Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Candidate Position DC12 within the MetacMed project

Institute of Fluid Flow Machinery Polish Academy of Science

Organisation/Company Institute of Fluid Flow Machinery Polish Academy of Science Department Institute of Fluid Flow Machinery Research Field Engineering » Biomedical engineering Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Country Poland Application Deadline 31 Jul :00 (Europe/Warsaw) Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 40 Offer Starting Date 1 Oct 2024 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? H2020 / Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Reference Number METACMED-DC12 Marie Curie Grant Agreement Number Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

"Additively-manufactured metamaterial with embedded FBG sensors for human joints monitoring and rehabilitation"

within the MetacMed Doctoral Network

Applications are invited from suitable qualified candidates for a full time, 36 months fixed-term position, as a Doctoral Candidate (DC) on the MetacMed Doctoral Network at the Institute of Fluid-Flow Machinery, Polish Academy of Sciences, Fiszera 14 St, Gdansk, Poland.

This position is DC12, which is one of 12 DCs being recruited as a part of a European-funded Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network (DN) on Acoustic and mechanical metamaterials for biomedical and energy harvesting applications – 'MetacMed', GRANT , see .

The successful applicant will be enrolled on a PhD programme at the Tricity Doctoral School, Polish Academy of Sciences, and will work on the topic of "Additively-manufactured metamaterial with embedded FBG sensors for human joints monitoring and rehabilitation" under the supervision of Dr Katarzyna Majewska, Prof. of the Institute of Fluid-Flow Machinery, Polish Academy of Sciences.

Two secondments at:

• University of Calabria, Cosenza, Italy, 6 months

are foreseen for this position.

Only applicants who have not been resident in Poland for more than 12 months in the 36months preceding the effective starting date of this contract are eligible for this position. Moreover, applicants must not have been awarded with a PhD at the effective starting date of this contract Further information is detailed below.

MetacMed in a nutshell

MetacMed aims to link basic research on acoustic and mechanical metamaterials (MMs) to health and well-being issues. DCs will each consider ways in which human health can be improved using MMs, e.g. improvement in the resolution of biomedical ultrasound imaging for diagnostics, the design of better spinal implants, monitoring of bone healing, and the use of insoles to aid human walking. Another area of interest is to develop MMs that can be used for energy harvesting, to better power e.g. medical devices, and reduce reliance on conventional power sources. These are all backed up by fundamental studies into the MMs themselves to provide the background to achieve these tasks. The balance of the network has thus been carefully considered in terms of basic science and applications, with input from industry in areas such as MMs fabrication and exploitation. Associated with the above is a strong set of training events and tailored secondment periods at both associated partners and beneficiaries.

About the position and the research project

This full-time position will be available, subject to funding, from October 2024 and offered on afixed-term 36-month contract. This post benefits from a highly competitive and attractive salary, plus mobility and family allowances as applicable. Working as a part of the WP6 work package, the successful applicant will complete a research project on: "Additively-manufactured metamaterial with embedded FBG sensors for human joints monitoring and rehabilitation".

The objectives of this project are:

• Design a novel auxetic Metamaterials (MMs) with embedded FBG sensors via FEM simulations, explore a range of the MMs limitations with reference to the best possible representation of the behaviour of tendons or ligaments in joints;
• Selection of the most promising MM for manufacturing (with embedded FBG sensors);
• Perform static and dynamic tests for a manufactured specimen to validate the proposed design.

Research environment:

You stay in the beautiful city of Gdańsk located on the Baltic coast of northern Poland. Gdańsk is the capital and largest city of the Pomeranian Voivodeship. Gdańsk along with Sopot and Gdynia offer different vibes and ample opportunities for social, cultural, and outdoor activities. Together they form a metropolitan area called the Tricity (Trójmiasto) which is well-connected by public transport.

