•    3-­-year PhD studentship in mathematical modelling of the consequences of the decomposition of magnesium-­-based bone implants in humans.

•    Collaborate with a strong and enthusiastic multi-­-disciplinary team towards the design of improved bone implant technologies. 

Project  Background  and  Aims:  Advances  in tissue  engineering  has  enabled  significant  improvements  to be made in the clinical treatment  of damaged  or malformed  bone tissue. Novel magnesium  based alloys offer exciting prospects for the next generation of bone implant technology, having many properties that make them better  suited  than  currently  used  materials.  However, the  use  of  these  new  alloys  requires  much  more understanding of how the alloys degrade in the body, how they spread and what are the likely consequences to health.   The aim of this project is to augment laboratory experimentation  on these alloys with mathematical modelling in order to accelerate their development and ultimately their clinical use for bone implantation.

Project Outline: The student undertaking  this PhD studentship  will be tasked with the development  of new mathematical models, that incorporates biological knowledge and data, to reliably predict the decomposition, dispersal  and potential  pathological  effects of prolonged  magnesium  released  from an implanted  device. As part  of  a  multi-­-disciplinary  team,  the  student’s  work  will  inform  the  tissue  engineering  collaborators  on experimental direction and, in return, they will provide data for validation of the student’s modelling work. The mathematical models will be analysed to help identify the most desirable properties of the magnesium alloy material in order to optimise bone healing and ensuring patient’s safety.  

Project  Supervisors: Dr  John  Ward  (Department  of  Mathematical  Sciences)  and  Dr  Yang  Liu  (School  of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering).  

Applicant:  candidates for this project  will need  at least  an upper-­-2nd  undergraduate  degree  or masters  in mathematics or a related subject and willing to engage in multi-­-disciplinary research. Knowledge of differential equations, mathematical modelling and computational skills are advantageous. Due to funding conditions, only applicants with UK/EU fee status are eligible for the award.

Funding:  The  Graduate  School  studentship  provides  a  tax-­-free  stipend  of  ￡13726  per  annum  for  a  period  of three years, plus coverage for tuition fees (full-­-time UK/EU rate), research expenses and relevant travel costs.

For Further information on the project contact Dr John Ward (John.Ward@lboro.ac.uk).  For information about the Department of Mathematics see  http://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/maths/postgraduate/research/  and information   on   the   research   in   tissue   engineering   undertaken   at   the   university   can   be   found   at http://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/mechman/research/groups/healthcareengineering/.

Start date: 1st January 2013.

The deadline for applications is Monday December 9th 2013. Applications can be made online via the Apply link below.  Candidates  should  use  the  reference  GSS13  on  the  application form for the ‘funding’ section.