The Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) is seeking a talented PhD candidate to develop an experimentally-informed and validated computational model of the role of mechanics in new blood vessel formation (angiogenesis). The computational model is expected to enable the design of new strategies to control angiogenesis, which will have wide implications in the fields of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

Sprouting angiogenesis is the biological process leading to the formation of new blood vessels from pre-existing ones. Controlling angiogenesis is crucial for the treatment of several angiogenesis-related diseases, such as cancer, and the creation of functional tissue-engineered tissues. Unfortunately, translation of biological findings to applied settings has been hindered by unexpected in vivo responses to treatments. This highlights the complexity of angiogenesis, which responds to stimuli depending on small variations in the cell environment. Computational models can elucidate the influence of different environmental factors and, due to their predictive potential, can be adopted to design and optimize strategies to control angiogenesis. Mechanics is a key factor of the cell environment. Despite this, a computational model integrating the influence of mechanics on the cell-cell signals governing angiogenesis is not present yet. In this project, we intend to overcome this limitation, thereby enabling the design of new strategies to control angiogenesis accounting for the mechanical properties of the cell environment.

Doctoral research will be performed within the Soft Tissue Engineering and Mechanobiology (STEM) group, in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, under the supervision of
Dr. Tommaso Ristori and Prof. Carlijn Bouten. The strongly multidisciplinary research of the STEM group is directed at the understanding and control of the cell and tissue behavior for regenerative medicine purposes.

The PhD opening is part of the ICMS Immuno-Engineering program. As a successful candidate, you will have the opportunity to collaborate and interact with a very multidisciplinary group of PhD students and postdocs within the program. You will also work within the recently founded Research Cluster in Regenerative Engineering and Materials (REM), in the Department of Biomedical Engineering. REM will provide access to top-notch computational and experimental infrastructure and excellent expertise, to perform research at the interface between tissue engineering and computational modeling. Finally, you will also have access to a wide range of personal development courses for PhD students.

We are accepting applications from enthusiastic and highly talented candidates who are interested in a dynamic, stimulating, and ambitious environment to perform their research.
We are looking for candidates that meet the following requirements:

• You are excited about uncovering, predicting, and controlling the behavior of cells exposed to different stimuli.
• Enthusiasm and interest in combining experimental and computational techniques is required.
• A master's degree (or an equivalent university degree) in Biomedical Engineering, Biophysics, Systems Biology, or related areas.
• Prior experience with cell culture and analysis is required.
• Prior experience in programming and computational modeling is a plus.
• A research-oriented attitude with an analytical mindset.
• You are creative, ambitious, organized, resilient, and persistent.
• Ability to independently work within a dynamic team and to foster collaborations.
• Fluent in spoken and written English.

• A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university with the possibility to present your work at international conferences.
• A full-time employment for four years, with an intermediate evaluation after one year.
• The start date would ideally be 1 September 2022, but is slightly flexible.
• To support you during your PhD and to prepare you for the rest of your career, you will have free access to a personal development program for PhD students (PROOF program).
• A gross monthly salary and benefits in accordance with the Collective Labor Agreement for Dutch Universities.
• Additionally, an annual holiday allowance of 8% of the yearly salary, plus a year-end allowance of 8.3% of the annual salary.
• Should you come from abroad and comply with certain conditions, you can make use of the so-called '30% facility', which permits you not to pay tax on 30% of your salary.
• A broad package of fringe benefits, including an excellent technical infrastructure, moving expenses, and savings schemes.
• Family-friendly initiatives are in place, such as an international spouse program, and excellent on-campus children day care and sports facilities.