The University of Stavanger invites applicants for a Ph.D fellowship in 
Computational Engineering/Experimental hemodynamics at the Faculty of Science 
and Technology, Department of Energy Resources.

The postition is vacant from March 2021.

This is a fully funded position that will give promising researchers an 
opportunity for academic development leading to a doctoral degree.

The appointment is for three years with research duties exclusively.

This PhD is part of a joint research project between University of Stavanger, 
NORCE, and Oslo University Hospital.

Each year 600 children are born with a heart failure which often makes 
surgical intervention necessary. Patients with univentricular hearts have poor 
circulation because venous and arterial blood are mixed in the heart. The 
Fontan procedure consists of passing venous blood from the inferior vena cava 
and superior vena cava directly to the pulmonary artery via a tube of Gore-Tex 
material that is placed outside the heart. This procedure improves 
circulation, but the blood flow is driven by the venous pressure and is not 
pumped by the heart as normal. Details of the design can have great impact on 
the circulation performance.

The research group has developed computational fluid dynamics solvers for 
blood flow based on Lattice-Boltzmann methods, finite-element and finite-
volume methods. Part of this project is to generate data under controlled 
conditions and interpret them using CFD simulation software. The PhD candidate 
will generate experimental data based on a physical simulation model (a flow 
loop) that can in turn be used to improve the computational fluid dynamics 
solvers. The flow loop consists of an advanced pulsatile pump, which is 
connected to a synthetic system that represents the large, arterial blood 
vessels in humans. It is then possible to simulate realistic hemodynamic 
behavior in controlled conditions. The system is unique in Norway, watch the 
system here: https://www.ux.uis.no/~ah/ulrik.mp4

The Ph.D candidate will be involved in further development of the experimental 
set up, data collection (pressure, flow rates, flow pattern of chemical 
tracers) and interpret the data using CFD software. The purpose of this 
research is to develop a new understanding of how computer models can improve 
the description of hemodynamics. This can be of great importance in the 
decisions to be made in connection with heart surgery on Fontan patients.

See more information and submit your application here:
https://www.jobbnorge.no/en/available-jobs/job/195808/phd-fellowship-in-
computational-engineering-experimental-hemodynamics