Project manager - postdoc EU project in spinal mechanics and FEA modeling

The southern Netherlands and the Belgian Flanders region are demographically comparable areas. Both are aging areas with a relatively large number of older people living longer, exercising less, and developing joint wear and tear. This active population is now more often confronted with joint problems.  PRosPERoS-II (PRinting PERsonalized orthopaedic implantS) is pioneering research into smart implants and orthoses and aims to develop new patient-specific implants and orthoses with a long lifespan that accelerate and improve healing and rehabilitation process. With this approval, including co-financing, 5 million euros will be invested in the Flemish-Dutch border region of which half comes from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

The PRosPERoS-II project uses cutting-edge research in 3D printing, surface functionality and new biomedical materials. In this way it can be better predicted how implants will eventually behave in the body. The project also aims to conduct research into slowing down the development of osteoarthritis and accelerating the healing of bone defects. The PRosPERoS-II project directly implements this ambition by bringing together companies and knowledge institutions from all provinces and working together on new regenerative technologies in the orthopedic field.

In this position you will act as both a project manager (0.6 fte) of the Interreg Prosperos-II project and also as a postdoctoral researcher (0.4 fte). The position is placed at Eindhoven University of Technology in the Orthopaedic biomechanics group but will also entail sequential visits to Maastricht University and Maastricht University Medical Centre department of orthopaedic surgery.

Project manager

As a junior project manager, you function directly under the principal investigator dr. Chris Arts and project communication manager. Your primary responsibility is to establish close connections with all consortium partners and the Interreg office and maintain reports on project status and progress. This also includes partner visits and the organization of consortium meetings. In addition, together with controllers at TU/e and Maastricht University you are responsible for the project financial management and will undergo additional training and courses for this task. Thirdly, together with all partners and key stakeholders, you will build a network on medical 3D printing and additive manufacturing in the Netherlands and Belgium

Projectmanager tasks

• Ensuring correct execution of this EU funded project in accordance with legislation and regulations of the EU interreg Vlaanderen-Nederland program.
• Reporting the progress of the project.
• Reporting and submitting project results.
• Organizing and chairing (international) project meetings.
• Scheduling and consult periodically with (international) project partners.
• Reporting any project changes to the grant provider.
• Managing and supervising the correct spending of the budget.
• Advising project partners.
• Collect relevant project information from participating partners and maintains close contact with the consortium partners.
• Managing, monitoring and adjusting the project budget together with university controllers.
• Build a network on medical 3D printing and additive manufacturing in the Netherlands and Belgium

As a postdoc, together with dr. Bert van Rietbergen and dr. Chris Arts, you will guide PhD students and supervise research in the field of experimental spinal biomechanics, mechanical testing of spinal implants, spinal FEA modeling at TU/e. Previous experience in this field is required and this is also including knowledge on medical device regulatory pathways and working with a QMS system. As part of your postdoc teaching at TU/e is a mandatory aspect of the position and we offer education towards University Teaching Qualification (UTQ). Additionally, you are expected to write new grant proposals to support a long-term position.