Fully Funded PhD Studentship in Mechanics-Informed Design of Reinforced Interventional Catheters

About the Project

Applications are invited for a fully funded PhD position in the area of reinforced flexible interventional catheter design and digital manufacturing at School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, University College Dublin (UCD), Ireland.

Project Overview

Flexible interventional catheters are widely used in cardiovascular, neurovascular, and peripheral vascular interventions. Their key functional properties, including pushability, torque transmission, flexibility, and kink resistance, are largely determined by the design of their internal reinforcement structures.

This PhD project focuses on the design theory and manufacturing technologies of coil-reinforced and braided-reinforced catheter structures. By integrating finite element modelling, experimental characterisation, and data-driven optimisation, the project aims to establish quantitative relationships between structural parameters and mechanical performance, enabling predictive design and digital engineering of next-generation interventional catheters.

The successful candidate will work at the intersection of mechanics, advanced manufacturing, medical device engineering, and computational design.

Funding and Research Environment

This project is jointly supported by:

• I-Form, the Research Ireland Centre for Advanced Manufacturing
• MNMT-Dublin, the UCD Centre of Micro/Nano Manufacturing Technology
• An Irish medical device company

The student will benefit from close collaboration between academia and industry and will gain exposure to both fundamental research and real-world medical device development.

Upon successful completion of the PhD, opportunities may be available to apply for competitive Irish and European research fellowships or pursue a career within the collaborating medical device industry.

Supervisory Team

The academic supervisor, Prof Jufan Zhang, is a Principal Investigator at the MNMT-Dublin Centre, and a funded investigator at the I-Form and CURAM (Research Ireland Centre for Medical Devices).

The supervisory team has a strong track record of mentoring researchers who have subsequently secured prestigious European and Irish fellowships, including Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowships, Research Ireland Industry Fellowship, or taking leadership positions in high-technology companies.

The industrial supervisor will be the CTO of the collaborating medical device company.

Research Topics

The PhD candidate will contribute to several of the following areas:

• Design of coil-reinforced and braided catheter structures;
• Mechanical modelling and finite element simulation;
• Experimental characterisation and performance testing;
• Data-driven design and optimisation;
• Digital manufacturing of flexible medical devices.

Desired Academic Background

Applicants with backgrounds in the following disciplines are particularly encouraged to apply:

• Mechanical Engineering
• Engineering Mechanics
• Solid Mechanics
• Textile Engineering (Braiding Technology)
• Composite Materials
• Biomedical Engineering (with experience in structural design or mechanics)

Essential Qualifications

Applicants should demonstrate:

• Strong knowledge of structural design and mechanics;
• Experience with finite element analysis software (e.g., ABAQUS, ANSYS, COMSOL);
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills;
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary research team;
• Excellent English proficiency.

Preferred Qualifications

Preference will be given to candidates with experience in one or more of the following:

• Braided structures and textile mechanics;
• Flexible structural design;
• Composite materials;
• Computational modelling and simulation;
• Python, MATLAB, or related programming tools for data analysis and optimisation.

English Language Requirement

Applicants should meet the UCD PhD admission requirements, typically including:

• IELTS overall score of 6.5 or above, with no individual band below 6.0; or equivalent evidence of English proficiency.

Scholarship Package

The successful candidate will receive:

• Tax-free stipend of €25,000 per annum for four years;
• Full tuition fee coverage (up to €15,440 per annum);
• Generous research and travel support;
• Access to world-class research facilities and industrial collaborations.