Institute of Fluid-Flow Machinery is a research institute founded in 1956 which belongs to the Polish Academy of Sciences a Polish state-sponsored institution of higher learning. You will be a part of an energetic and young team working at the Mechanics of Intelligent Structures Department already hosting multinational, multicultural PhD students. We are committed to increase the diversity of our team and encourage qualified people from all backgrounds and genders to apply for this position. You will have access to computing facilities as well as advanced equipment such as a fibre optical interrogators, climate chamber and other necessary devices.

• At the effective starting date of this contract, applicants must not have been awarded with a PhD;
• At the effective starting date of this contract, applicants must not have resided in Poland for more than 12 months in the three years immediately before the appointment;
• A Master's degree in Mechanical, Structural/Civil, Biomedical or Materials Engineering, Physics, or Computer Science (or related disciplines).
• An excellent track record of academic achievement;
• An experience through courses or prior professional activities with at least one of the following: structural dynamics, numerical modelling techniques (finite element method), experimental methods in optical fibre;
• Previous experience with acoustic/mechanical metamaterials modelling, design, and characterization will be a plus;
• Previous experience and/or possessing a background and/or familiarity with essential medical and/or biomedical principles related to the subject matter will undoubtedly be a significant asset;
• Have very good communication skills in English both written and verbal;
• Ability to and commitment to producing scientific outputs for publication in peer-reviewed journals;
• Evidence of ability to work independently and collaboratively within an international team;
• Highly motivated, with excellent organisation skills and with strong attention to detail and quality;
• Are willing to travel to attend secondments, training and academic events.

Also, prizes, awards and distinctions of the doctoral candidate resulting from the carried out research/academic activities will be assessed.

Specific Requirements

Position Duties

• As a doctoral candidate in this project you will work on designing (in collaboration with the University of Calabria, Cosenza, Italy, 6 months) a novel auxetic MM with embedded fibre Bragg grating (FBG) sensors which could mimic the behaviour of a tendon/ligament in human joint – that part of work will be realised via FEM simulations.
• Next, you will work on manufacturing (in collaboration with CNRS, Lille, France, 1 month) a novel auxetic MM with embedded fibre Bragg grating (FBG).
• Next, you will conduct static and dynamic tests of the manufactured specimen(s) to validate the proposed design(s).
• As a result your design will allow to monitor the exertion levels and corresponding strains, aiding physiotherapist with rehabilitation processes, proving a range of parameters that can be evaluated to improve /speed up the healing process.

Salary: € per annum plus a mobility allowance equal to 7 200 € per annum, and family allowances as applicable and in line with the EC rules for Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Networks. Note that this is a gross salary, and it is subject to national taxation.

Continuing Professional Development/Training: Researchers at the Institute of Fluid-Flow Machinery, Polish Academy of Sciences are encouraged to avail of a range of training and development opportunities designed to support their personal career development plans. TheInstitute of Fluid-Flow Machinery, Polish Academy of Sciences provides continuing professional development support for all researchers seeking to build their own career pathways either within or beyond academia.

Eligibility criteria

Only applicants who have not been resident in Poland for more than 12 months in the 36months preceding the effective starting date of this contract are eligible for this position. Moreover, applicants must not have been awarded with a PhD at the effective starting date of this contract.

Selection process

HOW TO APPLY?

We look forward to receiving your application including:

• letter of motivation,
• CV including a list of publications (if any),
• diplomas with grade transcripts(courses with grades),
• copy of certificates, documentation of awards, etc.
• additional documents can be requested during recruitment process.

Please, send the requested documents to Dr Katarzyna Majewska via with the email subject "Metacmed doctoral candidate". You are kindly asked to fill also the pre-application module by sending the same documents in the attachment.

The closing date for receipt of applications is noon (Central European Time) on 31 st July 2024. We reserve the right to re-advertise or extend the closing date for this post. It is anticipated that selected candidates will be further interviewed.

Additional comments

For further information please see the MetacMed Call for Applicants (download here ) and have alook at the MetacMed website ) to stay up-to-date

Number of offers available 1 Company/Institute Institute of Fluid Flow Machinery Polish Academy of Science Country Poland City Gdansk Postal Code Street Fiszera 14 Geofield