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The Particulate Dynamics research group is part of the division Mechatronics, Bio-statistics and Sensors at the department of Biosystems Engineering, KU Leuven. We are interested in how complex biological structures such as cells and tissues may emerge from simple interactions between their underlying components. For this, we study the organization dynamics and mechanical properties of cells and cell communities using a combination of mechanical measurements and particle-based computational models. These quantitative models are used to improve our understanding in applications such as the treatment of antibiotic resistance in bacterial biofilms and the production of micro-tissues for bone tissue engineering. The Particulate Dynamics group closely collaborates with the Prometheus division, an interdisciplinary team of engineers and biomedical re-searchers that develops novel techniques for Bone Tissue Engineering.
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Project
The rheological behavior of 3Dtissues plays a crucial role in various areas, including regenerative medicine,organoid production, the study developmental processes and diseases such ascancer. This behavior is determined by cell-generated forces and is stronglyinfluenced by the extracellular environment of the cells, for example thebio-ink of a bioprinted tissue. However, the manner in which cell biology andbiomaterials interact to determine tissue rheology remains largely unexplored. In this PhD research, you willfocus on investigating the soft tissue rheology of small tissue spheroids. Thiswill involve a combination of mechanical characterization and computationalmodeling techniques. Experimental methods such as atomic force microscopy,traction force microscopy, encapsulated force sensing probes, andfusion/spreading experiments will be employed to characterize the mechanicalproperties of the tissues and the interaction between tissues and theirencapsulating material. The obtained experimental data will be complementedwith theoretical analysis and simulations using active matter models to developa comprehensive understanding of how cell properties govern active tissuebehavior. The findings from this research will have significant implications inthe field of tissue engineering. The ultimate goal is to create livingself-organizing tissue modules with tunable rheological properties, opening newavenues for regenerative medicine and tissue engineering applications.
Profile
You have a Master's degree in MechanicalEngineering, Bioscience Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, (Bio)physics, orequivalent qualifications. We are a young and ambitious lab, and we are lookingfor a motivated and creative candidate, who is ready to pursue his/her ownresearch vision and to think, discuss and work together as a team to push theboundaries of science. As a candidate, you are eager to familiarize yourselfwith state-of-the-art mechanical characterization techniques such as AtomicForce Microscopy (AFM), nanoindentation (NI) and Traction Force Microscopy(TFM). You are also interested in the application of engineering techniques tohelp bring forward a new generation of regenerative medicine technology. You have demonstrated excellence,which may be evidenced through outstanding study results, active involvement inextracurricular activities, early research accomplishments, or any equivalentmeans that showcase exceptional performance.
Offer
A research position of 4 years, pending apositive evaluation after one year. You will enroll in the doctoral programmeof the Arenberg Doctoral School (ADS) of KU Leuven.
The website of the software we develop
Interested?
For more information please contact Prof. dr. Bart Smeets, tel.: +32 16 32 85 92, mail: bart.smeets@kuleuven.be.
You can apply for this job no later than August 14, 2023 via the online application tool
KU Leuven seeks to foster an environment where all talents can flourish, regardless of gender, age, cultural background, nationality or impairments. If you have any questions relating to accessibility or support, please contact us at diversiteit.HR@kuleuven.be.
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