Connectionists: [jobs] PhD Call: Characterization of structural remodelling in tissue-engineered human skeletal muscles in vitro during multi-week eccentric training

[Massimo Sartori]

Are you interested in laying down the basis for developing breakthrough
regenerative robotic technologies for restoring movement following
neuromuscular injuries such as stroke? Are you passionate about
investigating how skeletal muscles remodel their biological structure when
exposed to electrical and mechanical stimuli over multiple weeks? Are you
interested in doing so by combining advanced *in vitro*techniques for
tissue-engineering muscles from human induced pluripotent stem cells
together with computational modelling techniques?



The Neuro-Mechanical Modeling and Engineering Lab (http://bit.ly/NMLab) is
seeking for an outstanding PhD candidate fellow to work within our new
Project ROBOREACTOR funded by the prestigious European Research Council
(Consolidator Grant). You will join an international team working on a
novel and ambitious project at the frontiers of muscle neurophysiology,
muscle tissue regeneration and regenerative robotics (http://bit.ly/NMLTube
).


The opening:

We are seeking for a motivated person that understands the physiology of
skeletal muscles and isenthusiastic about working in cell culture labs for
creating tissue-engineered skeletal muscles *in vitro* from human induced
pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs).

We are also looking for someone who will design four-week eccentric
training protocols for pacing the tissue-engineered muscles and analyze how
these tissues remodel their morphology over time *e.g.*, genesis of
sarcomeres (*i.e.*, in parallel and in series), phenotype (*i.e.*, fiber
type transition between fast and slow types), and changes in tissue
force-generating capacity.

We are also looking for somebody who can learn to use computational
modelling to predict how tissue-engineered muscles remodel during the
4-week eccentric training.


Your tasks will be:

   - Design and conduct 4-week *in vitro* experiments on tissue-engineered
   skeletal muscle to mimic eccentric muscle training, incorporating both
   electrical and mechanical pacing.
   - To characterize structural remodelling in the tissue-engineered
   muscles. This implies the ability of characterizing changes in tissue
   force-generating capacity, morphology, phenotype and myotrophic factors.
   - Use the gathered data to establish computational models of muscle
   structural remodelling.



Your work will be facilitated by in-house expertise and mentorship. You
will collaborate with top-scientists on aspects including muscle-on-a-chip
and statistical modelling, giving large opportunity to perform impactful
research!


Information and application

Apply by August 18th, 2024 from this link:


https://utwentecareers.nl/en/vacancies/1829/phd-position-in-characterization-of-structural-remodelling-in-tissue-engineered-human-skeletal-muscles-in-vitro-during-multi-week-eccentric-training/


Applications must include the following documents:



   - A video (2-minute max) describing your scientific interests and why
   you want to apply for this position.
   - A cover letter (1-page max) specifying how your experience and skills
   match the position as well as summarizing work in your masters.
   - A CV including English proficiency level, nationality, visa
   requirements, date of birth, experience overview, and publication list.
   - Contact information for at least two academic references. A support
   letter will be requested only if your application is considered.



The first interview will take place in the week of September the 2nd. Start
of the contract is expected as soon as possible and no later than December
2024. For questions, please contact Prof. Massimo Sartori, mail:
m.sartori at utwente.nl. Please, only apply via the web platform and not via
email.


---
Massimo Sartori
Full Professor and Head of Chair, Neuromuscular Robotics

Lab Head, Neuromechanical Modeling and Engineering Lab

University of Twente, TechMed Centre, Robotics Centre
Faculty of Engineering Technology
Department of Biomechanical Engineering
7500 AE, The Netherlands

Personal: https://people.utwente.nl/m.sartori
Lab: https://bit.ly/NMLab
YouTube: https://bit.ly/NMLTube



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