PhD Studentship in Biomedical Engineering – Determining Causes of Failure in Artificial Knee Joints

Postgraduate Opportunities

Newcastle University

Reference code: ME033
Closing date: 29 April 2016
Supervisors:
Professor Tom Joyce, School of Mechanical and Systems Engineering
Dr Oana Bretcanu, School of Mechanical and Systems Engineering
Professor David Deehan, Freeman Hospital
Sponsor: This is a collaboration between Newcastle University and the Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne
Duration & start date of the award: September 2016 for 3 years.
Person Specification
You must have, or expect to achieve, a minimum of an upper-second-class Honours degree or international equivalent in biomedical engineering, mechanical engineering or materials science.
This award is available to UK/EU and non-EU International candidates.
If English is not your first language, you must have IELTS 6.5 with at least 5.5 in the written component.
Project Description
A fully funded PhD studentship is available with the School of Mechanical and Systems Engineering in the area of knee explant analysis. The successful candidate will work with bioengineers in the School and clinical staff at the Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, to better understand the reasons for failure in artificial knee joints.
Knees are the most commonly replaced joints in the world and the number of knee prostheses implanted has increased dramatically over the last decade. This means that increased numbers of artificial knee joints will themselves need to be replaced by another implant. It is imperative that the causes behind such revision operations are understood and therefore steps taken to reduce their frequency.
The PhD student will therefore study failed knee implants. The analysis will cover a range of areas including, but not limited to: surface topography of all components of the artificial knee joints, material properties, particularly of the polyethylene components; and other analyses as required. This engineering data will be correlated with clinical data to investigate any relationships. As the work will be with orthopaedic colleagues, so studies on tissue samples may also be undertaken, either directly or with appropriate clinical collaborators.
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Funding information

Value:

100% tuition fees at the UK/EU rate and an annual stipend of £14,196 (2015-16

Funding applies to:

Open to applicants from a range of countries

Contacts and how to apply

Academic contact:

For further details, please email Professor Tom Joyce: Thomas.joyce@ncl.ac.uk

Administrative contact and how to apply:

You must apply through the University’s online postgraduate application form. Only mandatory fields need to be completed. However, you will need to include the following information:
- insert the programme code 8090F in the programme of study section
- select ‘PhD School of Mechanical and Systems Engineering – Mechanical & Systems Engineering’ as the programme of study
- insert the studentship code ME033 in the studentship/partnership reference field
- attach a covering letter and CV. The covering letter must state the title of the studentship, quote reference code ME033 and state how your interests and experience relate to the project
- attach degree transcripts and certificates and, if English is not your first language, a copy of your English language qualifications

Application deadline:

29 April 2016