Providing Computational Insights into Cardiac Xenotransplantation (XenoSim)

Overview

We are at the dawn of a new medical age, marked by the first pig-to-human heart transplant in January 2022, and the second operation in September 2023. Xenotransplantation has long been a dream for clinicians, and now, due to rapid progress in gene editing, it is becoming a reality. To overcome immediate rejection, barriers of immunity and infection have to be overcome; however, achieving long-term success requires a deep understanding of the physiological and mechanical challenges introduced by the anatomically dissimilar xenotransplants. This project - XenoSim - aims to address these challenges by providing fundamental clinical insights into the nascent field of cardiac xenotransplantation through the development and application of novel high-resolution, higher-order, multiphysics simulation methods.

In the past half-century, there has been tremendous progress in biomedical imaging; nonetheless, a multitude of physical phenomena relevant to xenotransplantation are not available for experimental observation. In silico studies are uniquely placed to provide insights into the haemodynamic disruption caused by transplanting a porcine heart into a human. The XeonSim project is targeting the establishment of the first family of porcine cardiac xenotransplant models that can provide clinically significant insights into the haemodynamic and electro-mechanical compatibility of porcine donor hearts, the impact of surgical approach, and the consequence of pathologies. Providing these novel insights requires new coupled simulation approaches. Accordingly, a second goal of XenoSim is to create a new class of monolithic finite-volume fluid-electro-solid interaction methods, which can provide predictions in clinically relevant timescales through the exploitation of hybrid CPU-GPU systems.

The position

We are looking for one candidate who is passionate about simulation, modelling and programming to join the XenoSim team of 7 researchers. This PhD project will focus on developing electro-fluid-solid interaction simulation models and methods for human, pig and pig-in-human hearts using open-source tools. The candidate is expected to have a first (or upper-second) class degree in engineering, science, mathematics, computer science or a related area. The project is funded for four years. The generous annual stipend is €28,000 (tax-free). In addition, the project includes funding for PhD fees and computer resources, with a generous travel budget for attending international conferences. The advertised PhD position will be based in the vibrant UCD School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, with over 100 PhDs and Postdocs, and aligned with the UCD Centre for Biomedical Engineering (https://www.ucd.ie/biomedicalengineering), the UCD Centre for Mechanics (https://www.ucd.ie/cmechanics/), and the national research centre I-Form (https://www.i-form.ie).

The location

Ireland’s largest university, University College Dublin (www.ucd.ie), is ranked within the top 1% of higher education institutions worldwide. The university is located on a 330-acre parkland campus in the south Dublin suburbs (with three lakes!). Dublin is a lively European capital renowned for its nightlife and bustling technology industry.

Applications

Please apply below. Please include a link to your CV in your application text, e.g. URL to Google Drive, Dropbox, GitHub, etc. Applications will be monitored weekly, and candidates will be notified via email if they have successfully obtained an interview (e.g. by video call) or have not been deemed suitable for the position. Ideally, the applicant can start in January 2024, May 2024, or September 2024. In addition, University College Dublin has minimum English language requirements as described here.

Funding Summary

Fully funded PhD scholarships provided through the XenoSim European Research Council consolidator project. Each scholarship will be awarded for a maximum period of four years and will include: 

• A generous tax-free stipend of €28,000 per annum
• Annual tuition fees
• A budget for equipment (e.g. laptop, workstation), travel (e.g. international conferences, research secondments), and consumables
• Minimum English language requirements: see here