Post-doctoral position in biomechanics, modelling of knee joint tissues - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Subject description

Mechanobiological modelling of knee joint tissues

Research environment: 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 studies, tissue characterisation, imaging and computational simulation techniques are used. The research is applied on problems in orthopaedics to develop better methods to understand and improve repair of musculoskeletal tissues.

Background for project: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common joint disease affecting over 40 million Europeans. The number of patients with OA will increase by over 70% in developed countries during the next 20 years, while direct and indirect costs are estimated to increase by over 300%. The most cost-effective and helpful treatment for the disease would simply be prevention. Since the progression of OA is highly subject-specific, prevention of the disease can only become possible when the progression can be predicted for an individual patient. The position is within a collaborative project between four Nordic universities with the overall aim to develop a tool to predict the onset and progression of osteoarthritis in the knee joint tissues due to daily loading conditions. This consortium will combine patient-specific motion analysis and computational modelling approaches with deep learning-based methods for OA diagnostics, personalized prediction and optimal treatment.

Objectives: The goal for this post-doc is to develop and implement constitute material models of ligament and tendon tissues in a finite element based mechanobiological framework of the knee. The framework will be validated against tissue specific experimental data and overall prediction of tissue degeneration during OA. 

Work duties

The main duties involved in a post-doctoral posistion is to conduct research. Teaching may also be included, but up to no more than 20% of working hours. The position shall include the opportunity for three weeks of training in higher education teaching and learning.

Detailed description of the work duties, such as:

• The post-doc is expected to take responsibility for designing, planning and performing numerical studies within the project described above.
• The post-doc is expected to supervise MSc degree projects and to assist in supervision of doctoral students.
• The post-doc is expected to assist the group when seeking external research funding.
• The project is within a collaboration with Universities in Kuopio, Oulu and Copenhagen, and the post-doc is expected to be actively engaged in this collaboration.
• The post-doc is expected to collaborate with industry and/or society, and to handle administration connected to the duties above.

Qualification requirements

Appointment to a post-doctoral position requires that the applicant has a PhD, or an international degree deemed equivalent to a PhD, within the subject of the position, completed no more than three years before the last date for applications. Under special circumstances, the doctoral degree can have been completed earlier.

Additional requirements:

• Very good oral and written proficiency in English.
• The post-doc should have a background in (bio)engineering, (medical)physics, computer science or similar.
• The post-doc is expected to have a strong background in constitutive modelling and the finite element method.
• The post-doc is expected to have experience from tissue biomechanics, preferably musculoskeletal soft tissues of the knee.
• Experience with mechanobiological modelling is considered meriting.
• The post-doc is expected to have experience from supervising BSc or MSc students

Assessment criteria and other qualifications

This is a career development position primarily focused on research. The position is intended as an initial step in a career, and the assessment of the applicants will primarily be based on their research qualifications and potential as researchers.

Particular emphasis will be placed on research skills within the subject.

For appointments to a post-doctoral position, the following shall form the assessment criteria:

• A good ability to develop and conduct high quality research.
• Teaching skills.

Additional assessment criteria:

The post-doc should be able to independently drive his/her own research project, as well as writing scientific publications. The post-doc should be able to supervise younger researchers. Experience with multidisciplinary environments is important. International networks and experience is considered positive.

Consideration will also be given to good collaborative skills, drive and independence, and how the applicant’s experience and skills complement and strengthen ongoing research within the department, and how they stand to contribute to its future development.

Terms of employment
This is a full-time, fixed-term employment of a maximum of 2 years. The period of employment is determined in accordance with the agreement “Avtal om tidsbegränsad anställning som postdoktor” (“Agreement on fixed-term employment as a post-doctoral fellow”) between Lund University, SACO-S, OFR/S and SEKO, dated 4 September 2008.

Instructions on how to apply
Applications shall be written in English. LTH uses a special qualifications portfolio to report and document qualifications. Draw up the application in accordance with the following outline and attach it as three PDF files (in the recruitment system). Read more here:

http://www.lth.se/index.php?id=71223