Dissertation topics suggested by the teacher.
Thesis topics proposed by the lecturer.
For the academic year 2025-26, the following thesis projects are available for the master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, curriculum Biomechanics.
Theses available at the DIN department, in collaboration with Prof Palanca:
1. Models of vertebrae with metastasis in the same position with respect to the vertebral body, same size but different shapes (sphericity)
2. Validation of microFE models of human metastatic vertebrae
3. Validation of hFE models of human metastatic vertebrae
4. Effect of failure of horizontal or vertical trabeculae on the stiffness of vertebrae
5. Dinamic characterization of the Intervertebral disc
6. Evaluation of the failure strain of the single trabeculae
Theses available at national and foreign companies and research centres.
These theses have Prof. