Research Studentships PhD students

Reference: BI 04.PL676.2022.IDMEC

The Institute of Mechanical Engineering – IDMEC is opening a call for

Research Studentships PhD students

Applications are open for 1 Research Studentships PhD students, within the framework of project (GradImp - Biodegradable implants in porous iron obtained by additive manufacturing), (PTDC/CTM-CTM/3354/2021)), financed by national funds through FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC), under the following conditions:

Scientific Area: Materials Engineering

Admission Requirements: Master in Mechanical Engineering or Materials Engineering or Biomedical Engineering, preferably with experience in structural and mechanical characterization and numerical simulation. The candidate must present a declaration of honor in which undertakes to be enrolled in a Doctoral Course at IST, until the grant's contract is done.

Academic degrees obtained in foreign countries shall be registered by a Portuguese institution, according to the Decree-Law nr. 66/2018, of August, 16th, and the Ordinance nr. 33/2019, of January, 25th. It is mandatory to present the certificate to sign the contract. More information is available on: https://www.dges.gov.pt/pt/pagina/reconhecimento .

Workplan and the objectives to achieve:

Task 1: Design Development

Objectives: - To gather the information required to define the systems to study to obtain the desired behaviour. To define the standards and protocols of the tests to be performed. - To characterize the bulk iron material properties through tensile, compression and bending tests with a digital image correlation (DIC) system, and characterize the iron powder microstructure. - To select and design lattice structures with different unit cell shapes. - To design lattice structures with different unit cells with a graded structure to simulate the human bone. - To characterize the mechanical behaviour of the graded and non-graded lattice structures by finite element modelling and to identify the iron lattice structures with mechanical properties similar to the human bone.

Methodology: Detailed bibliographic research will be carried out:- Actualization of the state of the art at the beginning of the project, due to the fast evolution of the research in this field. - Selection of the iron powder characteristics, particle size, morphology and chemical composition, and its suppliers. - Identification of the standards and protocols for the selected tests that will be performed in the characterization, biodegradation, cytocompatibility and microbiology. - Identification of the orthopaedic temporary implants characteristics, shape (plate, cylinder, screws), dimensions, and the physiological conditions in which they operate.

Task 2: Experimental Characterization

Objectives: - Experimentation of the samples fabricated in INEGI. - To fine-tune the numerical model (T1) with the mechanical properties of the lattice structures experimentally obtained in this task. - To compare the numerical model with the experimental results. - To identify the lattice structures that exhibit mechanical properties closer to human bone. - To estimate the potential of the tested structures for later prototype development and clinical application.

Methodology: The most promising set of lattice graded structures, identified in T1 and T2, will be submitted to a detailed characterization, in terms of microstructural and mechanical properties. In particular, it will be determined: - Microstructural properties through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) combined with Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDS) analysis. And micro-CT to evaluate the porosity and pore dimensions of the samples. - Surface properties will be evaluated by atomic force microscopy, as the surface topography and roughness are well known to be essential factors in osteointegration, fundamental for T4. - Mechanical properties will be obtained through different mechanical characterization tests, such as bending, compression and fatigue tests.

Task 3: Biodegradation

Objectives: - To identify the relationship between the design of the graded and non-graded lattices with different unit cells with iron degradation behaviour. - To develop the FEM model to predict the degradation behaviour and compare it with the experimental results. - To predict the systems’ potential for prototype development and clinical application, based on the analysis of the results.

Methodology: In order to simulate the biodegradation of the 3D iron lattice scaffolds inside of the body, the corrosion of the samples will be evaluated in a Simulated Body Fluid (SBF) solution (pH7.4 and 37 °C) during 3, 7, 14, 28 days or with a larger duration if needed, at open circuit potential. To control the degradation over the immersion time, the iron lattices will be weighed using an analytical balance, before and after the samples being in contact with SBF solution. It will be also monitored the pH of the SBF solution and the releasing of iron ions along the biodegradation time by ICP. Additionally, to simulate the inflammatory process during corrosion tests, the pH of the physiological solution will assume different values(pH 5.0 and 6.5). Potentiodynamic polarization will be performed and corrosion parameters will be determined through Tafel fit method.

Task 4: Product development

Objectives: - To disseminate the project results. - To apply the concept and construction design that had the best performance in the lattice structures for mechanical bone-joining elements (for example, cylinder, plate, screw-like elements). - To develop a prototype for a possible clinical application. - To validate the global concept and evaluate its suitability for patenting. - To register a patent covering the invention characteristics, if the previous objective is fulfilled.

Methodology: Dissemination of the results will be done, in a concerted effort of the partners, following different strategies, in order to maximize the impact of the project. The results generated in the project will be presented in papers in peer-reviewed scientific journals with significant impact and relevant scientific conferences. These may be directed for materials science, mechanical engineering, biology and orthopaedic fields.

Legislation and Regulations: Statute of Scientific Research Fellow, approved by Law nr. 40/2004, of August 18, as worded by Decree-Law nr. 123/2019, of August 28; FCT Regulation for Research Studentships and Fellowships, available on https://www.fct.pt/apoios/bolsas/regulamento.phtml.pt

Workplace: The work will be developed at IDMEC - Institute of Mechanical Engineering, being both the Host and Contracting Entity, and under the scientific supervision of Professor Fátima Vaz.

Duration: The research fellowship(s) will have the duration of 12 months. It’s expected to begin in february 2022, and may be eventually renewed up to the maximum of 36 months.

Monthly maintenance allowance: According to the values for Research Fellowships awarded by FCT in Portugal (http://www.fct.pt/apoios/bolsas/valores ), the amount of the monthly maintenance allowance is € 1 104,64, being the payment method by Wire Transfer.

Selection methods: Selection will be carried out by curricular evaluation of candidates, scored from 0 to 20. The candidate with the highest score in this evaluation will be selected.

Composition of the selection Jury: Profª Fátima Vaz (president), Prof Luis Reis (effective vowel), Profª Beatriz Silva (effective vowel).

Announcement/ notification of the results: All candidates will be notified of the Final Assessment Result, through the email used to send the application.

After being notified, the candidate has a period of 10 working days to complain, and must do so to the email notification of the final result of the evaluation

Application deadline and formalization: The call is open in the period between 14 january and and 27 January, until 18:00, 2022.

Scientific Initiation Studentships: It is mandatory to formalize applications with the submission of the following documents: Curriculum Vitae; academic degree certificate; motivation letter; declaration of honor in which undertakes to be enrolled in a Doctoral Course at IST, until the grant's contract is done

Applications must be submitted to the email: [email protected]

The contract draft and final report draft are available on https://www.idmec.tecnico.ulisboa.pt/about/job-openings/