Senior Research Associate in Multiphysics Modelling of Brain Health

We are seeking to appoint a highly motivated Senior Research Associate in
Multiphysics Modelling of Brain Health, to work within the recently
established Podium Institute for Sports Medicine at the University of Oxford.
The Podium Institute sits within the Institute of Biomedical Engineering
(IBME) in the University’s Department of Engineering Science and is supported
by a £25m 10-year donation to the University. This full-time post is initially
fixed term for 2 years, with the possibility of an extension, subject to
funding. The postholder will work under the supervision of Professor Johannes
Weickenmeier.





You will be part of an interdisciplinary team of pioneering researchers, with
the primary aim to understand the impact of age, trauma, and neurodegenerative
diseases on the brain’s unique form and function. We pose that brain shape
changes result from continuously evolving microstructure that may be affected
by age, injury, and neurodegeneration. We seek to uncover fundamental
mechanisms of healthy and accelerated brain aging by coupling mechanics and
neurobiology to create multiphysics-informed predictive models of brain
health. Specifically, our approach combines finite element modelling and
medical image analysis. Our finite element brain models are based on tissue
segmentation and our numerical simulations are validated against existing
imaging data. The group’s long-term vision is to impact clinical practice by
identifying characteristic manifestations of age, trauma, and disease on the
brain’s form and function.





You will be expected to dedicate your time to the field of Brain Health Across
the Lifecycle. Examples of areas of research are: i) identify physiological
manifestations and physics-based biomarkers that allow to differentiate
between healthy and accelerated brain aging; ii) create multiphysical
constitutive models of cortical tissues degeneration during aging and injury;
iii) utilize longitudinal medical image data to infer brain aging and injury
mechanisms; and iv) study the potential relationship between exposure to head
impacts and the development of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's,
Parkinson's and related dementias later in life.





You will hold a relevant PhD/DPhil with post-qualification experience in the
field of mechanical or biomedical engineering, applied mathematics, or another
field relevant to the proposed area of research. You will also have proven
experience in finite element modelling and data-driven multiphysics
approaches. Fluency in Python, Fortran, MATLAB and/or C/C++ and prior work
with common finite element simulation software are required.





You will help create a healthy and vibrant research environment within The
Podium Institute for Sports Medicine at the University of Oxford. This will
involve leading, devising, coordinating, and supervising research projects in
this area, including the work involved in the collaborations with project
partners, guidance to researchers and students, continuously writing papers,
and applying for further funding to underpin the research.





Informal enquiries may be addressed to Professor Johannes Weickenmeier
(johannes.weickenmeier@eng.ox.ac.uk).





For more information about working at the Department, see
www.eng.ox.ac.uk/about/work-with-us/





Only online applications received before midday on **14 October 2024** can be
considered. You will be required to upload your CV, a supporting statement, a
research proposal, and the details of two referees as part of your online
application. Please read the job description document for more details.





The Department holds an Athena Swan Bronze award, highlighting its commitment
to promoting women in Science, Engineering and Technology.