PhD Position Understanding the Role of Bone Microarchitectures in Bone Fracture

Passionate about pioneering advancements in biomechanical engineering? Join us in shaping the future of healthcare technologies at Delft University of Technology’s Department of Biomechanical Engineering! We are seeking a skilled PhD researcher to optimize 3D printed bone scaffolds, exploring the intricate connections between bone microarchitectures and fracture mechanisms under challenging conditions.

The Department of Biomechanical Engineering (BME) at Delft University of Technology (TUDelft) invites applications for a fully-funded PhD position. This exciting research project is at the forefront of understanding complex fracture in highly loaded long bones, such as femoral fractures, and the critical role of bone microarchitectures in these conditions. The project is particularly focused on bones under challenging conditions such as large defects or osteoporotic changes.

This position is part of the MSCA Doctoral Network GAP project (please see more information here: https://www.gapmscaproject.com/ ) and aims to unravel the connection between bone microarchitectures, loading and bone cell responses at different length scales. Utilizing the state-of-the-art techniques, you will create 3D printed structures that mimic the complex microarchitecture of natural bone. This includes employing in situ microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) as well as computational modelling for simultaneous mechanical loading and scanning of specimens. It also includes conducting in vitro cell culture experiments to explore the dynamic cellular responses to bone-like structures.

Location and Secondment

You will primarily be based at TUDelft. The position also involves secondments of 3 to 6 months at the IRCCS Ospedale Galeazzi (IOG) and Politecnico di Milano (POLIMI) offering a rich exposure to diverse research environment. Furthermore, you will play an important role in organizing consortium meetings held biannually at various partner locations.

Responsibilities:

• Developing and analysing 3D printed bone and bone-like scaffolds.
• Conducting advanced micro-CT analyses, confocal imaging and mechanical testing.
• Development and validation of (image-based) computational models to predict bone/ scaffold failure.
• Unravelling the role of bone microarchitecture in the fracture of healthy and diseased bones together with the underlying mechanisms.
• Propose and optimize novel scaffolds design for treatment of such defects.
• Collaborating with interdisciplinary teams and contributing to consortium meetings.
• Publishing and presenting research findings in scientific forums.

We welcome applications for Doctoral Researcher candidates fulfilling the following criteria:

Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis. For more details please check the Graduate Schools Admission Requirements .

The candidate will primarily be based at TUDelft. The position also involves secondments of 3 to 6 months at the IRCCS Ospedale Galeazzi (IOG) and Politecnico di Milano (POLIMI) offering a rich exposure to diverse research environment. Furthermore, the candidate will play an important role in organizing consortium meetings held biannually at various partner locations.

Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1,5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2,5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from € 2770 per month in the first year to € 3539 in the fourth year. As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

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. Mohammad J. Mirzaali, [email protected] , www.mjmirzaali.com
Dr. Lidy Fratila-Apachitei, [email protected]
Prof. Amir A. Zadpoor, [email protected] .

Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply by April 28, 2024 via the application button and upload:

You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.

Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.

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