Accepting PhD Students

PhD projects

Fully Funded PhD Studentship Opportunity - Arterial fluid mechanics and their influence on cardiovascular disease. #2020/21-061
Full Details available https://www2.aston.ac.uk/eas/documents/advertepsdtpdec2020a.pdf (Deadline 3rd January 2021)

Aim – To develop a model which can demonstrate the influence of arterial geometry as a predictor for CVD in comparison with a healthy aging person and can be used in the experimental testing of implantable medical devices.

Project Summary - Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) accounts for 31% of all global deaths. Currently, CVD is reactively treated; someone becomes seriously ill before medical intervention. If CVD risk could be identified from the geometry of an artery and its effect on biofluid mechanics and the generated forces, then we could save countless lives.
The proposed research will use PIV, to produce complete time dependent 3D flow fields within arterial models. This will be acquired during the cardiac cycle within compliant, physiologically realistic, arterial geometries, constructed using investment casting and 3D printing. The ideal candidate could compliment this analysis and the development of an experimental benchmark with CFD simulations to perform a parametric analysis of geometrical effects on the flow field.
There is also an opportunity that the development of this experimental setup will serve as a perfect testbed for manufacturers of surgical devices; elucidating the affect their interventions have on the fluid dynamics post-surgery, thus leading onto industrial partnerships and applications.

Knowledge and skills required in applicant - The successful applicant should have a first class or upper second class honours degree in biomedical engineering, mechanical engineering, aeronautical engineering, materials science or a related subject. Preferred skill requirements include knowledge/experience of fluid mechanics / experimental analysis / additive manufacturing / CAD / basic programming e.g. MATLAB.