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PhD Student, Instrument Design m/f
Department of Orthopaedics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The
Netherlands
Job number: A.08.NS.46/BIO08
Job description
As a PhD student you will focus on developing the instruments for minimally
invasive removal of fibrous tissue surrounding loosened hip prostheses and
on design of instruments for injection of refixation cement in the created
bone cavities.
The project
Worldwide, 150.000 hip prostheses have to be revised annually because they
have become loose inside the patient’s bone. These loosened prostheses have
very limited functionality, and patients experience intense pain, which
makes them socially dependent. Open revision surgery is highly demanding for
the patient as well as for the surgeon. Therefore, revision is impossible in
50.000 elderly patients with a poor general health condition.
The aim of this project is to develop a reliable and generally usable
minimally invasive surgical procedure in which loosened hip prostheses are
refixated as an alternative to demanding open revision surgery.
The project has three major technological aspects: image processing and
visualization, biomechanical finite element modelling, and instrument
design. In all three of them, researchers will be appointed that will
combine their expertise in their own field with the knowledge of their
colleagues in order to come to an innovative minimally invasive surgical
procedure. In combination with our clinical expertise in open revision
surgery and in minimally invasive surgical techniques, we will come to a
highly innovative surgical technique that relies on an integrated
pre-operative planning platform and revolutionary new surgical instruments.
Job requirements
You hold a master’s degree in one of the following areas or related
disciplines: Biomedical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering in combination
with relevant experience in the fields of this research: design of
instruments, minimally invasive surgery. In view of the project’s
multi-disciplinary setting and its embedding in a larger cluster, excellent
communication skills and a good command of the Dutch or English language are
required.
Organisation
At the Leiden University Medical Centre (LUMC), we are continually seeking
to improve the quality of healthcare. The LUMC aims for excellence in
patient care, research, teaching, training and continuing education.
Although you will be appointed at Leiden University Medical Center, you will
carry out part of your research at Delft University of Technology (TU Delft)
as well.
At LUMC, you will work at the Biomechanics and Imaging Group, headed by Dr
Ir Edward Valstar. This group consists of two staff members, one post doc
and six PhD students. It is part of the Department of Orthopaedics (head:
Prof Dr Rob Nelissen) and therefore there is a close interaction between
engineers and clinicians.
At TU Delft you will work at the Minimally Invasive Surgery and
Interventional Techniques Section (head: Prof Dr Jenny Dankelman),
Department of Biomechanical Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical, Maritime and
Materials Engineering. Within this section, there is a large expertise on
steerable instruments for minimally invasive interventions (Dr Ir Paul
Breedveld).
Further information
A complete description of this position can be found on our website,
www.lumc.nl (select ‘vacancies’). There you can also read about what the
LUMC has to offer as an employer. You may also contact us by telephone. If
you have any questions, or if you want more information about this position,
please contact Dr Ir E.R. Valstar, associate professor, Department of
Orthopedics, telephone +31 (0)71 526 36 06. Or by e-mail:
e.r.valstar@lumc.nl.
What we offer
We offer you an appointment for a period of four years. The appointment is
for 36 hours a week. The gross monthly salary is € 2,046 in the first year
and increases progressively each year to € 2,622 gross per month in the
fourth year in accordance to the scale PhD students in the Collective Labour
Agreement for University Hospitals.
How to apply
If you are interested in the position listed above, please apply before 16
March 2009 by sending your application, including your CV and a brief
statement of interest, to LUMC, Attn. Ms N.C. Selis, P&O advisor, Personnel
and Organisation Department division 1 (K6-Q), PO Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden,
The Netherlands. Please clearly quote the vacancy number A.08.NS.46/BIO08
both on the envelope and on the letter. You may also apply by e-mail,
PenOdiv1@lumc.nl, or via www.lumc.nl (choose ‘working for us’).
Department of Orthopaedics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The
Netherlands
Job number: A.08.NS.46/BIO08
Job description
As a PhD student you will focus on developing the instruments for minimally
invasive removal of fibrous tissue surrounding loosened hip prostheses and
on design of instruments for injection of refixation cement in the created
bone cavities.
The project
Worldwide, 150.000 hip prostheses have to be revised annually because they
have become loose inside the patient’s bone. These loosened prostheses have
very limited functionality, and patients experience intense pain, which
makes them socially dependent. Open revision surgery is highly demanding for
the patient as well as for the surgeon. Therefore, revision is impossible in
50.000 elderly patients with a poor general health condition.
The aim of this project is to develop a reliable and generally usable
minimally invasive surgical procedure in which loosened hip prostheses are
refixated as an alternative to demanding open revision surgery.
The project has three major technological aspects: image processing and
visualization, biomechanical finite element modelling, and instrument
design. In all three of them, researchers will be appointed that will
combine their expertise in their own field with the knowledge of their
colleagues in order to come to an innovative minimally invasive surgical
procedure. In combination with our clinical expertise in open revision
surgery and in minimally invasive surgical techniques, we will come to a
highly innovative surgical technique that relies on an integrated
pre-operative planning platform and revolutionary new surgical instruments.
Job requirements
You hold a master’s degree in one of the following areas or related
disciplines: Biomedical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering in combination
with relevant experience in the fields of this research: design of
instruments, minimally invasive surgery. In view of the project’s
multi-disciplinary setting and its embedding in a larger cluster, excellent
communication skills and a good command of the Dutch or English language are
required.
Organisation
At the Leiden University Medical Centre (LUMC), we are continually seeking
to improve the quality of healthcare. The LUMC aims for excellence in
patient care, research, teaching, training and continuing education.
Although you will be appointed at Leiden University Medical Center, you will
carry out part of your research at Delft University of Technology (TU Delft)
as well.
At LUMC, you will work at the Biomechanics and Imaging Group, headed by Dr
Ir Edward Valstar. This group consists of two staff members, one post doc
and six PhD students. It is part of the Department of Orthopaedics (head:
Prof Dr Rob Nelissen) and therefore there is a close interaction between
engineers and clinicians.
At TU Delft you will work at the Minimally Invasive Surgery and
Interventional Techniques Section (head: Prof Dr Jenny Dankelman),
Department of Biomechanical Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical, Maritime and
Materials Engineering. Within this section, there is a large expertise on
steerable instruments for minimally invasive interventions (Dr Ir Paul
Breedveld).
Further information
A complete description of this position can be found on our website,
www.lumc.nl (select ‘vacancies’). There you can also read about what the
LUMC has to offer as an employer. You may also contact us by telephone. If
you have any questions, or if you want more information about this position,
please contact Dr Ir E.R. Valstar, associate professor, Department of
Orthopedics, telephone +31 (0)71 526 36 06. Or by e-mail:
e.r.valstar@lumc.nl.
What we offer
We offer you an appointment for a period of four years. The appointment is
for 36 hours a week. The gross monthly salary is € 2,046 in the first year
and increases progressively each year to € 2,622 gross per month in the
fourth year in accordance to the scale PhD students in the Collective Labour
Agreement for University Hospitals.
How to apply
If you are interested in the position listed above, please apply before 16
March 2009 by sending your application, including your CV and a brief
statement of interest, to LUMC, Attn. Ms N.C. Selis, P&O advisor, Personnel
and Organisation Department division 1 (K6-Q), PO Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden,
The Netherlands. Please clearly quote the vacancy number A.08.NS.46/BIO08
both on the envelope and on the letter. You may also apply by e-mail,
PenOdiv1@lumc.nl, or via www.lumc.nl (choose ‘working for us’).