Senior Research Associate in Multiphysics Modelling of Brain Health

We are seeking to appoint a highly motivated Senior Research Associate in Multiphysics Modelling of Brain Health, to work within the recently established Podium Institute for Sports Medicine at the University of Oxford. The Podium Institute sits within the Institute of Biomedical Engineering (IBME) in the University’s Department of Engineering Science and is supported by a £25m 10-year donation to the University. This full-time post is initially fixed term for 1 year and potentially extendable for a further 2 years, subject to funding. The postholder will work under the supervision of Professor Johannes Weickenmeier.

You will be part of an interdisciplinary team of pioneering researchers, with the primary aim to understand the impact of age, trauma, and neurodegenerative diseases on the brain’s unique form and function. We pose that brain shape changes result from continuously evolving microstructure that may be affected by neurodevelopment, age, degeneration, and injury. We seek to uncover fundamental mechanisms of healthy and accelerated brain aging by coupling neurobiology and mechanics to create multiphysics-informed predictive models of the brain. Specifically, our approach combines finite element modelling, mechanical characterization of brain tissues, and medical image analysis. The group’s long-term vision is to impact clinical practice by identifying characteristic manifestations of age, trauma, and disease on the brain’s form and function.

You will be expected to your time to the field of Brain Health Across the Lifecycle. Examples of areas of research are: i) identify physiological manifestations and physics-based biomarkers that allow to differentiate between healthy and accelerated brain aging; ii) characterize evolving brain shape changes during childhood and adolescence; iii) study the potential relationship between exposure to head impacts and the development of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and related dementias later in life ; iv) model the degeneration of cortical tissues during aging; v) utilize longitudinal medical image data to infer brain aging mechanisms.

You will hold a relevant PhD/DPhil with post-qualification experience in the field of mechanical or biomedical engineering, applied mathematics, or another field relevant to the proposed area of research. You will also have proven experience in data-driven multiphysics modelling and fluency in Python, MATLAB and/or C/C++.

You will help creating a healthy and vibrant research environment within The Podium Institute for Sports Medicine at the University of Oxford. This will involve leading, devising, coordinating, and supervising research projects in this area, including the work involved in the collaborations with project partners, guidance to researchers and students, continuously writing papers, and applying for further funding to underpin the research.