At the Faculty of Engineering and Science, Department of Materials and Production a position as Research Assistant in Experimental Cartilage Biomechanics and Modeling of Knee Osteoarthritis is open for appointment from 01.03.2026 or soon thereafter. The position is available for a period of 1 year.

Your work tasks    
Research will be part of the MathKOA (Predictive, multiscale, multifactorial Mathematical modeling of Knee OsteoArthritis) funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation under the Challenge Program on Mathematical Modeling of Health and Disease.

The MathKOA research project

Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide1 with pain and reduced function as hallmark symptoms. OA can currently not be cured, and the available treatments are focused on improving symptoms. OA is a multi-scale and multi-factorial degenerative joint disease with knee OA (KOA) being the most frequent. Biomechanical factors play an important role in maintaining joint homeostasis and several early KOA interventions are aimed at altering the body-level biomechanics to reduce joint degeneration that occurs largely due to changes at the cell level. However, the relationship between levels, i.e. body, joint, tissue and cell, and its relationship to pain response, is currently poorly understood.

To tackle this challenge, we are bringing together mathematical modeling experts, whose combined expertise cover multi-scale modelling, including mechanobiology and experimental tissue characterization of bone, cartilage and tendons, with the world's leading scientist in pain mechanisms in KOA to establish the first comprehensive predictive model of KOA, capturing also the interaction between loading and pain. In addition to a fundamental understanding, the mathematical model also enables personalized treatments based on the prediction of expected outcome.

Initially, we will develop in vivo measurement techniques and perform in vitro and ex vivo experiments to obtain model inputs. Hereafter, mathematical models of the body, joint, tissue and cell levels are researched and coupled to a pain response model to enable investigations of the relationship between KOA interventions and the multi-scale response. Rigorous validation is performed to evaluate the accuracy of the sub-level models as well as the predictive capabilities of the multi-scale model in an ongoing cohort study. Finally, the predictive capabilities of the model are applied to design novel, personalized KOA interventions with the ultimate goal to improve patient care.

MathKOA is a multi-national research project comprising partners from Aalborg University, University of Eastern Finland and Lund University and additional collaborators from Aalborg University Hospital and Massachusetts Institute of Technology that has received 50 mio DKK in funding from the Novo Nordisk foundation. The successful applicant will, therefore, have a unique opportunity to join a large and highly ambitious project within mathematical modeling of KOA.

The project

The purpose of the project is to experimentally investigate the material properties of cartilage in both healthy and osteoarthritic conditions, with a particular focus on understanding how these properties change over the course of KOA development. This process includes conducting ex vivo experiments on cartilage samples from both healthy and osteoarthritic samples and subsequent numerical modelling to study the time-dependent behavior of cartilage. Thus, the focus is on understanding the degradation of cartilage at the material level.

In addition, you will play a key role in advancing our ongoing in vivo experiments, integrating experimental data collected during loaded magnetic resonance imaging scans of the human knee joint with the ex vivo findings. By working with in vivo models, you will contribute to linking changes in tissue mechanics at the material level to joint-level biomechanics and disease progression. These data will be critical for refining predictive models of KOA, with the ultimate goal of informing personalized material properties of the cartilage in predictive joint level models.

Lastly, you will assist in the ongoing clinical cohort study, contributing to the collection of biomechanical data. This will involve working within the gait lab, utilizing our motion capture system to assess joint kinetics and kinematics while measuring muscle mechanics with electromyography. Therefore, the candidate should have experience with recruitment of subjects for human experimental studies in the laboratory. 

Your competencies   
We are looking for applicants with independent research-related qualifications at a high international level within biomechanical or mechanical engineering or a related field. You are a clear communicator and have experience with external research collaborations.

As a person, you have good interpersonal skills, is inclusive and team-oriented and able to contribute to a good working environment.

We expect you to be able to write and speak English at an academic level.

