatment strategies.

The Cardiovascular Biomechanics group of Eindhoven University of Technology’s department of Biomedical Engineering is currently expanding its state-of-the-art cardiovascular modelling expertise into the field of respiratory biomechanics.  We are looking for an enthusiastic young researcher that wants to perform a pioneering PhD project on computational respiratory physiology in a small team comprising of a PI, assistant professor and a dynamic group of master and bachelor students. During this 4-year PhD project, you will help us develop respiratory biomechanics models and apply them to improve mechanistic understanding of the phenomena occurring in patients suffering from COPD and quantify the lung’s mechanical environment during various forms of mechanical ventilation.

The work you will be performing will be supervised by the PI (Wouter Huberts) and a newly appointed assistant professor (Sjeng Quicken) and will be in close collaboration with clinical partners at, amongst others, Maastricht University Medical Center. You will be allowed to play a large role in deciding the course of your PhD journey.

Job requirements

• A master’s degree (or an equivalent university degree) in (Bio)medical Engineering, Mathematics, Knowledge engineering, Physics or Mechanical Engineering.
• Deep knowledge in physics-based mathematical modelling such as computational fluid-mechanics
• Experience with uncertainty quantification and sensitivity analysis is a pre.
• A strong affinity with working on clinically relevant and translational research
• An academic attitude and strong analytical mind.
• Enjoy working in a multidisciplinary team with academic, clinical, and industrial partners.
• Fluent in spoken and written English (C1 level).

Conditions of employment

A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network. You will work on a beautiful, green campus within walking distance of the central train station. In addition, we offer you:

• Full-time employment for four years, with an intermediate evaluation (go/no-go) after nine months. You will spend 10% of your employment on teaching tasks.
• Salary and benefits (such as a pension scheme, paid pregnancy and maternity leave, partially paid parental leave) in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, scale P (min. €2,872 max. €3,670).
• A year-end bonus of 8.3% and annual vacation pay of 8%.
• High-quality training programs and other support to grow into a self-aware, autonomous scientific researcher. At TU/e we challenge you to take charge of your own learning process.
• An excellent technical infrastructure, on-campus children's day care and sports facilities.
• An allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs.
• A Staff Immigration Team and a tax compensation scheme (the 30% facility) for international candidates. 

Information and application

About us

Eindhoven University of Technology is an internationally top-ranking university in the Netherlands that combines scientific curiosity with a hands-on attitude. Our spirit of collaboration translates into an open culture and a top-five position in collaborating with advanced industries. Fundamental knowledge enables us to design solutions for the highly complex problems of today and tomorrow. 

Information

Do you recognize yourself in this profile and would you like to know more? Please contact dr.ir. Sjeng Quicken: j.a.c.quicken@tue.nl or dr.ir. Wouter Huberts: w.huberts@tue.nl or +31 (0)40-2474060.

Visit our website for more information about the application process or the conditions of employment. You can also contact Sascha Sanchez, HR advisor, s.j.m.g.sanchez.van.oort@tue.nl or +31 (0)40 2477310.

Are you inspired and would like to know more about working at TU/e? Please visit our career page.

Application

We invite you to submit a complete application by using the apply button. The application should include a:

• Cover letter in which you describe your motivation and qualifications for the position.
• Curriculum vitae, including a list of your publications and the contact information of three references.

We look forward to receiving your application and will screen it as soon as possible. The vacancy will remain open until the position is filled.