Postdoc position – Unraveling the mechanobiology of the OA knee joint

Organisation/Company KU LEUVEN Research Field Engineering » Biomedical engineering Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Final date to receive applications 14 Aug 2026 - 23:59 (UTC) Country Belgium Type of Contract Temporary 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
- Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

You will investigate the relationship between movement patterns, joint loading, and cartilage health in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

The project combines:

• Laboratory-based motion analysis
• Wearable sensor technology
• Medical imaging
• Clinical outcome measures
• Musculoskeletal modeling

to better understand how movement influences disease progression and how biomechanical interventions can be optimized.

As a Jr postdoctoral researcher within OA-CONNECT, you will:

• Recruit and assess participants with knee osteoarthritis
• Coordinate and contribute to biomechanical measurements using motion capture, force plates, wearable sensors, and clinical assessments
• Coordinate and manage clinical, functional, and imaging data collection
• Analyze movement patterns and joint loading during daily activities and therapeutic interventions
• Apply and further develop musculoskeletal modeling approaches to estimate tissue loading
• Contribute to longitudinal studies investigating disease progression and treatment response
• Collaborate closely with clinicians, physiotherapists, engineers, and basic scientists
• Disseminate findings through scientific publications, conference presentations, and outreach activities
• Contribute to an open, supportive, and collaborative research environment
• Contribute to supervision of PhD and Master students

You will work under the supervision of Ilse Jonkers and collaborate closely with an interdisciplinary team of researchers within the OA-CONNECT consortium.

We are looking for a highly motivated candidate with:

• A PhD degree in Physiotherapy, Movement Sciences, Rehabilitation Sciences, Biomedical Engineering, Biomedical Sciences, or a related discipline
• Strong interest and previous exposure in human movement analysis, biomechanics, and musculoskeletal health
• Interest in clinical research and patient-oriented studies
• Experience with motion analysis, wearable technologies, biomechanical data processing, or musculoskeletal modeling is an asset
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Excellent organizational and communication skills
• Ability to work independently while thriving in a multidisciplinary team environment, including the university hospital
• Good written and spoken English, basic knowledge of dutch (is an asset)
• A 2 year postdoctoral position within a prestigious ERC Advanced Grant project
• The opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking research at the interface of biomechanics, clinical research, and osteoarthritis
• Access to state-of-the-art movement analysis laboratories, imaging facilities, and clinical cohorts
• An interdisciplinary and international research environment
• Extensive opportunities for scientific training, international collaboration, conference participation, and career development

We encourage jr postdoctoral candidates to acquire personal fellowships and support them actively in proposal writing.

• A 2 year postdoctoral position within a prestigious ERC Advanced Grant project
• The opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking research at the interface of biomechanics, clinical research, and osteoarthritis
• Access to state-of-the-art movement analysis laboratories, imaging facilities, and clinical cohorts
• An interdisciplinary and international research environment
• Extensive opportunities for scientific training, international collaboration, conference participation, and career development

We encourage jr postdoctoral candidates to acquire personal fellowships and support them actively in proposal writing.

Eligibility criteria

We are looking for a highly motivated candidate with:

• A PhD degree in Physiotherapy, Movement Sciences, Rehabilitation Sciences, Biomedical Engineering, Biomedical Sciences, or a related discipline
• Strong interest and previous exposure in human movement analysis, biomechanics, and musculoskeletal health
• Interest in clinical research and patient-oriented studies
• Experience with motion analysis, wearable technologies, biomechanical data processing, or musculoskeletal modeling is an asset
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Excellent organizational and communication skills
• Ability to work independently while thriving in a multidisciplinary team environment, including the university hospital
• Good written and spoken English, basic knowledge of dutch (is an asset)