Summary of Post The Postdoctoral researcher will lead the development, validation, and integration of in-silico and in-vitro models of failing Fontan circulation and pediatric heart failure to inform future pediatric mechanical circulatory support device design.
The postdoc will work in close collaboration with clinical partners at CHI Crumlin to translate patient-specific imaging and hemodynamic data into computational and benchtop models and support high-impact scientific and clinical outputs.
This project is funded by the Children's Health Foundation and administered by Research Ireland through their Frontiers for the Future programme.
Specifically, the duties of the post are: Lead development of in-silico cardiovascular models, including lumped-parameter/Windkessel and CFD models, to simulate pressures, volumes, and flows in failing Fontan and paediatric heart failure circulation.
Collaborate with the MD student and clinical team to specify modelling requirements, use patient-specific echocardiogram/CT data, and refine model parameters and boundary conditions.
Implement and test mechanical circulatory support device (MCSD) parameters in the in-silico models, assessing their impact on hemodynamics and identifying optimal operating ranges.
Design and develop soft silicone cardiac chamber phantoms and elastic vascular models (pulmonary artery, pulmonary veins, aorta, vena cava) for in-vitro experiments.
Characterise material and structural properties of in-vitro components to derive compliance and ensure physiologically relevant behaviour of the mock circulatory loop.
Assemble and tune a fully adjustable mock circulatory rig to replicate failing Fontan and paediatric heart failure hemodynamics, including integration of MCSD test conditions.
Analyse simulation and experimental data, compare in-silico and in-vitro outputs, and generate quantitative metrics to guide concept-level MCSD design (e.g., flow, pressure, shear, power requirements).
Take the lead in patent landscape mapping and contribute to the preparation and filing of new patent applications.
Contribute to project management and data management activities (e.g., data management plan implementation, documentation of models and experiments, internal reporting).
Contribute to grant writing, lead, and co-author peerreviewed publications and conference presentations; support outreach, networking, and dissemination (including engagement with clinical networks and relevant events).
Traveling for strategic partnership meetings and presenting at conferences as required.
Qualifications – (Essential): PhD in Biomedical Engineering or closely related discipline (e.g., Mechanical Engineering, Medical Physics, Applied Mathematics) with experience in cardiovascular modelling and/or mock circulatory loop development.
Knowledge