Read more here: 

Qualification requirements 
Appointment as a research assistant requires academic qualifications at master's degree level.

Who we are    
The Biomechanics Research Group works with a wide variety of topics, including orthopedics, osteoarthritis, sports science, design of medical devices, ergonomic product design, functional anatomy and basic science using experimental tools such as motion capture, EMG, sonography, and material testing, and simulation tools such as musculoskeletal modeling, multibody dynamics, finite element analysis and numerical methods in general.

The Department of Materials and Production (MP) is a wide-ranging research and educational environment at Aalborg University. The Department's mission is to meet the future's demands for new materials and production systems by directing the whole value chain from basic material understanding to materials' applications in mechanical construction, industrial production, and management. The department has several strong, international, and innovative research groups that comprise everything from basic science to strategic and applied research. The activities encompass research and education within materials, mechanics, physics, production, and industrial management and innovation.

Several innovative and unconventional collaborations have been and are being developed through interdisciplinary cooperation, benefiting the industry and additional collaborators. As an employee at the department, you will become part of an international research environment focusing on innovation, knowledge sharing/building, and interdisciplinary collaborations.

The Department’s activities are supported by world-class laboratories and an important part of the research being done at the department. Specifically in relation to this position we have facilities for synthesis and characterization of materials covering the range from the atomic scale in the cleanroom and materials labs to fabrication of components and devices.

You can read more about AAU Materials and Production at: Department of Materials and Production - Aalborg University.  


How to apply  
Your application must include the following: 

• Application, stating reasons for applying, qualifications in relation to the position, and intentions and visions for the position 
• Curriculum Vitae (CV) 
• Diplomas (master's degree diploma and potential PhD diploma) 
• List of publications. You may attach a maximum of 5 publications (optional). If you are applying for a position at The Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH), you must submit a co-author statement, see template for co-author statement 
• Documentation of teaching qualifications (optional). Depending on which faculty you are applying for employment, please see guidelines for teaching portfolio at The Technical Faculty of IT and Design, The Faculty of Engineering and Science and The Faculty of Medicine. If this is not enclosed, the applicant must enclose the reasons for this .
• Additional qualifications in relation to the position 
• References/recommendations 

You can read more about the requirements for your application here.    

The application must be submitted via Aalborg University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aalborg University's website.  

Aalborg University wants to reflect the surrounding society and has diversity as a core value. Therefore, everyone, regardless of personal background and orientation, is encouraged to apply for the position. 

Do you have any questions? 
If you have any questions about the position, you are more than welcome to contact Professor Michael Skipper Andersen, email: msa@mp.aau.dk, phone: +45 30354170. 

Further information 
Read more about our recruitment process here   

The appointment process at Aalborg University involves a shortlisting process. You can read more about the shortlisting and appointment process here.  

The hiring process at Aalborg University may include a risk assessment as a tool to identify potential risks associated with new hires, ensuring the safety, compliance, and integrity of the workplace.   

If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at AAU at Relocation support - Aalborg University.

Salary and terms of employment  
The employment is in accordance with the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities (the Appointment Order) and the Ministerial Order on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities (in Danish) and protocol on certain terms of employment of academic staff at universities (in Danish). 

Salary and terms of employment are in accordance with the collective agreement between the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations and the state (AC collective agreement) (only in Danish) and protocol on certain terms of employment of academic staff at universities (only in Danish). 

Aalborg University - Knowledge for the world
Aalborg University is an international workplace with more than 3,700 employees. We offer real-world-oriented education and create world-class research results through collaboration between researchers, students, and public and private companies. This is how we achieve insights, new solutions to societal problems, and knowledge that changes the world. Our main campus is in Aalborg, but we also have campuses in Esbjerg and Copenhagen.

Contacts

• Michael Skipper Andersen: +4599409311, msa@mp.aau.dk

Ansættelsestype:

Full time

Ref. nummer

2025/744

Ansøgningsfrist

15.12.2025