Doctoral Researcher (PhD student), Computational Modeling of Musculoskeletal Tissues - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

The University of Eastern Finland is inviting applications for a Doctoral Researcher (PhD student) position in computational modeling of musculoskeletal tissues at the Department of Technical Physics on the Kuopio campus. The position will be filled for a fixed-term from 1 October 2024 (or starting date as agreed) to 31 August 2028.

Please find more information below and submit your application no later than 9 September 2024.

Role and salary

Osteoarthritis is a common degenerative joint disease that afflicts over 500 million people worldwide, but personalized therapy guidance is limited. One emerging technology for this is computational in silico modeling, that can describe reality though computer simulation and provide prediction for the effect of therapies. In this project, we will develop and validate beyond-state-of-the-art multiscale in silico models for this purpose. We are seeking for a highly motivated and talented Doctoral Researcher to work full-time on the topic.

As our new Doctoral Researcher (PhD student) your main responsibilities will include:

• Development of a mechanobiological in silico finite element model, incorporating cell-driven cartilage degeneration and regeneration mechanisms.
• Participating in ex vivo bioreactor and cartilage-on-chip experiments.

or

• Development of a multiscale musculoskeletal finite element model, including rapid model generation from X-ray images and personalized analysis of joint contact forces out-of-lab.
• Participating in clinical imaging and out-of-lab loading data collection of the study participants.

The work is done primarily in the Biophysics of Bone and Cartilage (BBC) group, (www-page), University of Eastern Finland, which is globally one of the leading groups in musculoskeletal research. The BBC group belongs to the “Ageing, Lifestyles, and Health” profile area and “Musculoskeletal Diseases” research community of the University of Eastern Finland (Musculoskeletal Diseases (MSKD) University of Eastern Finland (www-page)). The project includes national and international collaboration.

The main task of a Doctoral Researcher is to conduct research for their dissertation and to complete postgraduate studies.

The position will be filled for a fixed-term from 1 October 2024 (or starting date as agreed) to 31 August 2028 due to it candidates own doctoral degree.  The probationary period is applied to all new members of the staff.

The salary of the position is determined in accordance with the salary system of the Finnish universities. The salary comprises two elements: a job-related salary element and a personal salary element. In this position, the job requirement level is based on levels 2–4 on the job requirement chart for teaching and research staff depending on the stage of the applicant's doctoral research and postgraduate studies. The personal salary element is 6–50% of the job-related salary element. Depending on the personal salary element, the salary will be approximately EUR 2,585-2,710 €/month at the beginning of employment.

Our requirements

Requirements:

• The person to be appointed as a Doctoral Researcher shall be qualified to pursue postgraduate studies, i.e., the selected candidate will have to apply and be eligible for the Faculty's Doctoral Programme LUMETO (www-page)
• A suitable degree in biomedical engineering, mechanical engineering, computational biomechanics or mechanobiology, or a related field, awarded by a university or by a university of applied sciences, or a relevant applicable study programme abroad which in the awarding country gives eligibility for the corresponding level of higher education.
• Potential candidates should have a good command of the English language.

Students in the final stages of a degree that makes them eligible to apply (e.g., a Master’s degree) may also apply provided that they complete their degree and deliver a copy of their degree certificate to the faculty by 30 September 2024.

The following will be considered an advantage:

• Good computational modelling (e.g. finite element method) experience.
• Good programming skills (e.g. MATLAB, Python).

Your benefits

You will have access to the university’s staff benefits, including
• opportunity for flexible multi-location work
• extensive occupational health care
• broad selection of staff training
• staff discount on lunch in our campus restaurants, as well as on a range of other services
• affordable sports services and tax-free bike benefit

Please read more in the Work at UEF section on our website.

You will have an opportunity to work in an interesting, meaningful and diverse role as part of our international, creative, participatory and inclusive academic community.

Enjoy your life in Finland! Known for its cleanliness, welfare know-how, modern technology and superb education system, Finland is an exotic and safe country to work in. Please visit the Life in Finland section on our website to learn more.

How to apply?

Submit your application by using our electronic application form no later than 9 September 2024 by 24:00 (midnight) Finnish time (UTC+3).

Please note that you must include the following appendices in your application

• CV including references (Template for CV, www-page), but also other styles will be accepted,
• copies of your academic degree certificates / diplomas, and copies of certificates / diplomas relating to your language proficiency, if not indicated in the academic degree certificates/diplomas,
• a transcript of records,
• motivation letter (max 2 pages),
• other documents you wish to include to demonstrate your merits for the position (maximum 3 pages)

If your diploma is not in English, Finnish or Swedish, an official English translation must be provided. All translations must be issued either by the awarding educational institution or an authorised translator. Each page of the official translation must bear the translator’s stamp and/or signature. Official translations must be accurate translations of the original documents. Translations made by the applicants themselves are not accepted.

Questions?

For further information on the position, please contact Professor Rami Korhonen, email: rami.korhonen@uef.fi, tel.+358 29 445 3343.

For further information on the application procedure, please contact HR Specialist Iiris Korhonen, e-mail: iiris.korhonen@uef.fi, tel. +358 29 4458161.

Haemme väitöskirjatutkijaa Itä-Suomen Yliopiston Biophysics of Bone and Cartilage (BBC)- tutkimusryhmään. Tehtävä sijoittuu luonnontieteiden, metsätieteiden ja tekniikan tiedekuntaan teknillisen fysiikan laitokselle Kuopion kampukselle. Tehtävä alkaa 1.10.2024 tai sopimuksen mukaan. Tässä tehtävässä tehtäväkohtainen palkanosa on vaativuustasoluokittelussa tasoilla 2-4. Lisäksi maksetaan henkilökohtaiseen suoriutumiseen perustuvaa palkanosaa, joka on 6-50 % tehtäväkohtaisesta palkanosasta. Tehtävässä edellytetään hyvää englannin kielen taitoa.

Lue tarkemmat tiedot tehtävästä ja hakuohjeet yllä olevasta englanninkielisestä ilmoituksesta. Jätäthän hakemuksesi englanniksi. Hakuaika tehtävään päättyy 9.9.2024.