PhD Positions in Shape Optimization for Artificial Blood Pumps

Germany. RWTH Aachen University.

PhD positions are offered by The Chair for Computational Analysis of Technical Systems. The position will support the German Science Foundation focus program SPP 1253 “Optimization with PDEs” project “Shape Optimization for Artificial Blood Pumps”.

The candidate is expected to conduct research leading to a doctoral thesis in the area of shape optimization problems in computational design of implantable blood pumps. The primary goals are:

• adapting in-house simulator XNS-OPT for a three-dimensional shape optimization task,
• integrating CAD-free geometry modification tools into the XNS-OPT workflow,
• evaluating geometry modifications of a miniature axial implantable blood pump (shown below),
• evaluating and comparing various objective functions that are indicative of blood damage,
• evaluating and comparing various constitutive models and their impact on the optimal shape,
• collaborating with the Chair for Scientific Computing (RWTH Aachen, FB 1) on sensitivity analyses,
• see http://www.cats.rwth-aachen.de:8080/pdf/spp1253-poster.pdf for more details.

Ideal candidate will have:

• completed degree (Diplom or M.S.) in Engineering, Computer Science or Mathematics,
• familiarity with the concepts of shape optimization and sensitivity analysis,
• experience in finite element modeling and parallel computing,
• familiarity with UNIX operating system and Fortran or C programming, and
• ability to communicate well in both German and English.

Application materialsand inquiries should be directed to: Prof. Marek Behr (behr@cats.rwth-aachen.de) before 01 June 2006