About the Project
The Critical Care Research Group (CCRG), based at the The Prince Charles Hospital (TPCH) in Brisbane, Australia, is seeking highly motivated, skilled and committed PhD candidates to join our multidisciplinary and international research team to commence a PhD project.
The project will be primarily based within the Innovative Cardiovascular Engineering and Technology Laboratory (ICETLAB); the biomedical engineering arm of the CCRG at The Prince Charles Hospital.
BACKGROUND
Current Ventricular Assist Devices (VADs) are manufactured utilizing mostly titanium housings. However, these devices exhibit high rates of electrical losses when operated, leading to non-efficient devices and subsequently shorter battery life and decreased patient quality of life.
AIM
The present research project aims to investigate the use of new materials in the manufacturing of ventricular assist devices to decrease losses within the devices and increase efficiency.
SPECIFIC TASKS
- Research on suitable alternative materials that can be used with existing manufacturing techniques.
- Prototype development and in vitro evaluation against existing device technology and materials.
- Development of manufacturing processes.
SIGNIFICANCE
The present research project will result in manufacturing processes towards more efficient ventricular assist device technology.
RESEARCH ENVIRONMENT
The CCRG is the largest acute care multi-disciplinary research group of its kind in Australia. It is a collaborative group of multi-disciplinary researchers committed to finding world-first innovative solutions that will lead to healthier living, improved quality of life, fewer hospitalisations and more efficient clinical treatment. Our team of researchers includes physicians, surgeons, intensivists, nurses, scientists and engineers, as well as an array of university Honours, Masters and PhD candidates.
The PhD candidate will be based in the ICETLAB, which is located within TPCH (Australia’s largest cardiac hospital) and only a two minute walk to the operating theatres and intensive care units where clinical and patient feedback can be obtained, and only a five minute walk from Queensland University of Technology’s (QUT’s) Medical Engineering and Research Facility (MERF). ICETLAB research projects centre on cardiovascular engineering, with the primary aim of improving outcomes for heart and lung failure patients receiving mechanical circulatory and respiratory support.
The ICETLAB was founded in 2007 and has since produced over 50 peer-reviewed publications and been awarded over 7 million AUD of competitive grant funding. The ICETLAB has grown continuously and now houses approximately 15 full- or part-time researchers of postdoctoral, PhD, Masters, or undergraduate levels with expertise including medical, mechanical and electrical engineering, biological and health sciences and manufacturing. Furthermore, the ICETLAB closely collaborates with CCRG’s Scientific and Translational Research Laboratory (STARLAB) to form a silo-free research environment amongst engineers, scientists, clinicians and patients. This research environment allows for rapid translation from bench-top testing through to clinical implementation.
The PhD candidate will also be a key participant within the Advanced Manufacturing of Medical Devices (AMMD) Hub, based at the University of Queensland. The Hub team seeks to concurrently develop materials, technologies and flexible manufacturing processes, as advanced manufacturing technologies are crucial to enabling the next generation of medical devices. The AMMD Hub received funding of $2.8 million for five years from the ARC through the Industrial Transformation Research Program. This investment was matched by industry partners, with a total value of more than $10 million of cash and in-kind funding.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
To be eligible, applicants must meet the specific eligibility requirements for entrance to a PhD program at The University of Queensland (UQ). Please refer to the university webpage for specific entrance requirements into Higher Degree by Research program:
- UQ website: https://graduate-school.uq.edu.au/uq-research-degrees
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
- Demonstrated ability in mechanical or biomedical engineering
- Experience in manufacturing and material sciences
- Demonstrated ability to work in a team
- Strong work ethic
- Good oral and written communication skills
CONTACT
Prospective candidates should contact Dr Jo Pauls (Technical Director ICETLAB) by email: [Email Address Removed]
Funding Notes
Both Australian and international applicants may apply and a competitive scholarship will be available for successful candidates (approximately $28,000/year up to three years). Successful international candidates will need to secure a scholarship to cover tuition fees from UQ. International scholarships are competitive and only applicants with a strong academic performance (First Class Honours/Masters) will be considered. Demonstrated research excellence indicators (e.g. peer-reviewed publications) are desirable but not essential. Selected candidates will be assisted to apply for a scholarship.
Please refer to the relevant university links:
- UQ https://graduate-school.uq.edu.au/scholarships
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