1. Overview of the research programme:
InSilicoHealth is an innovative Doctoral Network (DN) with the ambition to train a new generation of outstanding Doctoral Candidates (DC) that will become effective translators of the rapidly evolving digital technology to tackle existing and future challenges related with healthy ageing in Europe. The research focus of this DN lies in three key domains: the brain, heart, and musculoskeletal (MSK) systems. In the realm of digital technology, InSilicoHealth specifically focuses on virtual human twin (VHT) technology to enhance our understanding of the age-related adaptive changes of the complex human body through predictive multi-scale simulations. The research methodology employs knowledge-driven models enhanced by advanced data-driven inference techniques to optimize the health potential of older individuals.
2. Individual PhD Project Information:
Host institution: Athena Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Supervisory team: Prof. Teun Zuiderent-Jerak (PhD supervisor, VU Amsterdam), Prof. Sebastiaan Meijer (PhD supervisor, KTH), Dr Michiel Van Oudheusden (PhD co-supervisor, VU Amsterdam), Prof. Paolo Parini (secondment host, Karolinska University Hospital).
Enrolment in Doctoral School: Enrolled in the Athena Graduate School (VU Amsterdam) and the School of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health program of Technology and Health (KTH).
3. PhD project description:
This PhD project focuses on integrating Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) principles into the development of in silico technologies, with an emphasis on ethical, legal, and societal issues (ELSI). The project aims to evaluate the complex interactions between stakeholders in the in silico health ecosystem and develop strategies to mitigate potential risks while accelerating the adoption of these technologies in real-world healthcare. Using ethnographic methods, while closely collaborating with researchers from other work packages, the candidate will document their work, participate in lab meetings, and conduct semi-structured interviews to analyze how values and social considerations shape research decisions.
Additionally, the PhD candidate will perform a systematic desk review of ELSI-related documents, identify key stakeholders, and gather insights to inform the development of a standardized research protocol. This protocol will map the evolution of in silico technologies for healthy aging and ensure that ethical reflection and public engagement are integrated into the research process. The results will contribute to an improved understanding of societal impacts and strategies for mitigating future risks.
4. Planned secondments:
Link to the homepage of the project: https://gbiomed.kuleuven.be/english/research/50000737/research/HMB/isihealth/european-commission-award
This is an HORIZON-MSCA-2023-DN project that has received funding from the EU (Grant number: 101169278)
5. Essential requirements:
As a university, we strive for equal opportunities for all, recognising that diversity takes many forms. We believe that diversity in all its complexity is invaluable for the quality of our teaching, research and service. We are always looking for talent with diverse backgrounds and experiences. This also means that we are committed to creating an inclusive community so that we can use diversity as an asset.
We realise that each individual brings a unique set of skills, expertise and mindset. Therefore we are happy to invite anyone who recognises themselves in the profile to apply, even if you do not meet all the requirements.
A challenging position in a socially engaged organisation. At VU Amsterdam, you contribute to education, research and service for a better world. And that is valuable. So in return for your efforts, we offer you:
We also offer you attractive fringe benefits and regulations. Some examples:
Athena Institute
The Athena Institute addresses complex societal issues, like climate change, health inequality and social injustice. We do this by designing, facilitating and studying multi-stakeholder processes. Together with all actors involved, we investigate how to instigate system transformation.
Faculty of Science
Researchers and students at VU Amsterdam’s Faculty of Science tackle fundamental and complex scientific problems to help pave the way for a sustainable and healthy future. From forest fires to big data, from obesity to malnutrition, and from molecules to the moon: we cover the full spectrum of the natural sciences. Our teaching and research have a strong experimentally technical, computational and interdisciplinary nature.
We work on new solutions guided by value-driven, interdisciplinary methodologies. We are committed to research, valorisation and training socially engaged citizens of the world who will make valuable contributions to a sustainable, healthy future.
