Hochschulpraktikant/in Digital-Communication

PhD Position - Biomimetic in-vitro platform for evaluating urological devices for spinal cord injury patients
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The Urogenital Engineering (UGE) group of the ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering Research (University of Bern, Switzerland) focuses on developing engineering methods and medical devices to improve the diagnosis and treatment of urological disorders (e.g., overactive/ underactive bladder, urinary incontinence, kidney stones).

This PhD project aims to develop a biomimetic in-vitro platform of the human female urogenital system, specifically tailored to individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). The platform will integrate anatomical, mechanical and dynamic properties to replicate the behavior of the urinary tract. It will enable the study of urine flow and device-tissue interactions under physiological and SCI conditions. Validation will be performed using medical imaging (e.g., Magnetic Resonance Imaging, MRI) and other clinical data. Once validated, the platform will serve as a screening tool to evaluate novel medical devices.

The project is conducted in close collaboration with the Swiss Paraplegic Center, Swiss Paraplegic Research (Nottwil) and Bern University Hospital (Departments of Urology; Diagnostic, Interventional and Pediatric Radiology). The work will combine experiments and theoretical analysis of the underlying fluid-mechanical processes in close interaction with clinical partners.

• MSc in Biomedical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering (or a closely related field)
• Experience in experimental and computational fluid mechanics
• Interest in medical imaging (e.g., MRI, Computed Tomography) and 3D printing
• Strong project management
• Ability to collaborate in an interdisciplinary team (clinicians, engineers, computational scientists)