Short Description
The Regenerative Orthopaedics program is a multidisciplinary team taking a holistic approach to regenerative medicine for the repair of musculoskeletal traumatic injuries and degeneration. Within the Disc and Cartilage Biology Focus Area of the Regenerative Orthopaedics Program, we are looking for a qualified PhD candidate.
The early-stage researcher will be a member of the Disc and Cartilage Biology Focus Area within the Regenerative Orthopaedics Program, with excellent facilities and experienced translational research teams. In addition, the doctoral student will join a PhD Programme within the D-HEST of ETH Zrich. ETH Zrich offers access to a variety of post-graduate training from introductory courses to academic transferable skills.
The successful candidate will be offered a full-time PhD position at the ARI for four years.
Main Responsibilities
The main objective of this position is to investigate the effect of multiaxial mechanical loading on the integrity of the intervertebral disc. In vitro organ culture models will be used to study the homeostasis of the intervertebral disc under simulated physiological or induced degenerative conditions. Custom designed multiaxial bioreactor systems will be utilized to apply defined regimes of mechanical rotations and translations in six degrees of freedom. The aim is to improve our knowledge of the molecular and structural responses of the intervertebral disc to complex loading. Towards this aim, spatial and temporal alterations of the disc biology and mechanics are investigated.
Main Requirements