PhD position: University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
Project Title: Computational Modeling of Biological Systems
Contacts:
Dr Bruce Gardiner; email: bruce.gardiner@uwa.edu.au;
Dr Peter Pivonka; email: peter.pivonka@uwa.edu.au;
Dr David Smith; email: david.smith@uwa.edu.au
Webpage: http://biomed.csse.uwa.edu.au
Project Description
This position will be involved in a project on Engineering Computational Biology. The role of the PhD candidate will be development of computational/mathematical models of biological systems. Models will be developed to integrate a wide range of biological processes including: tissue deformation, fluid-tissue interactions, cell population dynamics models, inter and intra-cellular communication (systems biology). Projects will cover aspects of cancer biology (specifically colorectal and prostate cancer biology), regenerative medicine (specifically tendon and cartilage damage and repair), developmental biology (specifically drosophlia development and bone growth), oxygen balance in the kidney, and implant design for the treatment of glaucoma. Typically models will involve a combination of partial differential equations, ordinary differential equations and discrete methods on a range of scales (e.g. molecular dynamics, cellular automata). PhD candidates will be matched to projects based on expressed interests and suitability according to their background experience.
Context
This project will be hosted by the Engineering Computational Biology (ECB) Group at the University of Western Australia in Perth. Some projects are funded by the Australian Research Council discovery project grant scheme and National Health and Medical Research Schemes. The projects are coordinated by Drs Bruce Gardiner, Peter Pivonka and David Smith.
Required Skills
In order to register for a PhD, the applicant should have a Master degree or equivalent. The applicant should have a strong background in solid mechanics, fluid mechanics, physics, and/or computing; he/she should be familiar with FEM, Fortran, Linux (or Unix), Matlab, and multiphysics software like COMSOL or equivalent. English is the working language at the lab and good written and communication skills are essential.
Qualification required:
Master in Engineering (Mechanical Engineering), Mathematics, Physics, or equivalent.
Value & Duration:
Living allowance stipend of 26.000 AUD/year (tax free) for a period of 3 years starting in August or September 2010;
International Students: Please note that this scholarship is for a living allowance only. Any prospective student must also apply for a SIRF Scholarship to cover the cost of international student tuition fees and health care cover.
How to apply
To apply for, please send a Curriculum Vitae and a motivation letter by email.
Further details here.
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