Engineering; Fully Funded Joint PhD Scholarship: Combined Experimental and Computational Modelling of Traumatic Liver Injury

The main aims of this project are twofold: (1) comprehensive and rare experimental measurements on human liver tissues, and (2) the development of computational modelling framework for traumatic liver injury. The experimental characterisation will be performed in the TIMC-IMAG laboratory in Grenoble University headed by Professor Chagnon, who has recently developed a successful research platform with Anatomy Laboratory from French Alps (LADAF). The partnership has resulted in successful experimentation to observe the mechanical behaviour of the membranous and spongy portions of urethrae sampled on male cadavers and one biliary ducts in compliance with French regulations on biological tissue testing. Experimental studies on soft liver tissues are rare. Although some sparsely available data exist, there are no comprehensive experimental results that could provide understanding of the liver tissue behaviour under complex and time dependent loading conditions. The partnership (TIMC-IMAG laboratory and LADAF) will allow conducting experiments on specimens of liver tissue that are required within this project for mechanical characterisation of liver behaviour under dynamic loading conditions.

Modelling of traumatic liver injury has received little attention and only a few isolated research efforts have recently been published focusing on limited loading conditions and based on animal liver data only. Hence, by developing this project the Swansea-Grenoble team could make a significant impact on understanding and treatment of traumatic liver injury. The Swansea team will develop experimentally driven constitutive modelling of liver tissue and comprehensive computational framework for modelling of traumatic liver injury**. **This is the first time the Swansea team will get a rare access to sufficient and diversified experimental data on living tissues at finite and complex strains, which will facilitate application of recently developed sophisticated numerical schemes available in Professor Peric’s team within the Zienkiewicz Centre for Computational Engineering.

As this is a joint degree, applicants must meet the entry/funder requirements of both universities: a recognised master’s degree in Civil/Mechanical/Aerospace/Medical Engineering or similar discipline, and an appropriate English language qualification, ELTS 6.5 overall (with at least 6.5 in each individual component) or Swansea University recognised equivalent.

Please see the links on our website for details regarding non-UK qualification comparisons and accepted English Language qualifications:

Familiarity with computational modelling of materials and experience in experimental work involving material characterisation would be beneficial.

Due to funding restrictions, this scholarship is open to UK/EU candidates only.

Eligible Fields: Biomedical Engineering, Computational Mechanics

This scholarship covers the full cost of UK/EU tuition fees (50% by Swansea University, 50% by Université Grenoble Alpes) and an annual stipend of £15,285 reviewed annually in line with  UKRI rates.

Additional funding is available from Swansea University to assist with travel, accommodation and immersive training experiences.

How to Apply