Call for applications for a fully financed PhD fellowship
Orthopaedic fixation traditionally relies on metallic implants to stabilize fractures and reconstruct skeletal defects. Although effective, these implants can lead to infection, implant irritation, and imaging artefacts that complicate postoperative evaluation. The INTERLOCK programme proposes geometry-driven skeletal stabilization using robot-guided laser osteotomies capable of generating complementary interlocking bone geometries without permanent implants.
The cellular bone healing process involves a temporary callus formation by chondroblasts and followed by a coordinated remodeling activity of osteoclasts, osteoblasts and osteoprogenitors within basic multicellular units (BMUs) forming a new bone with embedded osteocytes.
Recent advances in correlative three-dimensional (3D) histology and multiscale X-ray imaging allow bone remodelling to be investigated across multiple spatial scales, including the organization of BMUs, and the matrix-embedded osteocyte lacunae and canalicular networks.
Interlocking laser osteotomies support physiological bone healing without permanent implants.
To characterize the local cellular processes during healing of interlocking robot-guided laser osteotomies versus conventional fixation.
Aim 1. Map the cellular healing processes of osteotomies subjected to conventional fixation in 3D by combined µCT and histology
Aim 2. Compare the cellular healing responses between different interlocking osteotomies and conventional fixation.
Aim 3. Compare the osteocyte lacunae-canalicular networks in newly formed bone between different interlocking osteotomies and conventional fixation using nano-CT imaging.
Aim 4. Trace the healing process of a selected interlocking versus conventional fixated osteotomies using 4D time-lapse synchrotron radiation µCT and histology.
Experimental design.
A preclinical rabbit model of bone reconstruction will be used. Animals will undergo standardized segmental osteotomies followed by conventional plate fixation or interlocking osteotomies using a robot-guided cold-ablation laser system.
Animals will be sacrificed at predefined healing time points to allow ex vivo imaging, biomechanics and 3D histology. In Aim 4, the animals will in addition be subjected to in vivo time-lapse synchrotron radiation µCT in Canada.
Main supervisor: Thomas Levin Andersen, PhD, Professor Department of Forensic Medicine, Aarhus University
Co-supervisors:
Thomas Baad-Hansen, MD, PhD, Professor, Aarhus University
David Cooper, PhD, Professor, University of Saskatchewan
Jesper Skovhus, PhD, Professor, Aarhus University
Henrik Birkedal, PhD, Professor, Aarhus University
Marta Diaz del-Castillo, PhD, Assistant Professor, Aarhus University
Please submit your application via this link. Application deadline is 1 April 2026 23:59 CET. Preferred starting date is 1 May 2026 (or when possible)
For information about application requirements and mandatory attachments, please see our application guide.
Please contact Professor Thomas Levin Geiser Andersen, tlga@forens.au.dk for more information.
All interested candidates are encouraged to apply, regardless of their personal background. Salary and terms of employment are in accordance with applicable collective agreement.