Are you interested in joining the Faculty of Science? You will join undergraduate students, PhD candidates and researchers at the biggest sciences faculty in the Netherlands. You will combine a professional focus with a broad view of the world. We are proud of our collegial working climate, characterised by committed staff, a pragmatic attitude and engagement in the larger whole. The faculty is home to over 11,000 students enrolled in 40 study programmes. It employs over 1,600 professionals spread across 10 academic departments.
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam stands for values-driven education and research. We are open-minded experts with the ability to think freely - a broader mind. Maintaining an entrepreneurial perspective and concentrating on diversity, significance and humanity, we work on sustainable solutions with social impact. By joining forces, across the boundaries of disciplines, we work towards a better world for people and planet. Together we create a safe and respectful working and study climate, and an inspiring environment for education and research. Learn more about our codes of conduct
We are located on one physical campus, in the heart of Amsterdam's Zuidas business district, with excellent location and accessibility. Over 6,150 staff work at the VU and over 31,000 students attend academic education.
Diversity
Diversity is the driving force of VU Amsterdam. VU wants to be accessible and receptive to diversity in disciplines, cultures, ideas, nationalities, beliefs, preferences and worldviews. We believe that trust, respect, interest and differences lead to new insights and innovation, to sharpness and clarity, to excellence and a broader understanding.
We stand for an inclusive community and believe that diversity and internationalisation contribute to the quality of education, research and our services.
Therefore, we are always searching for people whose backgrounds and experience contribute to the diversity of the VU community.
Are you interested in this position and do you believe that your experience will contribute to the further development of our university? In that case, we encourage you to submit your application.
Application requirements:
Applications received by e-mail will not be considered.
Acquisition in response to this advertisement is not appreciated.
1. Overview of the research programme:
InSilicoHealth is an innovative Doctoral Network (DN) with the ambition to train a new generation of outstanding Doctoral Candidates (DC) that will become effective translators of the rapidly evolving digital technology to tackle existing and future challenges related with healthy ageing in Europe. The research focus of this DN lies in three key domains: the brain, heart, and musculoskeletal (MSK) systems. In the realm of digital technology, InSilicoHealth specifically focuses on virtual human twin (VHT) technology to enhance our understanding of the age-related adaptive changes of the complex human body through predictive multi-scale simulations. The research methodology employs knowledge-driven models enhanced by advanced data-driven inference techniques to optimize the health potential of older individuals.
2. Individual PhD Project Information:
Host institution: Athena Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Supervisory team: Prof. Teun Zuiderent-Jerak (PhD supervisor, VU Amsterdam), Prof. Sebastiaan Meijer (PhD supervisor, KTH), Dr Michiel Van Oudheusden (PhD co-supervisor, VU Amsterdam), Prof. Paolo Parini (secondment host, Karolinska University Hospital).
Enrolment in Doctoral School: Enrolled in the Athena Graduate School (VU Amsterdam) and the School of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health program of Technology and Health (KTH).
3. PhD project description:
This PhD project focuses on integrating Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) principles into the development of in silico technologies, with an emphasis on ethical, legal, and societal issues (ELSI). The project aims to evaluate the complex interactions between stakeholders in the in silico health ecosystem and develop strategies to mitigate potential risks while accelerating the adoption of these technologies in real-world healthcare. Using ethnographic methods, while closely collaborating with researchers from other work packages, the candidate will document their work, participate in lab meetings, and conduct semi-structured interviews to analyze how values and social considerations shape research decisions.
Additionally, the PhD candidate will perform a systematic desk review of ELSI-related documents, identify key stakeholders, and gather insights to inform the development of a standardized research protocol. This protocol will map the evolution of in silico technologies for healthy aging and ensure that ethical reflection and public engagement are integrated into the research process. The results will contribute to an improved understanding of societal impacts and strategies for mitigating future risks.
