PhD on Engineering bone-mimicking grafts

PhD on Engineering bone-mimicking grafts
PhD on Engineering bone-mimicking grafts

Published	Deadline	Location
yesterday	28 Feb	Eindhoven

Are you eager to develop methods to produce synthetic bone implants in multidisciplinary environment?
Job description
Bone injuries and disorders affect individuals of all genders and ages, resulting in significant economic costs and a loss of quality of life. The current main treatments, autologous bone grafts and synthetic implants, have limitations in availability, mechanical properties and/or remodelling properties. This project aims to challenge the traditional approaches to synthetic implants manufacturing by developing a process that mimics bone growth in vitro. Human bones are known to be elegant hierarchical structures composed of a double interpenetrating network of organic matter (type-I collagen) and inorganic material (crystalline mineral apatite). The synergy between the stiff inorganic crystalline mineral and the more deformable, soft but tough collagen, jointly assembled and organized in a hierarchical manner is at the center of bone's unique mechanical properties. This complexity has posed serious manufacturing challenges to recreating the nano- and microstructure of native bone, in particular, the mineralized collagen fibers that are responsible for its unique combination of mechanical strength and resilience. The goal is to create a synthetic bone implant that mirrors the composition and structure of natural bone, and thus its mechanical and remodeling properties. With this project we will challenge the long-held belief that bone implants with similar properties as native bone cannot be created. 
The PhD candidate will contribute to a multi-disciplinary team of material scientists, biomedical/mechanical engineers and biologists, from the student to senior level. An educational and professional development program is offered to all PhD candidates. You will also be involved in teaching courses, as well as contribute to the supervision of bachelor and master students. Based on your research, you will be expected to present at conferences, publish in scientific journals and write a doctoral dissertation.
Embedding
The project will be a part of the Materials Driven Regeneration (MDR) project (https://mdrresearch.nl/ ), a partnership between multiple universities and research institutes. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work with advanced research in biomaterials processing, bone biomechanics and bone bioengineering at Eindhoven University of Technology and will also closely collaborate with MDR partners at MERLIN, Maastricht University.
The research will be mainly conducted within the Orthopaedic Biomechanics (OPB) group which cover diverse topics in bone, intervertebral disc and tendons/ligaments, as well as articular cartilage. The group is well known for their multidisciplinary approach combining tissue mechanics, mechanobiology, and biomaterial mechanics. They utilize, in vitro, ex vivo and computational models to understand tissue conditions in disease and for regenerative engineering, operating at the international forefront of engineering of living, load-bearing tissues.
The OPB group is part of the Regenerative Materials and Engineering cluster of the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the Eindhoven University of Technology. The department offers Bachelors and Masters education programs who are integrally linked to its research areas ranging across Chemical Biology, Biosensing, Biomaterials, Biomechanics Tissue Engineering, Computational Biology, Biomedical Imaging and Modelling, with 800+ students and 200+ academic staff. The university is open and inclusive with short communication lines. The people are curious, collaborative, and strive for excellence in research and education at an internationally renowned level. Our lively campus community facilitates connections between staff and students, in an open, friendly, vibrant atmosphere that welcomes and inspires.
Specifications

• max. 38 hours per week
• Eindhoven View on Google Maps

Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e)

Requirements
We are accepting applications from enthusiastic and highly talented candidates who meet the following requirements:

• A MSc degree (or equivalent) in Materials Science, Chemistry, Biomed. Eng. or a comparable domain.
• Experience and knowledge of tissue engineering is appreciated.
• A research-oriented attitude.
• Ability to work in a team and with the industrial partners.
• Fluent in spoken and written English.

Conditions of employment
A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network. You will work on a beautiful, green campus within walking distance of the central train station. In addition, we offer you:

• Full-time employment for four years, with an intermediate evaluation (go/no-go) after nine months. You will spend 10% of your employment on teaching tasks.
• Salary and benefits (such as a pension scheme, paid pregnancy and maternity leave, partially paid parental leave) in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities.
• A year-end bonus of 8.3% and annual vacation pay of 8%.
• High-quality training programs and other support to grow into a self-aware, autonomous scientific researcher. At TU/e we challenge you to take charge of your own learning process .
• An excellent technical infrastructure, on-campus children's day care and sports facilities.
• An allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs.
• A Staff Immigration Team and a tax compensation scheme (the 30% facility) for international candidates.

Additional information
About us
Eindhoven University of Technology is an internationally top-ranking university in the Netherlands that combines scientific curiosity with a hands-on attitude. Our spirit of collaboration translates into an open culture and a top-five position in collaborating with advanced industries. Fundamental knowledge enables us to design solutions for the highly complex problems of today and tomorrow. 
Information
Do you recognize yourself in this profile and would you like to know more?
Please contact dr. Miguel Castilho (m.dias.castilho[at]tue.nl) or prof. Keita Ito (k.ito[at]tue.nl)
Visit our website for more information about the application process or the conditions of employment. You can also contact HR Services Gemini, HRServices.gemini[at]tue.nl.
Are you inspired and would like to know more about working at TU/e? Please visit our career page .
Application
We invite you to submit a complete application by using the apply button. The application should include a:

• a cover letter, in which you describe your motivation and qualifications for the position,
• a curriculum vitae, including a list of your publications and
• the contact information of three references,
• a brief description of your MSc thesis and
• Master's grades (transcript).

We look forward to receiving your application and will screen it as soon as possible. The vacancy will remain open until the position is filled.
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