Postdoc Data- and Physics-based Identification of Soft Tissue Mechanics

Join us on our quest to overcome a long-standing research challenge in soft tissue biomechanics through the combination of multi-modal experimental tissue testing data, machine learning and physics!

It is widely recognized that unbalanced deformation and loading of cardiovascular tissues leads to pathological growth and remodeling processes. Therefore, quantification of the tissue’s in vivo stress state holds important clinical diagnostic and prognostic opportunities in the management of cardiovascular disease. Unfortunately, data sparsity, parameter uncertainty, and the highly nonlinear and anisotropic behavior of these tissues pose significant challenges to the accurate identification of the in vivo stress state. In this project, you will explore inverse data-driven and physics-based approaches and integrate multi-modal and multi-fidelity biomechanics tissue testing data to advance insights into the ex vivo and in vivo mechanical behavior of various cardiovascular tissues.

As a postdoctoral researcher, you will help us design and run research line involving PhD and MSc students. You will develop novel data-driven and physics-based modeling techniques, conduct and analyze experimental studies, write scientific articles, present your work at (inter)national conferences, and support educational activities.

The research will be conducted in the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) under the joint supervision of Dr. Mathias Peirlinck (Dept. of BioMechanical Engineering) and Dr. Sid Kumar (Dept. of Material Science and Engineering). More information on both groups can be found at https://peirlincklab.com and https://www.mech-mat.com/ . We offer a 15-month contract and will support you in the preparation and acquisition of follow-up funding. 

• You are a highly independent, motivated, and innovative individual who likes to solve complex problems and can efficiently work in a highly multidisciplinary team.
• You have, or are about to acquire, a Ph.D. in biomechanics, solid mechanics, mechanical engineering, biomedical engineering, or other related fields.
• You have excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• You have a strong background in linear and tensor algebra, non-linear mechanics, advanced finite element analysis, computational solid mechanics, high-performance computing, data-driven approaches, and physics-informed machine learning.
• You have excellent spoken and written English language skills*, and demonstrable collaborative, communicative and organizational competences.
• Affinity with inverse problems, optimization technical, experimental tissue testing, and/or soft tissue biomechanics is a plus.

Please highlight your specific skills and relevant prior experiences for this position explicitly in your motivation letter. Motivation letters that do not address any of these requirements will not be considered.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities. The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.

For international applicants, TU Delft has the Coming to Delft Service . This service provides information for new international employees to help you prepare the relocation and to settle in the Netherlands. The Coming to Delft Service offers a Dual Career Programme for partners and they organise events to expand your (social) network.

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values  and we actively engage  to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

From chip to ship. From machine to human being. From idea to solution. Driven by a deep-rooted desire to understand our environment and discover its underlying mechanisms, research and education at the ME faculty focusses on fundamental understanding, design, production including application and product improvement, materials, processes and (mechanical) systems.

ME is a dynamic and innovative faculty with high-tech lab facilities and international reach. It’s a large faculty but also versatile, so we can often make unique connections by combining different disciplines. This is reflected in ME’s outstanding, state-of-the-art education, which trains students to become responsible and socially engaged engineers and scientists. We translate our knowledge and insights into solutions to societal issues, contributing to a sustainable society and to the development of prosperity and well-being. That is what unites us in pioneering research, inspiring education and (inter)national cooperation.

Click here  to go to the website of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. Do you want to experience working at our faculty? These videos  will introduce you to some of our researchers and their work.

For more information about this vacancy, please contact Dr. Sid Kumar ([email protected] ) and Dr. Mathias Peirlinck ([email protected] ).

Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 29 March 2024 via the application button and upload:

• A cover letter in which you describe your personal motivation and specific qualifications for this position (max 1 page).
• Your curriculum vitae, including a list of your publications and the contact information of three (academic and/or industrial) references.
• Academic transcript, including grades for your qualifying degrees (BSc, MSc, PhD)
• A digital copy of your three most relevant research articles.

Notes:

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.

• Only complete applications will be considered.

• Screening of applicants will start as soon as applications are received and will continue until the position is filled. The starting date of the position is flexible but not later than 1 September 2024.

A pre-employment screening can be part of the selection procedure.