Research Scientist Soft Robotic Ventricle Design

Job description

For end-stage heart failure patients on the waiting list for a donor heart, mechanical pumps implanted in their chest are often their only option to survive. Given the high risks and severe discomfort of these devices, there is a strong need for soft circulatory devices that accurately replicate the natural motion of the heart.

In this project, you will computationally optimize soft robotic ventricle designs, additively manufacture them, and perform extensive static and dynamic experiments to quantify the soft robotic ventricle's acute and chronic performance, its efficiency, and its durability in response to realistic cardiovascular loading conditions.

The research will be conducted in the Department of BioMechanical Engineering at Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) under the supervision of dr. ir. Mathias Peirlinck and dr. ir. Aimée Sakes. The Peirlinck Lab integrates multimodal experimental data, physics-based modeling, and machine learning techniques to understand, explore, and predict the multiscale behavior of the human heart and cardiovascular system.

Prior experience in finite element analysis, mathematical and numerical modeling of soft matter mechanics, additive manufacturing, and experimental device testing are required. As the successful candidate for this position, you will direct the research project at hand. You will actively participate in (bi)weekly lab meetings, write scientific articles, and take part in teaching and supervision activities within the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of Delft University of Technology.

Requirements

• You are a highly independent, motivated, and innovative individual.
• You can effectively communicate scientific ideas, and foster collaborations in a highly multidisciplinary team.
• You have demonstrable experience with finite element analysis, computational modeling of highly deformable materials, additive manufacturing, device design, as well as cross-disciplinary research.
• You have a master’s degree (or an equivalent university degree) in mechanical engineering, civil engineering, aerospace engineering, biomedical engineering, or a related field.
• You have a strong research-oriented attitude and are critical to your own work and output.
• You have excellent spoken and written English* language skills (min. C1 level).

Please highlight your specific skills and relevant prior experiences for this position explicitly in your motivation letter. Motivation letters that do not address any of these requirements will not be considered.

Conditions of employment

• An excellent pension scheme via the ABP.
• The possibility to compile an individual employment package every year.
• Discount with health insurers.
• Flexible working week.
• Every year, 232 leave hours (at 38 hours). You can also sell or buy additional leave hours via the individual choice budget.
• Plenty of opportunities for education, training and courses.
• Partially paid parental leave
• Attention for working healthy and energetically with the vitality program.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

Faculty Mechanical Engineering

From chip to ship. From machine to human being. From idea to solution. Driven by a deep-rooted desire to understand our environment and discover its underlying mechanisms, research and education at the ME faculty focusses on fundamental understanding, design, production including application and product improvement, materials, processes and (mechanical) systems.

ME is a dynamic and innovative faculty with high-tech lab facilities and international reach. It’s a large faculty but also versatile, so we can often make unique connections by combining different disciplines. This is reflected in ME’s outstanding, state-of-the-art education, which trains students to become responsible and socially engaged engineers and scientists. We translate our knowledge and insights into solutions to societal issues, contributing to a sustainable society and to the development of prosperity and well-being. That is what unites us in pioneering research, inspiring education and (inter)national cooperation.