PhD candidate and Postdoctoral fellowships available in Computational Physiology
Deadline: 15.10.2021
Simula Research Laboratory AS
Simula Research Laboratory AS is a publicly owned research laboratory located in Oslo, Norway. Simula’s mission is to solve important and fundamental problems of science and engineering, with the main goal of benefiting and advancing society. We focus on performing excellent research within five select research areas (scientific computing, software engineering, communication systems, machine learning and cybersecurity), developing and supporting our researchers, students and staff, and spinning out applicable results into profitable startups.
PhD candidate and Postdoctoral fellowships available in Computational Physiology at Simula Research Laboratory
Job description
In the department for Computational Physiology at Simula, we now have an opening for a postdoctoral fellow or PhD candidate to join our research project “The Dynamic Heart - Computational Tools for Studying Cardiac Growth and Remodeling (DynaComp)”.
The candidate will join the research team of the Computational Physiology department, consisting of several other PhD candidates, postdoctoral fellows, and senior researchers, as well as national and international collaborators. The position will be part of an ongoing collaboration between Simula and the K.G. Jebsen Centre for Cardiac Research at Oslo University Hospital, and the candidate will become an integral part of the large and vibrant research environment within scientific computing and computational physiology at Simula.
The main aim of the Dynacomp project is to build validated computational models that can predict how the heart adapts and grows over time in response to altered conditions and mechanical stimuli. The long-term goal for the research is to improve diagnosis, outcome prediction, and treatment for heart failure (HF) patients. We pursue an interdisciplinary approach where computational models and simulations are driven by experimental data, and the simulation results guide further experiments and clinical research.
The relevant computational models are detailed finite element models of cardiac mechanics, which have been developed in the context of previous and ongoing research projects. These models will be developed further in the proposed project, adapted to experimental results from the K.G. Jebsen Center for Cardiac Research, and extended with capabilities to model growth and development over time. Model parameters will be fitted based on a rich set of measured experimental data, and the resulting models will be used to predict disease trajectories, study mechanisms and drivers of growth and remodeling, and identify potential new biomarkers of HF.
Specifically, the Dynacomp team aims to:
Develop a biophysically based computational framework for cardiac growth and remodeling, which links cell dynamics to organ-level mechanics and growth patterns
Validate the models against observed experimental growth trajectories and their distribution in a population of animal models.
Explore and analyze a set of existing and novel biomarkers of HF in populations of patients and animal models.
We are looking for candidates with a solid track record and interest in contributing to one or more of these aims.
The Dynacomp project is funded by the Research Council of Norway via the ground-breaking basic research programme FRIPRO.
We are looking for a candidate either for a 3-year PhD candidate position or a 2-year postdoctoral fellowship. Candidates should have a solid background in scientific computing, biomedical engineering, biomechanics, or related areas, and an interest in contributing to computational physiology and cardiac research.
Successful candidates should have the following qualifications:
A degree in scientific computing, biomedical engineering, biophysics, biomechanics, or related areas
A strong track record (commensurable by career level) including excellent academic results
Experience with finite element models, computational mechanics, or related topics
Good programming skills, primarily in Python
Experience with computational modeling in biomedical research, or an interest in studying, learning, and contributing to this area
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work and communicate well in an interdisciplinary environment
Simula offers:
An excellent environment and outstanding opportunities for performing high quality research as part of a highly competent and enthusiastic team of researchers and engineers.
An informal and inclusive international working environment
Brand new office facilities located in the heart of Oslo with an extensive public transport network within a few minutes walk and a vibrant city life right outside the office door steps.
A competitive salary, starting from 491.200 NOK for PhD candidates and 543.500 NOK for postdoctoral fellows.
Generous support for travel and opportunities to build international networks, through established collaborations with industry, exchange programs and research visits with other universities, and funding to attend conferences.
Numerous other benefits: access to company cabins, BabyBonus arrangements, sponsored social events, generous equipment budgets (e.g., computer, phone and subscription), subsidized canteen meals and monthly bus pass, comprehensive travel/health insurance policy, etc.
Relocation assistance: accommodation, visas, complimentary Norwegian language courses, etc.
Administrative research support: e.g., quality assurance process for grant proposals (including RCN and EU programs).
Wellness and work-life balance. Our employees' health and well-being is a priority and we encourage them to make use of Simula's flexible work arrangements to help balance their work and home lives efficiently.
Simula is an equal opportunity employer, and women are particularly encouraged to apply.
Starting dates:
The starting date for the position is flexible with an earliest starting date of 01.10.2021 and a latest starting date of 01.01.2022. If you are interested in applying for the position but with a later timeline, please contact Dynacomp project leader and Chief Research Scientist Joakim Sundnes (sundnes@simula.no) directly. To qualify for a PhD candidate position, candidates must have successfully completed their MSc degree before the starting date. To qualify for a postdoctoral position, candidates must have successfully completed their PhD degree by no more than 6 months after the starting date.
Application requirements:
Interested applicants are requested to submit the following:
Cover letter (max 2 pages): outline your motivation for applying, relevant experience and qualifications, research interests and how/why you are qualified for the position;
Curriculum vitae: summarize your educational background, working experience (in particular, any relevant academic or industrial work), list of scientific publications if any, language skills etc;
All relevant diplomas and transcripts from Bachelor and Master degrees (if applying for a PhD position), and PhD degree (if applying for a postdoctoral fellowship);
A list of up to two references with contact information.
Application deadline:
Applications will be evaluated on a rolling basis, with a cut-off date of October 15 2021.
Evaluation timeline:
We will evaluate applications on a rolling basis until October 15 2021. Applicants passing through to the first interviews (online) will be contacted before November 1 2021.
Contact:Further enquiries should be addressed to Chief Research Scientist Joakim Sundnes, sundnes@simula.no
Simula Research Laboratory uses Semac´s background check in our recruitment process.
According to the Norwegian Freedom and Information Act (Offentleglova) information about the applicant may be included in the public applicant list, also in cases where the applicant has requested non-disclosure.
If you have been funded by the Research Council of Norway (RCN) in a previous PostDoc position, you cannot apply for this job. RCN funding can only be granted for one PostDoc period.
