Research Associate - Vascular Computational Modelling in Chronic Kidney Disease

Are you an ambitious researcher with a background in engineering, applied mathematics, physics, or computational mechanics who wants to transform the future of medicine? We have an exciting opportunity in the School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering (MAC) and the INSIGNEO Institute for in silico medicine for someone with a passion for numerical modelling looking to use their skills to make a profound impact on chronic kidney disease patients.

You will join a well-connected, interdisciplinary team on the EPSRC-funded project "Vascular Computational Modelling in Chronic Kidney Disease (VASCO-CKD)". Chronic kidney disease affects approximately one in ten people, yet current tests only catch it in its late stages. Your work will lead the development of next-generation 1D-0D computational models to link visible changes seen in non-invasive medical scans with invisible microscopic vessel damage, laying the groundwork for early disease prediction, stratification, and digital twin design.

In this varied and dynamic role, you will be responsible for expanding our in-house open-source circulation solver (openBF), integrating complex renal function and autoregulation mechanics, and implementing state-of-the-art disease progression coupling. Working alongside Project Lead Dr. Alberto Marzo and Prof Steven Sourbron, you will run pioneering in silico clinical trials using large virtual populations to discover clinical biomarkers. You will also leverage an incredible ecosystem of global partners, medical physics researchers, and patient advocacy groups.
This post offers you an exceptional career move. You will be fully embedded in INSIGNEO, Europe's largest in silicomedicine institute, boasting over 400 multidisciplinary members. To support your professional growth and global networking, this position includes a dedicated travel budget funding three international conference trips (such as the Virtual Physiological Human Conference or World Congress of Biomechanics) during your 42-month tenure.

Educated to PhD level (or near completion) in a highly quantitative field, you will possess strong programming skills and documented experience in numerical model development. Knowledge of cardiovascular or renal haemodynamics and global sensitivity analysis would be a distinct advantage.