Doctoral student in Biomedical Engineering - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Understanding mechanobiological principles in musculoskeletal tissues

General description: The research in the biomechanics group is focused on understanding the link between mechanics and biology in the musculoskeletal system, including related pathologies and repair of skeletal tissues. Experimental tissue characterisation methods, imaging and computational simulation techniques are used. The research is applied on direct problems in orthopaedics to develop better methods to understand and improve repair of musculoskeletal tissues.

Background for the project: Both mineralized (bone) and soft (tendon) skeletal tissue respond to mechanical loading according to specific mehanobiological principles. Bone that is not loaded is absorbed, while bone that is heavily loaded will increase its bone mineral density. Similarly, during embryonic development, mineralization partly occur in response to movement from contracting muscles. Tendons also adapt to its local mechanical environment and mechanical loading has therefore been shown positive during the repair phase of ruptured tendons. When a tendon rupture, collagen fibers break and the new tissue is an irregular scar tissue that breaks again if loaded normally. Suitable and controlled loading on the other hand re-organizes the tissue so the collagen becomes parallel again and help restore the tendons mechanical function.

Objectives: The goal with the PhD research project is to experimentally systematically evaluate how loading affects 1) mineralization of bone during development and 2) tendons normal function, and their repair process. The research involves primarily characterization of tissue’s composition, structure and mechanical function through experiments at synchrotron facilities.

Work duties
The position is focused on developing and carrying out experimental characterization of tissues from small animal experiments, including how loading affects the tissue composition, structure and mechanical function.

For tendons, the focus is on how the viscoelastic collagen responds to external loading. Experimentally, this is performed through in situ mechanical loading and structural measurements at synchrotron facilities. The goal is to identify important mechanisms to restore the tendon’s mechanical function early and effectively. 

For mineralization of bone, the work evolves around work with synchrotronbased experiments of embryonic mouse bones with varying degree of mineralization. Specifically, phase-contrast tomography, fluorescence and small and wide angle x-ray scattering is used to study mineralization in the growth plate and the mineral composition and crystallization to understand the relationships between calcium deposition and crystallization and the resulting anatomy.

The main duties of doctoral students are to devote themselves to their research studies which includes participating in research projects and third cycle courses. The work duties can also include teaching and other departmental duties (no more than 20%).

Detailed description of the work duties, such as:

• The research involves both experimental planning, design and testing of bone and tendon tissue, followed by data analysis.
• Techniques include mechanical testing, imaging, scattering and spectroscopy experiments at synchrotron facilities.
• The doctoral student is expected to assist in supervision of MSc degree Projects

Admission requirements
A person meets the general admission requirements for third-cycle courses and study programmes if he or she:

• has been awarded a second-cycle qualification, or
• has satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second cycle, or
• has acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.

A person meets the specific admission requirements for third cycle studies in Biomedical Engineering if he or she has:

• at least 45 second-cycle credits of relevance to the subject.

Additional requirements:

• Very good oral and written proficiency in English.
• The candidate should have a background in (bio)engineering/physics/chemistry or similar.
• The candidate should be able to independently drive his/her own research project, as well as writing scientific publications.
• The candidate should be able to supervise younger researchers.
   

Assessment criteria
Selection for third-cycle studies is based on the student’s potential to profit from such studies. The assessment of potential is made primarily on the basis of academic results from the first and second cycle. Special attention is paid to the following:

1. Knowledge and skills relevant to the thesis project and the subject of study.
2. An assessment of ability to work independently and to formulate and tackle research problems.
3. Written and oral communication skills
4. Other experience relevant to the third-cycle studies, e.g. professional experience.

Other assessment criteria:

• Experience from multidisciplinary environments is important.
• Experience with experimental material science research, incl mechanical testing, scattering or spectroscopy is considered positive.
• Experience with synchrotron facilities is considered positive.
• Experience with tomographic imaging and image analysis is considered positive.
• Knowledge about bone and tendon tissue and experience in biomechanics is considered positive.
• International experience is considered positive.
• Very good knowledge in data analysis in e.g. matlab is important.

Consideration will also be given to good collaborative skills, drive and independence, and how the applicant, through his or her experience and skills, is deemed to have the abilities necessary for successfully completing the third cycle programme.

Conditions
Only those admitted to third cycle studies may be appointed to a doctoral studentship. Third cycle studies at LTH consist of full-time studies for 4 years. A doctoral studentship is a fixed-term employment of a maximum of 5 years (including 20% departmental duties). Doctoral studentships are regulated in the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100), chapter 5, 1-7 §§.

Instructions on how to apply
Applications shall be written in English and include a cover letter stating the reasons why you are interested in the position and in what way the research project corresponds to your interests and educational background. The application must also contain a CV, degree certificate or equivalent, and other documents you wish to be considered (grade transcripts, contact information for your references, letters of recommendation, etc.).