Canon Collins Trust General Scholarship Scheme

Canon Collins Trust provides scholarships to students from South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Swaziland, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Angola and Mozambique, who wish to pursue a Masters degree of either one year in the UK, or postgraduate study in South Africa (including honours, Masters and PhD level). .We occasionally nominate PhD students for the Commonwealth Scholarships in the UK.

The key aim of the Scholarships Programme is to help build the human resources necessary for economic, social and cultural development in the southern African region and to develop an educated and skilled workforce that can benefit the wider community. Canon Collins Trust scholarship holders are thus expected to use the knowledge, training and skills acquired through their studies to contribute positively to the development of their home country.

The UK scholarship programme is administered by the London Office. Enquiries should be directed to this email address: jean[AT SIGN]canoncollins[DOT]org[DOT]uk

The South Africa scholarship programme is administered by the Cape Town office. Enquires should be directed to: CTO[AT SIGN]canoncollins[AT SIGN]iafrica[DOT]com

The application process for study in South Africa is now open - please see the application form and guidelines below:

Application form for study in South Africa starting 2011

Guidelines for applying to study in South Africa starting in 2011

SpineFX Early Stage Researcher Position at the University of Bern

Applications are invited for a Ph.D. Studentship in the Biomechanics Division at the Institute for Surgical Technology and Biomechanics, University of Bern, within the SPINEFX Initial Training Network (ITN) supported by the EU Marie Curie Action (www.spinefx.eu). The successful applicant will join a program focused on developing new methods for the biomaterial reinforcement of weakened bone.

Description
Research topics covered within the project include the development of biocement formulations that best match the intrinsic mechanical properties of native bone, taking into consideration also the influence of the particular pathology on bone competence. The influence of cement distribution on the mechanical integrity of whole bone structures will be simulated to provide guidance for augmentation methods. This work is conducted in collaboration with the Swedish medical technology company BoneSupport AB.

Candidates with an M.Sc. or equivalent in Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Physics, Biomedical Engineering or a closely related field should apply. Experience with any of the following would be a desirable: mechanical testing equipment and procedures, tissue mechanics, finite element methods, mechanical design and image analysis. Applicants with a background in Materials Science and a demonstrable competence in high-level mathematics may be considered. An excellent knowledge of the English language is required and knowledge of the German language would be helpful, but not mandatory.


According to the EU ITN rules of eligibility, the candidates must have completed their M.Sc. or equivalent Degree within the past 4 years, may not be Swiss nationals and may not have resided in Switzerland for more than 12 months in the past 3 years. Employment conditions (e.g. compensation, working hours) are regulated by a standard model contract at the University of Bern for projects within the EU Marie Curie program.

The candidate must commence the position by 1. November 2010 (or earlier) and the position is limited to a duration of 3 years.

Please send a CV and the contact information for 2 references via e-mail to:

PD Dr. Stephen Ferguson
Division Head: Biomechanics
University of Bern
Institute for Surgical Technology and Biomechanics
Stauffacherstrasse 78
CH-3014 Bern
Switzerland
stephen.ferguson@istb.unibe.ch

Research Field

Engineering - Biomedical engineering

Benefits

The Biomechanics Division comprises a multi-disciplinary research team focused on the treatment of spinal disorders, with projects in the areas of bone mechanics, intervertebral disc and soft-tissue mechanics, disc biology, tissue engineering, implant design and evaluation and computational modelling.

Application Deadline
31/07/2010

Comment/web site for additional job details
www.spinefx.eu

University of Bern
Institute for Surgical Technology and Biomechanics
Academic
Stauffacherstrasse 78
CH-3014 - Bern
SWITZERLAND
phone +41 31 631 5925
fax +41 31 631 5960
email stephen.ferguson@istb.unibe.ch
http://www.istb.unibe.ch