About the Project
Coronary stents save millions of lives each year, yet complications such as restenosis, thrombosis, and vessel injury continue to affect patient outcomes. Improving stent performance requires a deeper understanding of how stents interact with blood flow, vessel geometry, and arterial mechanics.
This PhD project will combine computational modelling, benchtop experimentation, and cardiovascular engineering to develop and evaluate next-generation coronary stent designs. The successful candidate will create patient-specific models of coronary arteries, investigate how stent geometry affects blood flow and vessel mechanics, and validate findings using laboratory-based flow loop and benchtop testing systems.
Working closely with clinicians and industry partners, the candidate will contribute to developing new approaches to optimise coronary interventions and improve long-term patient outcomes.
Research areas
- Coronary stent design
- Computational fluid dynamics
- Benchtop cardiovascular testing
- Experimental biomechanics
- Medical device innovation
Candidate Requirements
Applicants should have a background in:
- Biomedical engineering
- Data science
- Computer science
- Mathematics or statistics
- Or a related discipline
We are seeking outstanding domestic and international applicants with a strong academic record and demonstrated research potential.
Domestic applicants (Australia and New Zealand) should have:
A Bachelor's degree with First Class Honours (H1) or equivalent, or a Master's degree containing a substantial research thesis/project.
- A minimum WAM of 75% (or equivalent).
- Evidence of research capability through an honours thesis, research project, publication, conference presentation, industry R&D experience, or related research activities.
International applicants should typically have:
- A Bachelor's degree with Honours (or equivalent research-intensive qualification) from a university ranked within the Top 200 globally (QS, Times Higher Education, or Shanghai/ARWU rankings), or the nationally leading research-intensive university in their country.
- Academic performance equivalent to UNSW First Class Honours (H1e).
- Ideally have one or two first-author publications (published, accepted) in high-quality international journals, preferably Q1 journals
- Preferably demonstrated research excellence through publications, conference presentations, awards, or research experience.
Preference may be given to applicants who are already based in Australia or able to commence their studies onshore.
We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive research environment. We particularly encourage applications from women and candidates from Southeast Asia.
University of New South Wales (UNSW) and the Sydney Vascular Modelling Group (SVMG)
The successful candidate will join the University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney) and the Sydney Vascular Modelling Group (SVMG), an internationally recognised research group at the forefront of cardiovascular engineering, artificial intelligence, computational modelling, digital health, medical devices, and precision cardiovascular medicine.
SVMG brings together engineers, clinicians, data scientists, and industry partners to develop technologies that improve the prediction, diagnosis, and treatment of cardiovascular disease. Our research spans fundamental biomechanics through to clinical translation, commercialisation, and implementation in healthcare.
The successful candidate will be embedded within a highly collaborative, multidisciplinary environment and will have opportunities to work with leading academic, clinical, and industry partners across Australia, Europe, North America, and Asia.
Learn more about our work at:
We are a supportive and ambitious team that values scientific excellence, collaboration, innovation, mentorship, and inclusivity. Our goal is to train not only outstanding researchers but also future leaders in academia, healthcare, and industry.
Application Process
Applicants should send the following to s.beier@unsw.edu.au
- A cover letter outlining their motivation and suitability.
- A CV outlining skills and experience.
- Copies of all academic transcripts.
- Contact details of two referees.
Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
Funding Notes
The UNSW PhD Scholarship covers both course fees and provides a stipend for living expenses. The total scholarship value is ~AUD$40,000 p.a. and is indexed each year.
More information on UNSW PhD Scholarships can be found here: https://www.unsw.edu.au/research/hdr/scholarships.
By applying for this PhD position, the candidate will also apply for a UNSW PhD Scholarship.