The SIMPPER_MedDev project involves a consortium of 5 leading European research universities from Ireland, Denmark, Italy, Switzerland and the Netherlands, along with 10 industry partners who manufacture important classes of medical devices and products, and one of Europe’s premier orthopaedics hospitals. The consortium intends to train 12 PhD researchers in advanced manufacturing and surface integrity associated with the micro/nano processing of polymers for such medical devices. These 12 manufacturing PhD projects are grouped according to whether the processes are either additive, subtractive or forming, while the applications relate to prostheses and implants, and devices for drug delivery and medical diagnostics. Funding for these projects has been provided by the EU under their competitive H2020 MSCA-ITN-2020 (Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Networks) programme under Grant Agreement No. 956097.
More information and applications here.
The consortium is now inviting applications for up to 12 highly motivated and talented PhD candidates (Early Stage Researchers, ESRs) for these fully-funded positions. Recruitment will remain open until all positions are filled in 2021. The target start dates for the first positions will be in February-March 2021. ESRs will be employed on a full-time basis and based at one of eight particular host institutions. They will also spend up to 6-months on secondment at partner organisations, thereby ensuring that all ESRs will spend time in both academia and industry, and in at least two different countries.
ESR1: Development of high strength bonding between polymer and magnesium with micro/nano structures and chemical treatment for bioresorbable stent
ESR 2: Production of micro/nano structured surface on plastic microfluidic chip for immobilisation of proteins
ESR 3: Multi-scale 3D printing of hydrogels for vasculature-on-a-chip for stent characterization
ESR 4: Design and development of microstructures for low friction polymer surfaces in medical device applications
ESR5: Digital production of a hearing-aid ear mould / dome
ESR6: Precision processing of biobased polymers for device concepts in medical applications
ESR7: Laser processing of transparent and high-performance polymers: Embedded optical waveguides, surface texturing for prototype and hybrid moulds
ESR8: Laser micro-printing of biomedical multi-materials (biopolymers and metals)
ESR9: Laser induced periodic surface structures of polymers
ESR10: Laser sealing of polymer microfluidic chips for bioapplications
ESR11: Development of silicone-free pre-filled plastic syringes by compression moulding of nano-structured surfaces
ESR12: Cryogenic machining of UHMWPE acetabular cup inserts