PhD and postdoc opportunities - Summer 2023

Research Fellow in Computational Spine Biomechanics
Dr Marlène Mengoni, Associate Professor - The Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering at the University of Leeds

This role is created part of an EPSRC project aiming to characterise spinal facet joints biomechanics, a project that will develop novel testing methods and tools combining experimental and computational modelling to gain a better understanding of the degenerated facet joint biomechanics and how it changes following fusion.

You will join a wider group developing in vitro and in silico preclinical models of musculoskeletal joints.

You will have a strong background in computational joint biomechanics or in computational contact mechanics and have a proactive approach to working in an experimental and computational environment. You will join an institute that includes different expertise and substantial experience in supporting early stage researchers in a key phase of their career. We encourage an environment of collaboration, trust and wellbeing, which values difference of ideas and embraces diversity.

Deadline: 30 August 2023

More info and application HERE

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Computational Drug Designer

Kuano

Kuano is a startup pioneering a new approach to computational drug design. We are designing safer, more efficient drugs by using insights from physics based simulations to move beyond the limitations of conventional AI approaches.

Kuano is looking for two creative problem solvers with skills in computational drug design and/or structural biology to join our multidisciplinary team.

Key Responsibilities:

• Guiding the discovery process by providing insight to our drug design team
• Collaborating with computational and medicinal chemists to co-design predictive models
• Managing and analysing computational and wetlab datasets

Required Skills and Experience:

• Analysis and interpretation of protein and small molecule structures (e.g. crystal structures, molecular dynamics trajectories)
• Molecular Modelling
• Cheminformatics analysis (including large datasets, QSAR model development, etc)
• Experience in drug design chemistry
• Structure-based drug design
• Scripting/coding (particularly using Python or Julia)

If you are interested contact Kuano with your CV at hr@kuano.ai

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PhD scholarship in “Generation of synthetic data and fast fluid simulations with artificial intelligence for the improvement of left atrial appendage occlusion therapies”
Prof Oscar Camar - University Pompeu Fabra - Spain

In the framework of the GENERALITAAT project, the candidate will be enrolled in the PhD programme of Information and Communication Technologies (DTIC) of the Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF). Her/his mission will be to developing state-of-the-art algorithms for creating synthetic medical images, finite element meshes, and fluid simulations significantly contributing to the development of fast fluid computational models that can simulate crucial factors for atrial fibrillation.

Requirements:

• Master’s degree in Biomedical engineering, Physics, Mechanical Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Computational Science, or related disciplines
• Knowledge on advanced artificial intelligence algorithms
• Experience on generative AI algorithms (e.g., GANs, stable diffusion), federated learning, graph-neural networks, and reduced-order models
• Proven programming skills
• Excellent teamwork and communication skills (fluency in English)

Application deadline: 1 Sept 2023

More info and application HERE

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PhD position in multiscale modeling of the intervertebral disc to predict the relationship between degenerative processes and systemic low grade inflammation
Prof Jerome Noailly - Universitat Pompeu Fabra - ETIC

The Biomechanics and Mechanobiology (BMMB) research group is currently looking for a PhD Candidate working on multicellular models to describe the dynamics of the long-term mechanobiological regulation of the intervertebral disc (IVD), and the effect of low-grade inflammation on such immune-privileged organ.

The work encompasses various in silico modeling techniques to cover the multiple spatial scales, i.e. from a subcellular up to a multicellular level, required to adequately model regulations of inflammatory and degenerative processes. Those techniques include primarily network modeling and Agent-based modeling approaches. The PhD candidate will tightly collaborate with a team of computer scientists, data scientists, biomechanicians and experts in (cell-)biology.

Requirements:

• Strong background in (human) biology with focus on biological regulations at a cellular level
• Mathematical and basic programming skills
• Basic understanding of network/Agent-based modeling is a plus
• Excellent English writing and communication skills
• Strong motivation in the research field, with a strong will to handle and combine both biological and technical knowledge
• Highly proactive in the development of novel ideas, and in the development of the PhD project

Application Deadline 1 Sept 2023 - 23:59

More info and application HERE