The Industry and Innovation Research Institute (I2Ri) draws on talents, expertise and facilities across Sheffield Hallam University. The vision is to be the leading provider of applied research excellence delivering materials, computing, science and engineering innovations meeting the development needs of industry.
This project is part of a Graduate Teaching Assistants scheme, in which the successful applicant will undertake certain teaching duties associated with the student experience, in addition to working towards a PhD qualification. They contribute to up to 180 hours of support for research or teaching related activity per academic year. This activity forms part of the scholarship award and there is no additional payment.
PhD Research Topic
Every 8 minutes someone in the UK dies from Coronary Heart Disease (CHD), the most common type of heart disease, often referred to as blocked arteries. It is the most common cause of premature death in the UK. Where and how the fatty material or plaque that blocks arteries is deposited is related to the blood flow through arteries. The development of atheroma or plaques is triggered by mechanical processes in the vessel wall. Computational fluid mechanics (CFD) allows insight into the transient blood flow in arteries and into the mechanical load caused by viscous wall shear stress (WSS) on the endothelial layer lining the vessel.
It has been demonstrated that mainly unidirectional average WSS is required for healthy endothelial cell development, but that oscillatory and transient WSS behaviour, which can be measured by metrics like oscillatory shear index (OSI) and transverse WSS (transWSS), observed in recirculation areas, is associated with plaque development (Gijsen 2019a). However, current models mostly assume rigid geometries, which is not physiologically correct and influences the results: WSS is overestimated; vessel compliance is neglected, changing the time-dependent flow waveform; structural stress and strain of the endothelial cells is completely neglected.
Arterial walls are complex structures comprising several layers: the inner lining of the vessel (endothelium), several membrane layers, and also muscle cells, combining into a flexible laminate structure. Sophisticated material models for arterial walls have been developed, e.g., (Holzapfel 2003a, Gasser 2006). This project aims to combine the established CFD methods with sophisticated structural models of the vessel wall using Fluid-Structure-Interaction coupling.
The project will be mostly modelling and simulation based using state of the art open-source and in-house software. Validation experiments can be performed in the new Experimental and Computational Continuum Mechanics facility (EC2M) that offers state of the art optical measurement methods : Digital Image Correlation, DIC; and Laser Particle Image Velocimetry, PIV.
The project is a collaboration between Sheffield Hallam University and the Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease at the University of Sheffield.
Eligibility
Applicants should hold a 1st or 2:1 Honours degree in either Engineering, Physics, Mathematics or a related discipline with a focus on fluid and/or structural mechanics. A Master’s degree in a related area is desirable. Some experience in numerical simulation and programming (e.g., C/C++, Python, Matlab, or Julia) would be an advantage. We are offering this as a full-time PhD scholarship. We welcome applications from all candidates irrespective of age, pregnancy and maternity, disability, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religion or belief, or marital or civil partnership status. We particularly invite candidates from Black, Asian and minority ethnic British students.
Information for International applicants
We have a mandatory English language requirement of IELTS 7 with a score of at least 6.5 in all test areas, or equivalent language qualification, for all applicants to whom English is not their first language. This qualification should have been taken within the last two years.
Further information about equivalent English language qualifications can be found here
Generally, the shortfall between the Home and International fee, currently around £10,300 per year, will need to be covered by the student for the duration of the studentship. As part of the Sheffield Hallam PhD scholarship programme, additional funding may be made available to assist International students with this fee gap. This additional funding is limited, though, and will only be offered to exceptional International applicants. Allocation of this additional funding will be based on information obtained through the standard GTA recruitment process, and no additional application will be required.
How to apply
We strongly recommend you contact a member of the supervisory team before making an application.
To apply for this GTA scholarship, please use our online application form.
You must ensure that you upload:
1. A letter of intent (1 page maximum) detailing why you are interested in the project and how your experience and background can make you the best candidate for this project. Please also identify potential areas you can contribute to within the teaching departments associated with this project. (Please upload this in place of a proposal)
2. Two letters of reference, one must be from an academic and both must be dated within the last 2 years (if you are not able to collate these by the application deadline please include referee details and these can follow afterwards).
3. Copy of your highest degree certificate (if available).
4. Non-UK applicants must submit IELTs results (or equivalent) taken in the last two years and a copy of their passport.
The closing date for all applications is 11:59pm (UK time) 12 May 2023. Ensure that applications are submitted before the deadline as late applications will not be accepted.
Interviews are scheduled for: 6 June 2023 onwards
Further information about our research degrees can be found here
An Overview of the GTA scheme can be found here
The Conditions of the Award can be found here