Ph.D Position in Cell Image KU Leuven

(Ref. BAP-2016-465) Occupation : Full-time Period : Fixed-term contract extendable Place : Leuven Apply no later than : August 20, 2016 For the interdisciplinary research platform Prometheus KU Leuven, we are looking for a Ph.D student Ph.D position on real-time image and signal analyses for developing novel cell monitoring systems Prometheus, the division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering (TE) of the KU Leuven is an interdisciplinary initiative focusing on skeletal TE research and technology transfer. Prometheus was founded by the Divisions of Rheumatology, Orthopedics, Biomechanics, Experimental Medicine and Endocrinology, Prosthetic Dentistry, and the Department of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering. More recently, the divisions of Biomechanics (University of Liège) and the division Measure, Model and Manage Bioresponses (Bioscience Engineering, KU Leuven) joined the platform. The Prometheus team consists of 50+ PhD students, postdocs, PIs, lab technologists and clinical partners. The Prometheus platform runs 3 integrated programs: (i) fundamental science related to stem cells and 3D tissue creation (ii) translation of scientific findings into a technological plan for manufacturing processes, quality and safety (iii) creation of blue prints for the clinical implementation of a bone TE therapy. Website unit Project Background Cell-based therapies are a potent strategy to cure degenerative, immunological and genetic diseases. In the last decade, more than 500 companies focusing on cell therapeutics have been founded worldwide. However, due to a large variability in the outcome, only a small percentage has developed a robust, clinically relevant product so far . One of the main hurdles to bring the novel technologies from bench to bedside is the lack of process control during in vitro cell culture. A promising approach to overcome these limitations is to develop data-based modeling algorithms which not only provide ad hoc detailed biological information on the monitored cell population, but also can serve as a tool to predict cell behavior in a defined micro-environment. Aim The goal of this project is to demonstrate the power of combining real-time imaging with non-destructive biosensing and data-based modeling for cell quality control in in vitro cell cultures. More specifically the project aims to: Develop a data-based model that is able to non-invasively describe the state of an in vitro cell population in real time based on image analysis and bio-response measurements Implement novel biosensors in an already developed Live cell Monitoring System (LiMSy) to allow more accurate and local sensing of biological metabolites Profile you hold a master’s degree in engineering, bioscience engineering or equivalent and graduated with distinction or higher you have a profound interest in image analysis and a good knowledge in signal analysis. Mathematical modelling in Matlab is a must you have good interpersonal skills and motivation to work in a multidisciplinary research team you are excellent in English Offer We offer a full-time Ph.D position (4 years) at the faculty of engineering technology. Initially this will be a 1-year-contract which will be extended in case of a positive evaluation. The student can benefit from the complementary expertises of the different supervisors and will have the opportunity to work in a highly dynamic research group. The interdisciplinary project results from an already established collaboration between KU Leuven Campus Group T and M3-BIORES KU Leuven within the research platform Prometheus Interested? For more information please contact Dr. ing. Veerle Bloemen, tel.: +32 16 30 10 95, mail:veerle.bloemen@kuleuven.be or Prof. dr. ir. Jean-Marie Aerts, tel.: +32 16 32 14 34, mail: jean-marie.aerts@kuleuven.be. If you apply for this position please say you saw it on Medicinoxy

(Ref. BAP-2016-465)

Occupation : Full-time

Period : Fixed-term contract extendable

Place : Leuven

Apply no later than : August 20, 2016

For the interdisciplinary research platform Prometheus KU Leuven, we are looking for a Ph.D student

Ph.D position on real-time image and signal analyses for developing novel cell monitoring systems

Prometheus, the division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering (TE) of the KU Leuven is an interdisciplinary initiative focusing on skeletal TE research and technology transfer.
Prometheus was founded by the Divisions of Rheumatology, Orthopedics, Biomechanics, Experimental Medicine and Endocrinology, Prosthetic Dentistry, and the Department of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering.
More recently, the divisions of Biomechanics (University of Liège) and the division Measure, Model and Manage Bioresponses (Bioscience Engineering, KU Leuven) joined the platform.
The Prometheus team consists of 50+ PhD students, postdocs, PIs, lab technologists and clinical partners.

The Prometheus platform runs 3 integrated programs:

(i) fundamental science related to stem cells and 3D tissue creation
(ii) translation of scientific findings into a technological plan for manufacturing processes, quality and safety
(iii) creation of blue prints for the clinical implementation of a bone TE therapy.

Website unit

Project

Background

Cell-based therapies are a potent strategy to cure degenerative, immunological and genetic diseases. In the last decade, more than 500 companies focusing on cell therapeutics have been founded worldwide. However, due to a large variability in the outcome, only a small percentage has developed a robust, clinically relevant product so far . One of the main hurdles to bring the novel technologies from bench to bedside is the lack of process control during in vitro cell culture. A promising approach to overcome these limitations is to develop data-based modeling algorithms which not only provide ad hoc detailed biological information on the monitored cell population, but also can serve as a tool to predict cell behavior in a defined micro-environment.

Aim

The goal of this project is to demonstrate the power of combining real-time imaging with non-destructive biosensing and data-based modeling for cell quality control in in vitro cell cultures. More specifically the project aims to:

Develop a data-based model that is able to non-invasively describe the state of an in vitro cell population in real time based on image analysis and bio-response measurements
Implement novel biosensors in an already developed Live cell Monitoring System (LiMSy) to allow more accurate and local sensing of biological metabolites

Profile

you hold a master’s degree in engineering, bioscience engineering or equivalent and graduated with distinction or higher
you have a profound interest in image analysis and a good knowledge in signal analysis. Mathematical modelling in Matlab is a must
you have good interpersonal skills and motivation to work in a multidisciplinary research team
you are excellent in English

Offer

We offer a full-time Ph.D position (4 years) at the faculty of engineering technology. Initially this will be a 1-year-contract which will be extended in case of a positive evaluation.
The student can benefit from the complementary expertises of the different supervisors and will have the opportunity to work in a highly dynamic research group.
The interdisciplinary project results from an already established collaboration between KU Leuven Campus Group T and M3-BIORES KU Leuven within the research platform Prometheus

Interested?

For more information please contact Dr. ing. Veerle Bloemen, tel.: +32 16 30 10 95, mail:veerle.bloemen@kuleuven.be or Prof. dr. ir. Jean-Marie Aerts, tel.: +32 16 32 14 34, mail: jean-marie.aerts@kuleuven.be.

If you apply for this position please say you saw it on Medicinoxy