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

Subject description
Simulation and modeling of heart valves in adults and children with valve anomalies.

Description of environment: The project will be carried out in close collaboration between the Children´s Heart Centre at Skåne University hospital, Lund, and the Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Energy Sciences at the Engineering Faculty (LTH), where technical expertise in fluid mechanics, solid mechanics and material modeling is available.  

Description of project:
The purpose is to develop patient-specific valve models with the aim of predicting how the heart valve in children, with a need for valve surgery, will function after the operation. Several complex congenital heart defects involve valve disease and deciding which valve surgery to choose affects the child for the rest of his/her life. The clinical difficulty is to predict what effect a specific valve surgery will have on the valve function. Accurate visualization and understanding of the individual anatomical and functional parameters of the valve problems is necessary for pre-surgical planning. The ability to simulate treatment results, based on individual patient specific anatomy can potentially help assess which intervention is most beneficial for the patient.

The specific aims are to:

1. Develop a simulation model of an atrioventricular-valve, with both systolic and diastolic flow, and validate the model against experimental data.
2. Develop a framework for patient-specific valve-models where the geometry is based on ultrasound and/or magnetic resonance images.
3. In a patient specific manner, evaluate how the results of interventions on the valve are consistent with the peri-operative findings.

Work duties
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 includes experimental design, simulation development, phantom development, valve-modeling.
• The doctoral student is expected to drive the collaborations between the involved partners in the project.
• 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 the applicant has:

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

Additional requirements:

• Very good oral and written proficiency in English.
• The candidate shall have an engineering background (e.g. biomechanical engineering, physics engineering, mechanical engineering) or similar.
• The candidate should be able to independently drive his/her own research project, as well as writing scientific publications.

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:

• Knowledge in fluid dynamics, specifically fluid structure interaction is important.
• Knowledge in solid mechanics and material modelling is important.
• Experience with simulation software for fluid structure interactions modeling and material modeling, e.g.  STAR-CCM+ and Abaqus, is considered positive.
• Previous experience of modelling biological tissue or fluids in the human body is considered positive.
• Experience with multidisciplinary environments is considered positive.
• International experience is considered positive.

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.

Terms of employment
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 (1998:80).

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.).