Unlock the future of precision cardiology

About the project

About the Project Are you ready to redefine how we understand heart disease? This PhD project at the Auckland Bioengineering Institute (ABI) offers a unique opportunity to sit at the intersection of cutting-edge omics data science and advanced computational physiology. Genetic disturbances, even at the level of a single ion channel, can have catastrophic consequences for the whole person. However, predicting which DNA variants lead to life-threatening arrhythmias remains one of the greatest challenges in modern medicine. This project seeks to solve that puzzle by developing a high-fidelity, multi-scale systems model of the human heart. As a doctoral researcher, you will critically evaluate and harness diverse "big data" from international repositories. This includes exploring genomic resources such as the ClinVar database (hosted by the United States National Library of Medicine) alongside other emerging omics and functional datasets. By synthesizing these complex genetic insights with high-resolution patch-clamp data, you will bridge the gap between molecular biology and clinical cardiology. You won't just look at cells; you will build the biophysical, energy conserving, mathematical modelling framework from the molecular level to the organ level, simulating how microscopic changes in electrophysiology propagate through cardiac tissue to manifest as clinical phenotypes at the whole-person level. This work is at the forefront of the digital twin revolution. You will develop a virtual environment to investigate the phenotypic consequences of genetic disturbances, providing a powerful platform to test how specific DNA variants affect a patient's cardiac rhythm. By joining our world-leading research environment at ABI, you will help transform the future of personalized medicine. This project is a chance to lead the charge in multi-scale cardiac modeling, turning raw genetic data into actionable physiological insight and helping to predict the functional impact of the human genome. Desired skills We are looking for a highly motivated candidate with a background in Bioengineering, Computational Biology, or Physics. You should have a passion for coding, a deep curiosity about human electrophysiology, and the drive to contribute to a project with real-world clinical impact. By joining our world-leading research environment at ABI, you will help transform the future of personalized cardiology, turning raw genetic data into actionable physiological insight. Apply now to lead the charge in multi-scale cardiac modelling. Find out more about this project and other projects on our website here. The Auckland Bioengineering Institute - breaking boundaries in bioengineering for more than 20 years At the Auckland Bioengineering Institute (ABI), we apply engineering and technical innovation to advancing medical care, human capability, and understanding of human physiology. Our team of world-renowned researchers are working on everything from artificial intelligence avatars, to implantable devices, to digital models of the human body. Our focus on research excellence and commercialisation adds value to society and to the global economy. Our research makes a real difference in the world. We’ve designed sensors to diagnose stomach disease without needing invasive surgery; developed a tiny wireless implantable device to measure brain pressure and save the lives of children with hydrocephalus; and we lead the world in building digital models of the human body which will enhance personalised medicine approaches for improved diagnosis and treatment. Join our team of researchers for a postgraduate degree and together we can make a difference. Our graduates are amongst the most employable in the world - many either continue their career in research, find employment with industry leaders such as Rocket Lab or Fisher & Paykel, or launch their own startup companies. Our students come from over 50 different countries and a wide range of backgrounds and disciplines, including Engineering, Medicine, Mathematics and Science. Want to know what our students think about studying at the ABI? Watch this video!

Research areas