A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) investigation of endovascular aortic arch stent graft designs in relation to post-operative thrombus formation

Industry co-funded EPSRC PhD Studentship

An exciting opportunity for a fully-funded 42-month PhD studentship co-funded by a world-leading medical devices company and EPSRC is available at the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Strathclyde. The successful candidate will work closely with a multidisciplinary team of senior academics and industry collaborators to investigate endovascular aortic arch stent graft designs in relation to post-operative in-graft thrombus formation in the repaired aorta.

This project will study the haemodynamics of aortae prior to and following endovascular repair and the conditions that may lead to post-operative thrombus formation. The work will include optimisation of vascular prosthesis designs to enable the best-possible flow characteristics within the grafts, including post-surgical vascular perfusion results. This investigation could further be used to understand patient-specific anatomical geometry and graft design effects and aid in patient selection/risk-benefit analysis for more effective personalised treatment.

The project is highly multidisciplinary within the broad fields of Biomedical Engineering, Fluid Mechanics, and Medical Devices. The student will join a strong and experienced academic team which leads an EPSRC Transformative Healthcare Technologies project on Digital twin assisted surgery.

This is a rare PhD opportunity co-funded by EPSRC and a leading medical devices company and will provide the candidate with both academic and industrial experience. Further information may be found here: https://www.strath.ac.uk/studywithus/postgraduateresearchphdopportunities/engineering/biomedicalengineering/computationalfluiddynamicsinvestigation/

The successful candidate should start on 1^st October 2024. For further project information, please contact Dr. Asimina Kazakidi ([email protected]).

About the Department and the University

The Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Strathclyde is internationally recognised for its excellence in education and research at the interface between engineering and the life sciences, with particular emphasis on clinically related research. It is committed to producing high-quality research output, training and knowledge transfer and much of its work is clinically driven and conducted in collaboration with clinical or industrial partners.

The Department was ranked 1st in the UK, at the 2018 Complete University Guide, for Medical Technology. It is highly research-intensive and has strong industry collaborations.

Founded in 1962, the University of Strathclyde is home to one of the oldest biomedical engineering departments in the world. It even has the earliest building dedicated to teaching and research in this field, opened in 1972 by the Wolfson Foundation.

Students are part of a thriving community of researchers dedicated to advancing the interface between engineering, science and medicine. The University of Strathclyde is led by its vision for the ‘place of useful learning’ and aims to build upon its leading technology aspiration with an important student, societal and global impact.

Academic Requirements: Applicants should hold a high-grade undergraduate degree and/or a Master’s degree (or expect to achieve) in Engineering, Physics, Biomedical Engineering, Applied Mathematics, or a related field. Candidates should demonstrate enthusiasm, motivation for learning, commitment, and excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

Deadline: Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Qualified candidates are advised to submit their applications early for consideration.