Cerebrovascular autoregulation physiology in a piglet cranial window model

19 Mar 2024
Job Information

Organisation/Company

KU Leuven

Research Field

Neurosciences

Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)

Country

Belgium

Application Deadline

15 Apr 2024 - 00:00 (UTC)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Full-time

Hours Per Week

38 hours/week

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

HE / MSCA

Reference Number

BAP-2024-159

Marie Curie Grant Agreement Number

101119916

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

Traumatic brain injury can lead to devastating consequences for the patient and his family and is the number one cause of death and disability in young people. Medical management consists of the prevention, early detection and treatment of secondary insults that cause additional damage to the brain. Cerebrovascular autoregulation is an ingenious protective physiological mechanism that ensures sufficient cerebral blood flow in spite of varying blood pressure and other threats to homeostasis, that is however often impaired after traumatic brain injury. This impairment has been recognized as an extremely important threat to good outcome, and steering blood pressure based on its monitoring could mean a potential breakthrough in management. However, validated methods to monitor cerebrovascular autoregulation do not exist to date. In our lab, we have developed a piglet cranial window model through which the study of arteriolar diameter and flow changes in response to changes in blood pressure, PaCO2 and other external stimuli can be investigated. The piglets are instrumented with monitoring tools that are also being used in patients in the intensive care unit. The lab is also investing in the development of a severe traumatic brain injury piglet model, in order to enable the study of dynamic impairments of autoregulation capacity. The goal of the current project is to deepen our understanding of autoregulation mechanisms in physiological and pathophysiological conditions and to eventually build a validated patient autoregulation monitor.

Requirements

Research Field

Biological sciences

Education Level

Master Degree or equivalent

Research Field

Medical sciences

Education Level

Master Degree or equivalent

Research Field

Neurosciences

Education Level

Master Degree or equivalent

Languages

ENGLISH

Level

Excellent

Research Field

Biological sciences

Years of Research Experience

None

Additional Information
Benefits

The candidate is offered:

-          A full time PhD position in an international research team at KU Leuven. The KU Leuven is one of Europe's leading research universities and tops Reuters ranking of Europe's most innovative universities. L’NRG offers a dynamic and intellectually challenging environment, in close collaboration with experts from a wide variety of domains.

-          A thorough scientific education and training in all relevant competences to advance the field of neuromonitoring, enabling the possibility to become a world-class researcher in this field.

-          The possibility to actively participate in the network’s organizational structure and in international conferences and collaborations.

-          A predetermined living allowance, and when appropriate a mobility allowance, family allowance, long-term leave allowance or special needs allowance according to EU standards corrected for the country of employment and integrally transferred to the researchers.

-          The possibility to participate in international conferences and collaborations.

-          The doctoral project start time is between June and October 2024.

Eligibility criteria

The candidate should have a strong academic record and a Masters diploma in the fields of biomedical, medical, biological or neurosciences

Handson expertise in animal handling and experimentation is highly useful. Knowledge of data analysis and statistics is essential. Previous research experience is a plus, but not essential.

The candidate should be able to work independently, take initiative, adopt critical judgment and demonstrate ability to work in team. The project will include several network wide educational events in the SOPRANI consortium and a secondment, for which travel, communication and social skills are required.

Proficiency in written and spoken English is crucial.

The candidate can be of any nationality, but must not have resided or carried out his/her main activity Belgium for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to his/her recruitment.

The selected candidate is expected to write a doctoral thesis on her/his research after 4 years.

Selection process

For more information please contact Prof. dr. Bart Depreitere, tel.: +3216348688, mail: [email protected] is done by sending your CV and motivation letter to [email protected] . 
You can apply for this job no later than 15/04/2024 via the online application tool

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

KU Leuven

Country

Belgium

State/Province

Vlaams Brabant

City

Leuven

Postal Code

3000

Street

Leuven

Geofield

Where to apply

Website

https://easyapply.jobs/r/SjTIBsS21y4IuS4NK0Go

Contact

State/Province

Leuven

City

Vlaams Brabant

Street

Leuven

Postal Code

3000

STATUS: EXPIRED