PhD on Digital Twin in Healthcare for Brain Perfusion and Metabolism

at  Universiteit van Amsterdam

PhD on Digital Twin in Healthcare for Brain Perfusion and Metabolism
Faculteit/Dienst: Faculteit der Natuurw., Wiskunde & Informatica
Opleidingsniveau: Master
Functie type: Promotieplaats
Sluitingsdatum: 17 juni 2024
Vacaturenummer: 12967
The Computational Science Lab at the University of Amsterdam invites applications for a PhD Research Position with goal to develop a Digital Twin in Healthcare for Brain Perfusion and Metabolism, and apply it to study details of perfusion and infarction of brain tissue under pathologic conditions (e.g. in an acute ischemic stroke, or after a ruptured cerebral aneurism). This position situates within a vibrant research group that maintains a broad scientific collaboration network, including several clinical institutes, experimental groups, and supercomputing centers across Europe.

YOUR EXPERIENCE AND PROFILE:

You hold a MSc in Computational Science, Computer Science, Computational Physics, Applied Math, Biomedical Engineering, or related field, and have a strong and proven interest in biomedicine. You have a keen interest in medical simulation research, both in basic understanding of physiology via simulation as well as to applications in a clinical setting.
You are experienced with python and C++ and with software engineering tools and are familiar with version control (git). If needed, you are eager and willing to learn new skills in computational fluid dynamics, numerical methods, or programming.
You have a professional command of written and spoken English (training in academic skills is an advantage).
Familiarity with any of the following is considered an advantage: GPU programming, numerical algorithms, high-performance computing, medical image segmentation, finite element method, biology of brain perfusion.

ABOUT US

The University of Amsterdam (UvA) is the Netherlands’ largest university, offering the widest range of academic programmes. At the UvA, 42,000 students, 6,000 staff members and 3,000 PhD candidates study and work in a diverse range of fields, connected by a culture of curiosity.
The Faculty of Science (FNWI) has a student body of around 8,000, as well as 1,800 members of staff working in education, research or support services. Researchers and students at the Faculty of Science are fascinated by every aspect of how the world works, be it elementary particles, the birth of the universe or the functioning of the brain.
The mission of the Informatics Institute (IvI) is to perform curiosity-driven and use-inspired fundamental research in Computer Science. The main research themes are Artificial Intelligence, Computational Science and Systems and Network Engineering. Our research involves complex information systems at large, with a focus on collaborative, data driven, computational and intelligent systems, all with a strong interactive component.

You can find further information on the group (Computational Science Lab) at the following URLs:

• https://computationalscience.nl
• https://github.com/UvaCsl

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?

Project: Digital Twin in Healthcare for Brain Perfusion and Metabolism
Aim: Building upon earlier computational models for brain perfusion, metabolism, and infarction, you will develop a high-fidelity Digital Twin, that will become a generic modelling and simulation platform to study (patho)physiology of brain perfusion and related processes (metabolism, infarction, oedema, bleeding in the brain, vasospasm, etc.). The Digital Twin will be validated against clinical data, and credibility assessments will be performed. Finally, in collaboration with (clinical) partners, the Digital Twin will be applied to contribute to decision support tools in preventing or treating strokes.
Context: The research is part of Gemini project (https://dth-gemini.eu), a large international collaboration developing and applying Digital Twin in Healthcare for ischemic and haemorrhagic strokes. In your research you will be collaborating intensively with a number of partners in this project.

TASKS AND KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• You will be developing a versatile plug-and-play HPC-aware simulation tool for brain perfusion, metabolism, and infarction, relying on state-of-the-art software environments (such as e.g. Fenics) and coupling libraries (such as e.g. MUSCLE). Next, you will validate the simulation and apply uncertainty quantification to enhance fidelity and enable patient-specific utilization. You will rely on applying and combining methodologies from computational fluid dynamics, solid mechanics, and mathematical optimization.
• You will collaborate with both local and international partners (this includes clinical, experimental, and computational partners) to maintain the comprehensiveness and applicability of the research.
• You will participate in academic education based on mutual agreement (assisting in one of our courses or supervising student thesis projects).