Job Information
- Organisation/Company
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra - ETIC
- Department
- Tecnologies de la Informació i les Comunicacions
- Research Field
- Engineering » Biomedical engineering
- Researcher Profile
- First Stage Researcher (R1)
- Country
- Spain
- Application Deadline
- Type of Contract
- Temporary
- Job Status
- Full-time
- Hours Per Week
- 37,5
- Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?
- H2020 / ERC
- Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?
- No
Offer Description
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 IVD lies within the vertebras, providing flexibility to the spine and is, therefore, constantly subjected to complex loading conditions. It reflects the biggest avascular structure of the human body, where cell nutrition is diffusion dependent. Hence, cells within the IVD are constantly subjected to a demanding loading and nutrition environment.
Dynamics at the (multi-) cellular level, related to this harsh environment are currently thought to be a main driving force in the dynamics of IVD degeneration, given the highly load-bearing capacity of the IVD at the organ level. IVD degeneration accounts for over 40% of cases of low back pain, which affects over 80% of the world’s population at least once in an individual’s lifetime, which emphasizes the need for investigation.
IVD degeneration is a slow process, developing over months to years without being perceived by the person, therefore, classified as a “non-communicable disease”. Research suggests that the presence of proinflammatory cytokines plays a critical role in IVD degeneration, and being possibly a major regulator of non-communicable diseases in general, which includes systemic diseases such as osteoarthritis (OA) and atherosclerosis (AS).
The European Research Council Consolidator Grant (ERC CoG) funded project O-Health (101044828) aims at shedding light to the role of low-grade inflammation in non-communicable diseases. This PhD thesis will be part of the O-Health research project, focusing on the relationship between low-grade inflammation and IVD degenerative processes.
Job description:
The PhD Candidate will develop in silico models to approximate the regulation of IVD degeneration with emphasis on the role of low-grade inflammation within the intervertebral disc. 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 IVD multiscale model developed by the PhD Candidate forms part of a large network of interconnected models that simulate other non-communicable diseases such as OA and AS and their connection via the blood stream. Hence, the PhD candidate will tightly collaborate with a team of computer scientists, data scientists, biomechanicians and experts in (cell-)biology.
The work contract covers funding for a period of up to four years. It will be led by the BMMB research lab, which forms part of the research unit BCN MedTech, at the Department of Communication and Information Technologies (DTIC) of the University Pompeu Fabra (UPF) in Barcelona, Spain.
About the research environment:
Founded in 1990, UPF is a young public university that is highly competitive in research and aims to transform education to respond to future challenges. In just thirty-three years, it has earned a place among the best universities in Europe, being the leading Spanish university, in most international rankings (https://www.upf.edu/web/universitat/la-upf-en-els-ranquings).
BCN MedTech (https://www.upf.edu/web/bcn-medtech/) was created in 2015 at DTIC, UPF, and is located in the vibrant 22@ quarter of the city of Barcelona. It is an interdisciplinary and translational research platform in biomedical engineering, with nine research areas. Its activities cover the analysis and processing of biomedical images, machine learning and data science, analysis of complex systems and signals, modelling of tissues and organs, multi-scale simulations and biomedical electronics. These skills are applied to explore or solve clinical problems through research, innovation and transfer of new technologies.
The research of BMMB (www.biomech.es) focuses on the load-bearing organs and tissues of the human body in health and disease, targeting:
1- the interactions between tissue multiphysics and biological processes
2- the multiscale regulation of organ functional biomechanics
3- the identification of mechanistic risk factors of different diseases and disorders, based on the aggregation of synthetic, experimental and real-world data.
Requirements
- Research Field
- Engineering
- Education Level
- Master Degree or equivalent
The PhD Candidate should have a strong background in (human) biology with focus on biological regulations at a cellular level. Moreover, mathematical and basic programming skills are required. Basic understanding of network/Agent-based modeling is a plus. Moreover, excellent English writing and communication skills are indispensable. The PhD Candidate should have a strong motivation in the research field, with a strong will to handle and combine both biological and technical knowledge. Importantly, the Candidate should be highly proactive in the development of novel ideas, and in the development of the PhD project. The PhD Candidate should be able to work well in a team and have a high commitment to honesty and fairness.
- Languages
- ENGLISH
- Level
- Excellent
Additional Information
Up to four years full-time work contract (37,5 h/week), with a remuneration aligned with the public Spanish predoctoral grants for the formation of research personal (FPI). The researcher will evolve in a highly international environment (more than 50% of internationalization) and will have the possibility to participate to teaching activities for career development (not obligatory, though). The project includes a research allowance, for material, congresses, open-access publications, and for a research stay abroad. Technically, the PhD Candidate will be supervised by experts of a broad range of in silico techniques, including highly promising cutting-edge methods to comprehensively model multicellular environments. This allows the candidate to obtain deep insights in novel and state of the art in silico methodologies and, therefore, in addition to the biological expertise, becoming an expert in different in silico techniques, allowing for a professional development outside of a specific research niche.
Selection Criteria: The selection committee uses a number of indicators to evaluate the applicant’s preparedness, motivation and potential.
1st phase, remote pre-selection:
The Scientific, Technological & Academic excellence will be considered at first, based on:
1. A full CV that shall include:
- Full education track, including final average marks and rankings at both the BSc and the MSc levels
- Research experience that shall be supported by evidences such as BSc final thesis, MSc final thesis, previous research projects and scientific publications
- Previous activities in Science communication & Outreach supported by press releases, online videos, participations to events, etc.
- Recognitions and merits (individual competitive grants, awards, …)
2. A Biosketch with a section of the five major achievements of the CV
3.Two reference letters provided by international scholars
4. Letter of purpose: motivation to apply to this particular position, academic fit (past research experience), contribution of the project to future career plans etc.
2nd phase, interview(s) & final decision:
Should the candidate be preselected during the 1st phase, a 2nd phase will consist in at least one interview through which the motivation, the proactive behaviour, the capacity to work collaboratively, the organizational skills, the communication skills and the capacity to engage in a scientific discussion and manage problems, will be assessed, among other aspects. The final decision will be the result of a consensus of a recruitment committee that will take into account the results of both recruitment phases 1 and 2. The candidate will be informed of the section results by email.
Application Process:
According to the specific requirements and selection criteria, the candidates are expected to provide at least the following documents:
• The full CV
• The two requested reference letters
• The letter of purpose (no more than two A4 pages)
• A copy of the BSc and MSc Diploma
• A link to a PDF copy of the BSc thesis
• A link to a PDF copy of the MSc thesis
• BSc and MSc academic transcripts
Work Location(s)
- Number of offers available
- 1
- Company/Institute
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra
- Country
- Spain
- City
- Barcelona
- Postal Code
- 08018
- Street
- Roc Boronat 138
- Geofield
Where to apply
- jerome.noailly@upf.edu
Contact
- City
- Barcelona
- Website
- Street
- Roc Boronat 138
- Postal Code
- 08018
- randp.dtic@upf.edu