4. Planned secondments:
Link to the homepage of the project: https://gbiomed.kuleuven.be/english/research/50000737/research/HMB/isihealth/european-commission-award
This is an HORIZON-MSCA-2023-DN project that has received funding from the EU (Grant number: 101169278)
5. Essential requirements:
As a university, we strive for equal opportunities for all, recognising that diversity takes many forms. We believe that diversity in all its complexity is invaluable for the quality of our teaching, research and service. We are always looking for talent with diverse backgrounds and experiences. This also means that we are committed to creating an inclusive community so that we can use diversity as an asset.
We realise that each individual brings a unique set of skills, expertise and mindset. Therefore we are happy to invite anyone who recognises themselves in the profile to apply, even if you do not meet all the requirements.
A challenging position in a socially engaged organisation. At VU Amsterdam, you contribute to education, research and service for a better world. And that is valuable. So in return for your efforts, we offer you:
We also offer you attractive fringe benefits and regulations. Some examples:
Athena Institute
The Athena Institute addresses complex societal issues, like climate change, health inequality and social injustice. We do this by designing, facilitating and studying multi-stakeholder processes. Together with all actors involved, we investigate how to instigate system transformation.
Faculty of Science
Researchers and students at VU Amsterdam’s Faculty of Science tackle fundamental and complex scientific problems to help pave the way for a sustainable and healthy future. From forest fires to big data, from obesity to malnutrition, and from molecules to the moon: we cover the full spectrum of the natural sciences. Our teaching and research have a strong experimentally technical, computational and interdisciplinary nature.
We work on new solutions guided by value-driven, interdisciplinary methodologies. We are committed to research, valorisation and training socially engaged citizens of the world who will make valuable contributions to a sustainable, healthy future.
Are you interested in joining the Faculty of Science? You will join undergraduate students, PhD candidates and researchers at the biggest sciences faculty in the Netherlands. You will combine a professional focus with a broad view of the world. We are proud of our collegial working climate, characterised by committed staff, a pragmatic attitude and engagement in the larger whole. The faculty is home to over 11,000 students enrolled in 40 study programmes. It employs over 1,600 professionals spread across 10 academic departments.
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam stands for values-driven education and research. We are open-minded experts with the ability to think freely - a broader mind. Maintaining an entrepreneurial perspective and concentrating on diversity, significance and humanity, we work on sustainable solutions with social impact. By joining forces, across the boundaries of disciplines, we work towards a better world for people and planet. Together we create a safe and respectful working and study climate, and an inspiring environment for education and research. Learn more about our codes of conduct
We are located on one physical campus, in the heart of Amsterdam's Zuidas business district, with excellent location and accessibility. Over 6,150 staff work at the VU and over 31,000 students attend academic education.
Diversity
Diversity is the driving force of VU Amsterdam. VU wants to be accessible and receptive to diversity in disciplines, cultures, ideas, nationalities, beliefs, preferences and worldviews. We believe that trust, respect, interest and differences lead to new insights and innovation, to sharpness and clarity, to excellence and a broader understanding.
We stand for an inclusive community and believe that diversity and internationalisation contribute to the quality of education, research and our services.
Therefore, we are always searching for people whose backgrounds and experience contribute to the diversity of the VU community.
Are you interested in this position and do you believe that your experience will contribute to the further development of our university? In that case, we encourage you to submit your application.
Application requirements:
Applications received by e-mail will not be considered.
Acquisition in response to this advertisement is not appreciated.
Wij, en derde partijen, maken op onze website gebruik van cookies. Wij gebruiken cookies om ervoor te zorgen dat onze website goed functioneert, om jouw voorkeuren op te slaan, om inzicht te verkrijgen in bezoekersgedrag, maar ook voor marketing en social media doeleinden (laten zien van gepersonaliseerde advertenties). Door op ‘Accepteren’ te klikken, ga je akkoord met het gebruik van alle cookies. In onze Cookieverklaring kun je meer lezen over de cookies die wij gebruiken en kun je jouw voorkeuren opslaan of wijzigen. Door ‘Weigeren’ te klikken ga je alleen akkoord met het gebruik van functionele cookies.