Precision Vascular Research Group

Department of Radiology and Neuroradiology

Project: STRIVE – Simulation-based TRIals for Vascular trEatment

About the project

Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death worldwide, yet current clinical approval for disease treatment, especially for novel implants, relies on population-based studies that overlook individual patient variability. In silico trials — computer-based simulations of clinical scenarios — offer a powerful alternative: by creating digital twins of patients and implants, treatment outcomes can be tested rapidly and safely, without invasive procedures or large-scale clinical studies.

STRIVE aims to develop a regulatory-aligned computational framework for personalized vascular interventions, with an initial focus on intracranial aneurysms. The project combines advanced simulation methods, experimental validation, and close collaboration with clinicians and industry partners, ultimately enabling faster implant development, safer preoperative planning, and a meaningful reduction in the number of animal and human trials. As part of a young interdisciplinary team, you will contribute directly to building this framework and shaping the medicine of tomorrow.

Start in our team

We are looking for professional and competent support to start as soon as possible, initially limited to 3 years.

What we offer:

• The salary will be based on the German E13 TV-L scale (75%), if terms and conditions under collective bargaining law are fulfilled
• Part-time employment currently 28,75 hours/week with flexible working hours to accommodate individual need
• Interdisciplinary research at the intersection of medicine, physics, engineering, and computer science
• A vibrant, international biomedical research group embedded within a university hospital setting
• You can find more attractive UKSH benefits here: Benefits (uksh.de)

Your tasks:

• Develop and perform finite element modeling (FEM) of flow-modulation devices (FMD) for intracranial aneurysm treatment, including characterization of FMD material properties to inform and validate boundary conditions
• Validate modeling results by constructing physical patient-specific aneurysm models from radiological imaging data and conducting MRI and X-ray experiments
• Treat physical aneurysm models by deploying novel and commercial FMDs and assess implant placement and mechanical performance using radiological imaging
• Collaborate closely with clinicians, scientists, and engineers to develop and validate cutting-edge simulation techniques
• Contribute to joint research projects with industry and clinical partners, and co-author scientific publications

Your profile:

• Master's degree (or equivalent) in Mechanical or Biomedical Engineering, Physics, Material Science, or a related field
• Strong practical experience in FEM and computer-aided design (CAD) — this is the core technical foundation of the role
• Experience with material characterization, structural mechanics, 3D printing, MRI, or X-ray imaging is a distinct advantage
• Proficiency in Python or MATLAB for data analysis and modeling is beneficial
• Strong organizational skills, a highly autonomous and detail-oriented work style, creative problem-solving abilities, a collaborative team mindset, and a genuine passion for healthcare innovation and personalized medicine

Please submit a motivation letter and CV, including, where applicable, degree certificates and job references, as a single PDF until 22. June 2026, indicating the reference number 28651.

For questions about the role, please contact the project leader, Dr.-Ing. Mariya Pravdivtseva at mariya.pravdivtseva@rad.uni-kiel.de.

Campus Kiel