PhD Position: Design and manufacturing of porous and deformable implants

Organisation/Company Amnovis Research Field Engineering » Mechanical engineering Engineering » Materials engineering Engineering » Industrial engineering Technology » Production technology Technology » Materials technology Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Country Belgium Final date to receive applications 5 Feb 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Brussels) Type of Contract To be defined Job Status Full-time Offer Starting Date 1 Sep 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Horizon Europe - MSCA Reference Number BAP
- Marie Curie Grant Agreement Number  Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

This Ph.D. position is offered through the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Network 'CUSTOM'. Vacancies for other Ph.D. topics within this network can be found on the project's website .

The CUSTOM project unites three core disciplines (design, manufacturing, and testing) towards the development of a next generation of patient-specific shoulder implants. The number of shoulder replacements is projected to increase by 300-400% between 2020 and 2040. With the current technology, 10% of those artificial shoulder implants will fail within the first 10 years of service, mainly due to soft tissue failure, infection, and implant loosening.

CUSTOM focuses on combining (1) computational tools that allow patient-specific design, (2) additive manufacturing to realize the custom, complex designs and structures and their further postprocessing to incorporate multi-functionality, and (3) blended in-silico and experimental testing to reduce the burden on experimental testing for certification. In doing so, CUSTOM can address the major failure mechanisms of current shoulder implants and improve their overall functionality and longevity.

This project focuses on the development of innovative, highly porous, and deformable implants that represent a transformative step forward in the field of biomedical engineering. These implants, based on a patented concept , are designed to be easily deformed either before or during surgery, allowing them to adapt precisely to a patient’s unique anatomy. This adaptability eliminates the need for custom implants, significantly reducing both time and cost.

Utilizing additive manufacturing techniques, specifically Laser Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF), the implants can be produced in a standardized yet flexible manner, making them a highly promising solution for diverse clinical applications.

The primary objectives of this project are threefold. First, the project aims to investigate and establish a comprehensive digital library of highly porous structural designs. Each design in this library will be characterized by its mechanical properties, making it possible to match implant geometry and function to clinical needs. Second, the project will focus on developing an optimized and cost-effective manufacturing process using L-PBF technology to ensure the reproducibility and scalability of the implants.

Third, the project will explore, design, and fabricate specialized deformation tools that can be used to shape the implants as needed during various surgical procedures.

The expected outcomes of this research include: (1) a validated library of porous structures tailored for implant use, with varied mechanical characteristics to support different clinical scenarios; (2) optimized L-PBF parameters that enable reliable fabrication of complex, porous geometries; (3) efficient post-processing techniques that maintain the structural and functional integrity of the implants; and (4) practical deformation methods and tools that surgeons can use to customize implants during operations.

This project holds the potential to revolutionize implant design by merging digital design flexibility with advanced manufacturing technologies, ultimately improving patient outcomes and surgical efficiency.

This PhD position is hosted by Amnovis,under the direct supervision of dr. Ruben Wauthle, CEO & Co-founder of Amnovis, and both Prof. Bey Vrancken and Prof. Brecht Van Hooreweder, as part…