PhD Position in Biomedical Engineering

University of Bern

Institution: ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering Research, University of Bern
Project: ThromboRisk – European Doctoral Network, Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
Start Date: 1 February 2026
Duration: 48 months, including a 4-month secondment at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany

About the Project

The PhD position is part of the ThromboRisk doctoral network, focusing on multi-level thrombosis risk prediction models to advance personalized medicine. The candidate will contribute to improving aortic valve prostheses to reduce the risk of bioprosthetic valve thrombosis by addressing:

  • Shear-induced platelet activation

  • Endothelial wall damage from turbulent shear stress

  • Flow stasis in sinus portions

  • Clot adhesion at tissue surfaces

The project integrates high-fidelity fluid-structure interaction simulations with sophisticated blood damage and thrombosis models to predict thrombosis risk.

ThromboRisk Consortium:
10 universities across Europe including Eindhoven University of Technology, University of Maastricht, University of Amsterdam, Charité – Berlin, University College London, and University of Bern.

Requirements

  • MSc in Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Computational Science, or related fields with a strong background in fluid mechanics

  • Knowledge or interest in programming, computational science, and computational modeling of complex biomechanical processes

  • Creativity, ambition, persistence, and ability to work in interdisciplinary teams (medical doctors, biologists, engineers, computational scientists)

  • Excellent command of English (C1 proficiency, spoken and written)

Eligibility:

  • Must be a doctoral candidate (no prior PhD)

  • Must comply with MSCA mobility rule: not resided/worked in Switzerland for more than 12 months in the past 36 months

Employment Conditions

  • Full-time PhD position for 4 years with intermediate evaluation after 18–24 months

  • Strong collaboration with Bern University Hospital (Inselspital)

  • Competitive fully funded salary and benefits:

    • Gross living allowance: ~CHF 6,144/month

    • Mobility allowance: ~CHF 664/month

    • Family allowance: ~CHF 617/month

  • Free German courses for interested candidates

  • Hands-on training, scientific and professional courses, and immersive MSCA doctoral network training

Application Instructions

Required Documents:

  1. Motivation letter (include MSc thesis topic)

  2. Curriculum vitae (including at least two references)

  3. List of BSc and MSc courses and grades

Submit applications by email to: info.artorg@unibe.ch

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Promising candidates will be contacted for interviews.

Contact for More Information:
Prof. Dr. Dominik Obrist – dominik.obrist@unibe.ch

About the University and ARTORG Center

The University of Bern is a leading Swiss university with international connections and a commitment to research, societal exchange, and ethical responsibility. The ARTORG Center is a transdisciplinary center of excellence for biomedical engineering research, focusing on innovation from discovery to clinical translation.

The PhD student will join the Cardiovascular Engineering (CVE) research group, which operates well-equipped cardiovascular flow and computational labs.

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