PhD position - Thrombolysis in Pulmonary Embolism (DC18)

PhD position - Thrombolysis in Pulmonary Embolism (DC18)
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At the ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering Research of the University of Bern, a PhD position is available within the ThromboRisk project, a Marie Sklodowska- Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Network funded by the EU. The position is open for appointment by 1. February 2026, with a duration of 48 months, hosted by the University of Bern, and includes a 6-month training with CorFlow Therapeutics AG (Switzerland), and two 3-month secondments at UCL - University College London and at University of Leeds (UK).

We are looking for you!
Do you want to be trained to develop multi-level thrombosis risk prediction models by integrating insights from cell-, thrombus-, and organ-level perspectives? While being part of a prestigious MSCA doctoral network working on revolutionizing personalized medicine through cutting-edge in silico, in vitro, and in vivo technologies to understand, predict, and treat thrombosis? This is your chance!

In this PhD project, the primary goal will be to explore the application of a catheter-based drug delivery platform for thrombolysis in cases of drug embolism. To this end, a model of the pulmonary circulation shall be developed. It will include models for the transport of thromboemboli and drugs. This model will be used to address the following questions: What are the mechanisms of embolization of the lung? Can we predict where thrombi end up? What are the optimal drug infusion protocols for efficiently delivering thrombolytic drugs to embolizing thrombi? How does the drug penetrate porous and semi-porous microthrombi? What happens during lysis? Does debris from lysed microthrombi embolize even smaller vessels?

• You are creative and ambitious, hard-working, and persistent.
• You have an MSc degree in Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Computational Science (or similar) with a strong background in fluid mechanics.
• You have theoretical and applied knowledge or interest in programming, computational science, and computational modelling of complex biomechanical processes.
• You have good communicative skills, and the attitude to partake successfully in the work of an interdisciplinary research team of medical doctors, biologists, engineers, and computational scientists..
• You have a good command of the English language (Spoken and Written, Proficiency C1).

• Supported researchers must be doctoral candidates, i.e., not already in possession of a doctoral degree at the date of the recruitment.
• Recruited researchers can be of any nationality and must comply with the following mobility rule: they must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the recruiting beneficiary for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before their recruitment date. For ’International European Research Organisations’ (IERO), ’international organisations’, or entities created under Union law, the researchers must not have spent more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before their recruitment in the same appointing organisation. Compulsory national service, short stays such as holidays, and time spent by the researcher as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention are not considered.

• Full-time employment for four years, with an intermediate evaluation (go/no-go) after 18-24 months.
• Strong links to the Bern University Hospital (Inselspital) to provide access to medical expertise
• Competitive work package and fully funded position for the whole duration of the PhD project
• High-quality training programs and other support to grow into a self-aware, autonomous scientific researcher.
• Free German courses available for those wishing to learn
• Salary and Benefits:

• a motivation letter, including the topic of your MSc thesis project.
• a curriculum vitae (including contact details of at least two references).
• a list of BSc and MSc courses and grades.