Are you interested in using computational biomechanics to prevent injuries and to improve how products are designed for diverse populations?
Join our biomechanics team at the Department of Mechanical Engineering for your PhD studies, where you will work at the intersection of finite element modelling, probabilistic machine learning, and digital twins — contributing to research in prevention of injury using computational modeling in a collaborative and dynamic environment.
About the research project
Products are designed for people — yet the computational models used to simulate human response during design typically represent a single "average" individual. In reality, users span a wide range of ages, body sizes, and physiological characteristics. This mismatch limits how well simulations can predict outcomes across diverse populations.
This PhD project aims to develop population-aware computational modeling of the human biomechanics that explicitly account for age- and sex-related variability. The goal is to develop workflows for finite element models of the human body that incorporate variability in age, sex, morphology, and tissue properties — making models more representative and their predictions more reliable. The developed methods will be applied to the design of protective equipment in collaboration with a Swedish start-up.
A distinctive aspect of this work is dealing with data limitations. Biomechanics is a field where experimental data is often sparse, expensive to collect, or difficult to obtain for specific population groups. Part of the research will focus on how to build and validate models responsibly under these constraints — including how to quantify and communicate uncertainty when data is limited.
The outcomes of this project will have broad applications in areas such as wearable devices, medical implants, and ergonomic product design. The project is situated within the broader framework of human digital twins — personalized computational representations that can predict how individuals or populations respond to interventions.
Key Research Questions
- How can population-level variability (age, sex, morphology, tissue properties) be systematically incorporated into finite element models of the human body?
- What statistical and probabilistic frameworks are most effective for propagating uncertainty in large-scale biomechanical simulations?
- How should models be built and validated when experimental data is limited — as is common in biomechanics?
Who we are looking for
The following requirements are mandatory:
- To qualify as a Doctoral student, you must have a Master's degree (masterexamen) of 120 credits or a Master’s degree (magisterexamen) of 60 credits* in Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Applied Mechanics, or a closely related field
- Strong written and verbal communication skills in English
- Experience in finite element analysis, demonstrated through coursework and project work
- Background in probability and statistics, ideally applied to engineering problems
- Hands-on experience with commercial or research FE solvers (e.g. LS-DYNA, Abaqus, or similar)
- Excellent programming skills, preferably in Python
*for students with an education earned outside of Sweden, a 4-year Bachelor’s degree is accepted.
The following experience will strengthen your application:
- Experience with human body models (e.g. VIVA+, SAFER HBM, or similar)
- Familiarity with machine learning, uncertainty quantification or sensitivity analysis methods
- Prior work in biomechanics, computational mechanics, or related fields
- Experience with high-performance computing or large-scale simulation workflows
We expect candidates to be motivated and able to work independently, but also to engage actively with the research group. You do not need to arrive with expertise in every area listed — the position is designed to support your development as a researcher.
What you will do
- Develop your own scientific concepts and communicate the results of your research verbally and in writing
- Collaborate with industry and other external partners
- Publish scientific results in journals and present at international conferences
- Take courses at an advanced level within the Graduate school of Machine and Vehicle Systems
- Develop your own scientific concepts and communicate the results of your research verbally and in writing
- The position generally also includes teaching on Chalmers' undergraduate level or performing other duties corresponding to 20 percent of working hours
Contract terms
- The Doctoral student positions are fully funded from start.
- The position is a fixed-term appointment of four years, with the possibility to teach up to 20%, which extends the position up to five years.
- A starting salary of 34,550 SEK per month (valid from May 25, 2025).
- Doctoral studies require physical presence throughout the entire study period. A valid residence permit must be presented by the study start date; otherwise the admission may be withdrawn.
What we offer
- As a Doctoral student at Chalmers, you are an employee and enjoy all employee benefits. Read more about working at Chalmers and our benefits for employees.
- A dynamic and inspiring working environment in the coastal city of Gothenburg.
- Read more about Sweden’s generous parental leave, subsidized day care, free schools, healthcare etc at Move To Gothenburg.
Chalmers is dedicated to improving gender balance and actively works with equality projects, such as the GENIE Initiative for gender equality and excellence.
If Swedish is not your native language, Chalmers offers Swedish courses to help you settle in.
Find more general information about doctoral studies at Chalmers here.
About us
The Department of Mechanical Engineering conducts research from fundamental mechanics and materials science to sustainable engineering systems and products. Our work spans the full value chain, from early concepts to real-world applications. We cover all modes of transport and develop solutions that improve safety, efficiency and environmental performance. The department also advances renewable energy technologies and works in close collaboration with industry and society.
At the Division of Vehicle Safety, we conduct research to understand and mitigate injury risks for all road users. By integrating field data and experimental data with behavioural models and finite element human body models, we analyse pre-crash and in-crash dynamics to enable comprehensive virtual safety assessments in close collaboration with industry, academia and other stakeholders.
Application procedure
The application should be written in English and attached as PDF-files, as below. Maximum size for each file is 40 MB. Please note that the system does not support Zip files.
CV
Personal letter
- A brief introduction about yourself.
- A brief motivation as to why you are interested in this position.
Bachelor’s and, if available, master’s thesis together with the transcripts.
Use the button at the foot of the page to reach the application form.
A background check may be conducted as part of the application process.
Please note: The applicant is responsible for ensuring that the application is complete. Incomplete applications and applications sent by email will not be considered. Contact details to references will be requested after the interview.
Applications will be reviewed on rolling basis from May 27. We welcome your application no later than June 20
For questions, please contact:
Name : Jobin John
Email : [email protected]
*** Chalmers declines to consider all offers of further announcement publishing or other types of support for the recruiting process in connection with this position. ***
Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg conducts research and education in technology and natural sciences at a high international level. The university has 3100 employees and 10,000 students, and offers education in engineering, science, shipping and architecture. With scientific excellence as a basis, Chalmers promotes knowledge and technical solutions for a sustainable world. Through global commitment and entrepreneurship, we foster an innovative spirit, in close collaboration with wider society.
Chalmers was founded in 1829 and has the same motto today as it did then: Avancez – forward.
