Simulation- assessment of implantation parameters affecting bone–implant stability

Organisation/Company KU LEUVEN Department Department of Mechanical Engineering Research Field Engineering » Mechanical engineering Engineering » Biomedical engineering Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Country Belgium Final date to receive applications 12 Feb 2026 - 23:59 (UTC) 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 2020 Reference Number BAP
- Marie Curie Grant Agreement Number  Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

The CUSTOM project is a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Network that 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 realise the custom, complex designs and structures and their further post‑processing 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 PhD project falls within the first core discipline, namely computational tools for patient‑specific design of additively manufactured (porous) shoulder implants. Personalized implants primarily account for the patient’s individual anatomical geometry. However, local bone quality is also patient‑specific and can vary substantially between individuals. This project aims to investigate the influence of implantation parameters on bone‑implant mechanics, incorporating the local bone stiffness of the shoulder.

This project includes (1) Determining the local bone stiffness of humerus and glenoid using Photon Counting Computed Tomography, (2) Creating a high‑resolution computational model (FE) of humerus and glenoid side, incorporating the local bone stiffness and a personalised shoulder implant, (3) Comparing the results of the high‑resolution FE‑model with those of a continuum FE‑model, (4) Investigating the influence of various implantation parameters on the mechanical behaviour of the implant within patient‑specific bone, (5) Validation of the results using the additively manufactured implant.

This PhD project seeks to deliver a predictive model that can simulate different scenarios in pre‑surgical planning.

The PhD project includes two three‑month research stays (with travel and accommodation costs covered) at world‑class institutions. In a first secondment, the results with the personalised shoulder implant will be validated in the ‘activities of daily living’ simulator at the University of Birmingham (UK). The project results will be further validated with in‑situ micro‑CT and DIC at TU Delft (NL).

• The ideal candidate is a highly motivated, enthusiastic and communicative researcher with a Masters degree in Mechanical, Electromechanical, or Biomedical Engineering, or a closely related field. Candidates have experience with numerical modelling and are familiar with biomechanics or are eager to educate themselves on these topics. They have obtained their degree with excellent grades, are result‑driven and are able to work independently on this PhD project, as well as to collaborate with fellow researchers in the research team, the CUSTOM doctoral network, and beyond.
• Candidates should have experience with Finite Element Analysis, and experimental work. Specific experience with biomechanics is a plus.
• Applicants should have excellent oral and written English communication skills.
• The successful candidate is expected to contribute to education at the Bachelor or Master level (master thesis supervision, teaching…