PhD in Computational Modelling of Bone Regeneration in Compromised Environments

Welcome to Maastricht University!
This vacancy represents an exciting opportunity for ambitious individuals to join the computational group led by Aurélie Carlier as part of the DRIVE-RM program. The PhD researcher will perform cutting-edge research in computational modeling methods applied to regenerative medicine and more specifically, to bone regeneration.

PhD in Computational Modelling of Bone Regeneration in Compromised Environments

• Our goal: Advance regenerative medicine by developing in silico models that reveal how bone regenerates including how this process changes in compromised biological environments.
• Your colleagues: A collaborative team of computational modelers, biologists, and engineers at MERLN, working at the interface of data-driven and mechanistic modelling.

Regenerative medicine (RM) holds the promise to cure many of what are now chronic patients, restoring health rather than protracting decline, bettering the lives of millions and at the same time preventing lifelong, expensive care processes: cure instead of care. The scientific community has made large steps in this direction over the past decade, however, our understanding of the fundamentals of cell, tissue and organ regeneration and of how to stimulate and guide this with intelligent biomaterials in the human body is still in its infancy. Specifically, it is crucial to understand the underlying regenerative mechanisms and how these are altered in compromised environments (e.g. due to aging or co-morbidities such as diabetes or chronic kidney disease). This research project aims to develop and use in silico models to simulate the bone regeneration process, to improve our fundamental understanding thereof, and use the obtained knowledge to design improved regenerative medicine strategies.  

Project description: 
•    Development of a bone regeneration map
•    Computational modeling of bone regeneration (partial differential equations)
•    Bringing novel, cutting-edge approaches (e.g. PINNs) to modeling of regenerative processes
•    Parameter optimization and sensitivity analysis 
•    Analysis and integration of various in vitro/in vivo data for model calibration 
•    Approximately 5% of your time will be dedicated to tutoring, teaching, or supervising students.

Are you ready to push boundaries in regenerative medicine? Then we would love to meet you.

What you bring
It’s not about ticking boxes – it’s about your perspective, ideas, and drive. Does this sound like you?

• Computationally skilled and analytically strong – You have a Master’s degree in mathematical biology, computational mathematics, biomedical engineering, numerical optimization, biophysics, systems biology, bioinformatics, computer science, or a related field.
• Experienced programmer – You are confident in languages such as Python, Matlab or R, and you enjoy building and improving computational pipelines.
• Proficient in numerical methods – You can translate biological processes into mathematical or computational frameworks.
• Curious about innovative techniques – You are eager to explore cutting-edge approaches, such as physics-informed neural networks (PINNs), and apply them to regenerative processes.
• Collaborative by nature – You enjoy working across disciplines and feel at ease in an international, interdisciplinary environment.
• Communicative and clear – You can express your ideas effectively in English, both in writing and verbally; Dutch is not required.
• Independent and proactive – You take initiative, work reliably, and contribute to a constructive team atmosphere.

Additional training opportunities will be provided based on your skills.

What we offer
At Maastricht University, you’ll work in an international, open, and engaged environment. We offer:

• A 12-month contract with the prospect of a 3-year extension, based on positive evaluation.
• A gross monthly salary between €3059,00 and €3881,00 (based on full-time employment of 38 hours per week; scale P), plus 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus.
• 29 vacation days (based on full-time employment), four additional public holidays.
• Flexible working hours, a home office allowance, and the option to work from home.
• Freedom and space to shape your research independently and develop your ideas.
• A close-knit interdisciplinary community to collaborate and grow with.
• Relocation support (if eligible) and a welcoming research environment in the heart of Europe.

Project embedding:
The successful candidate will benefit from a cross-disciplinary supervision team comprising Aurélie Carlier and Vanessa LaPointe (MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University).

The project will be coordinated by the MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine (http://merln.maastrichtuniversity.nl/) as part of the DRIVE-RM project. The computational group led by Aurélie Carlier focuses on multiscale computational modelling of biological processes, with a particular interest in bone tissue engineering applications, kidney physiology and pathology and cell-biomaterial interactions and using a range of data-driven to mechanistic modelling approaches (https://www.carlier-insilico-lab.com/who-are-we). Dr LaPointe’s group (www.lapointelab.com) is dedicated to developing groundbreaking regenerative cell therapies that can transform the lives of patients suffering from chronic diseases. By combining expertise in biology, medicine, and engineering, the lab is proud to work on the whole spectrum of fundamental research to translational activities necessary to both discover and develop cell therapies.

As a member of DRIVE-RM, you will be part of a large, interdisciplinary consortium, engaging with national and international stakeholders. The DRIVE-RM program (https://drive-rm.nl/) explores how smart, bioinstructive materials can guide the regeneration of tissues and organs inside the body. These materials don’t just sit there — they interact, respond, and adapt. Our goal is to understand how these materials behave in real biological environments, and to steer those interactions in ways that lead to safe, lasting, and scalable regenerative therapies. Our research is organized across three domains, each focusing on a different level of regeneration: cells, tissues, and complex organs. These domains are closely linked and supported by two hubs that provide advanced technology and clinical expertise.

The MERLN Institute for Technology-inspired Regenerative Medicine focuses on developing novel and challenging technologies to advance the field of tissue and organ repair and regeneration through, amongst others, the development of high-throughput material platforms to screen cell-biomaterial interactions. MERLN consists of an interdisciplinary team of researchers including fields as (stem cell) biology, materials engineering, chemistry, micro/nanofabrication, additive manufacturing, etc. The scientists at MERLN have an extensive network of collaborators within research institutions in and outside the Netherlands as well as with a number of biomedical companies, including their own spin-off companies, as entrepreneurship is highly fostered. 

About the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences (FHML)
FHML is committed to health in the broadest sense: from molecule to human, and from healthcare to prevention. We train healthcare professionals and researchers through innovative educational programmes and conduct groundbreaking research in health and well-being. As part of Maastricht UMC+ (MUMC+), our international and interdisciplinary community forms a unique collaboration between university and academic hospital, where education, research, and care come together.

Interested? 
Want to know more about this position or what it’s like to work at our university? Reach out to Dr. Aurélie Carlier at a.carlier@maastrichtuniversity.nl
You can also apply directly using the button below.  

Application timeline
Applicants can expect to hear from us within two weeks of the application deadline. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to participate in brief video interviews. Those advancing to the second round will attend either an in-person interview or an extended video call. Travel expenses will be reimbursed.
The start date for this position is flexible; however, our preference is to begin as soon as possible.

To apply
Please attach a CV and answer the questions in the application. Do not include any additional documents (e.g., cover letter, references, diplomas, etc.) as they will not be considered. Note that the system requires to upload a cover letter, please upload the CV twice. 

We look forward to getting to know you!

About Maastricht University
At Maastricht University, we collaboratively seek solutions to help move the world forward. We do this with 23,000 students and 5,000 employees across 5 regional locations, 6 faculties, and more than 70 research institutes. We encourage you to push boundaries and discover new opportunities for yourself and the world around you. Together, we can find the answers for tomorrow.

The vacancy is open for internal and external candidates. In case of equal qualifications, internal candidates will be prioritized.

Maastricht University is committed to promoting and nurturing a diverse and inclusive community. We believe that diversity in our staff and student population contributes to the quality of research and education at UM, and strive to enable this through inclusive policies and innovative projects led by teams of staff and students. We encourage you to apply for this position.