Assistant professor on cardiovascular biomechanics and disease progression

• Are you inspired by the contribution of engineering methods to solve actually relevant clinical and  healthcare problems?
• Are you fascinated by the use of model predictive subject specific decision support in clinical and health care decision-taking?
• Are you intrigued by the functional adaptations that occur in the human body as a result of disease, a disorder or an intervention?

The Cardiovascular Biomechanics group of the Department of Biomedical Engineering would like to welcome you to run a line of research and education in cardiovascular biomechanics with a focus on pathophysiology and disease progression.

There is a critical need to study cardiac and vascular changes that may occur over time due to diseases, disorders, lifestyle, exercise or medical interventions. Our goal is to gain a deeper insight into cardiac and vascular (mal)adaptations, and to learn patient disease trajectories. To achieve this, more accurate model-based predictions of disease progression are required that provide better insights into the impact of pathological, interventional and lifestyle changes on cardiovascular tissue mechanics and function. In addition, we also aim to gain a refined understanding of cardiovascular pathophysiology within the broader context of the entire cardiovascular system, taking into account the interconnections and interactions among different components. Therefore, we seek to recruit an assistant professor on cardiovascular biomechanics with a focus on pathophysiology and disease progression.

This new assistant professor gets the chance to establish and expand existing application areas on cardiovascular function and pathology, perinatology, and life-support. In particular, the assistant professor will make key contributions in the areas of modeling cardiovascular diseases (focusing on tissue mechanics, i.e., cardiac and vascular function, vascular disease) and tissue perfusion (coronary pathophysiology, placental dysfunction) by not only developing predictive (patient-specific) computational models, but also validating them using multi-scale in vitro setups and clinical data (e.g. medical images and functional data) that are representative of the system as a whole. Moreover, the new assistant professor will be supported to ensure the translation of these diagnostic and prognostic models of cardiovascular pathophysiology (Digital Twins) towards the clinic using model optimization and hybrid modeling strategies that currently exist within the Cardiovascular Biomechanics group (CVBM).

Embedding within the department
Cardiovascular biomechanics

The current research lines of the Cardiovascular Biomechanics (CVBM) group led by Prof. Huberts are computational and experimental biomechanical analysis of the cardiovascular system and its application to clinical diagnosis, prognosis and intervention, cardiovascular prostheses, extracorporeal systems, medical devices, and related decision support systems. Inherent to the group's approach is the testing of these models and devices using data obtained from their in vitro setups, from isolated (slaughterhouse) in vivo beating heart experiments, and clinical data from animals and patients, obtained in collaboration with academic and clinical partners. The group is closely associated with the Photoacoustics & Ultrasound Laboratory PULS/e research group headed by Prof. Richard Lopata, which originated from the Cardiovascular Biomechanics group, but has now developed into an independent research group focusing on photoacoustic and ultrasound imaging (also beyond cardiovascular applications) and biomechanical model-based analysis of the imaging data. The latter provides the strong link between the two groups.

The Cardiovascular Biomechanics group distinguishes itself within the department by its strong connections with clinicians, in particular at the Catharina hospital (Prof. Pim Tonino, Prof. Marc van Sambeek, Prof. Lukas Dekker, Dr Marcel van 't Veer), Maxima Medical Center (Prof. Oei, Prof. van Rijn, Prof. Kemps), UMCU (Dr. Krings, Dr. Jacob), and Maastricht UMC (Prof. Delhaas, Dr. Snoeijs, Dr. Sels, Dr. Bidar). The group also plays a leading role in the Medical Engineering master offered in collaboration with MUMC, both in a coordinating role and as the host of many ME master graduation projects. In short, the Cardiovascular Biomechanics group provides an important and distinctive contribution to education and research in the department of Biomedical Engineering.

Possible collaborations

Within the department, excellent opportunities for collaboration exist in the areas of ultrasound imaging and modelling (Prof. Lopata), image analysis (Prof. Pluim), systems biology (Prof. van Riel), in vivo sensing (Prof. Prins) and cardiovascular regeneration and mechanobiology (Prof. Loerakker, Prof. Bouten, Prof van Rijn). Strong collaborations are also envisioned with top-clinical hospitals in the Brainport (MMC and CZE) region and its medical device industry, e.g. as part of the e/MTIC program: (https://www.tue.nl/en/research/research-groups/eaisi/eaisi-business-operations/eindhoven-medtech-innovation-center/).

Requirements:

Assistant professor on cardiovascular biomechanics with a focus on pathophysiology and disease progression.

Background:

• PhD in biomedical engineering, mechanical engineering, applied physics, computational science, applied mathematics or similar fields.
• A distinguished record of academic achievement in research and education in biomedical engineering, including translation into clinical decision support and development of research-based product ideas aimed at clinical translation.
• Affinity for teaching and guiding PhD candidates, and/or postdoctoral researchers.
• A demonstrated ability to secure external third party funding (e.g. VENI, Marie Curie).
• Strong international network, national and international visibility, and recognition.
• Strong cooperation skills and ability to work in an interdisciplinary team.
• Experience in working with the medical device industry would be an advantage.
• Effective communication and leadership skills, including coaching and mentoring of students and staff, leading a project or chairing a group, as well as contact with patients, industrial partners, medical doctors within clinical settings.
• Excellent (written and verbal) proficiency in English, and preferably also Dutch.

Scope:

• Lead a strong research program that focuses on the development and application of models of cardiovascular pathophysiology and mechanics.
• Work closely with clinicians on relevant challenges in predictive clinical decision support around perinatology and placental dysfunction.
• Contribute to education in medical engineering, biomechanics, or physics in the Bachelor program and the Medical Engineering master.

Personality:

• proactive and innovative team player
• excellent communication skills

Note:

• Female candidates starting within our department are entitled to join the Irene Curie Program, which includes a substantial, additional, start-up package.

If you are excited about this position and you are concerned you do not meet all the requirements sufficiently, please be welcome to apply. We would love to look and consider your profile.

Salary Benefits:

A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network. You will work on a beautiful, green campus within walking distance of the central train station. In addition, we offer you:

• A tailor-made career proposal for your tenure-track will be designed with the possibility to obtain a permanent contract after one year.
• The opportunity to focus your career on education, research or impact. You can develop your personal ambitions and objections within the strategic objectives of the university. Salary in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, scale 11 (min. € 4.537,- max. € 6.209,- gross per month).
• A year-end bonus of 8.3% and annual vacation pay of 8%.
• A dedicated mentoring program to help you get to know the university and the Dutch (research) environment.
• High-quality training programs for academic leadership and teaching.
• An excellent technical infrastructure, on-campus children's day care and sports facilities. Partially paid parental leave and an allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs.
• A Staff Immigration Team is available for international candidates, as are a tax compensation scheme (the 30% facility) and partner career support.

38 hours per week

De Rondom 70