Postdoctoral Research Position at Heriot-Watt University (Edinburgh, UK) in Microstructural Analysis for Tissue Diagnostics

Postdoctoral Research Position
Heriot-Watt University (Edinburgh, UK) -School of Engineering and Physical Sciences

The consortium of 4 UK Universities (Heriot-Watt, Liverpool, Edinburgh and Durham) was recently awarded a major research grant by the EPSRC to undertake a multidisciplinary project entitled “A novel diagnostic tool: from structural health monitoring to tissue quality prediction”. The project aims to evaluate the tissue quality using: advanced and novel high resolution imaging technologies; microstructural analysis; nonlinear modelling and homogenisation; and tissue biomechanical characterisation. The project will bring together scientists and clinicians in a multi-disciplinary effort to develop and use scientific and translational expertise and technologies to design a tool for early diagnosis of tissue disease.

The consortium aims to recruit four postdoctoral research associates (PDRAs) – one at each of the four universities. All PDRAs will be expected to communicate regularly within the consortium, attend and present research findings at internal project meetings and international conferences. They will also contribute to the internal and external visibility of the research groups and publish scientific results arising from this project. This advertisement is for the position based at the School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University. The post-holder will be working with other members of the computational bioengineering group led by Dr. Yuhang Chen and will also be involved in a team environment in the Group of Design and Manufacture, one of the three research themes in IMPEE.

The PDRA based at Heriot-Watt University will be responsible for developing novel mathematical/numerical methods to quantitatively assess the tissue quality using high-resolution microstructural imaging techniques. Although bone tissue was originally proposed to be used as an exemplar, studies on soft tissue including prostate and heart may also be carried out to understand the relationship between tissue mechanical behaviour and microstructural hierarchy. Main work will involve tissue microstructural analysis and linear/nonlinear finite element modelling. The work package which will be carried out in Heriot-Watt University also involves modelling of tissue/cellular biomechanical/biochemical micro-environment, which will be promoted by our current research strength in the areas of tissue engineering, mechanobiology and controlled drug delivery. The post-holder will also work closely with the project team consisting of other investigators, PDRAs and clinical advisors.

The candidate will have a PhD (or nearly-finished) in mechanical engineering, biomedical engineering, physics or closely related field and a proven research track record in computational mechanics and/or tissue mechanics. Sound experience in programming in one or more of the following languages is desired: Fortran, Matlab, Python, C++, APDL etc. A research background in more than one of the following subjects is a plus: biomedical imaging; orthopaedic biomechanics; tissue microarchitectural analysis; mechanobiology; homogenisation methods; and modelling anisotropic materials.

Informal enquiries should be addressed to Dr. Yuhang Chen, School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, email: y.chen AT hw.ac.uk ;  Website: http://home.eps.hw.ac.uk/~yc273/ .

For application details see our website, or contact the Human Resources Office, Heriot-Watt University Edinburgh EH14 4AS tel  0131-451-3022 (24 hours) email hr@hw.ac.uk   quoting ref  292/01/13     

Closing date: 30 August

Salary: £29,541 - £36,298

Length of contract - 2 years and 6 months

Advert @ jobs.ac.uk: http://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/AHA473/postdoctoral-research-associate-pdra/

Link to apply and details of the project: http://www.hw.ac.uk/about/careers/job-opportunities/postdoctoral-researc...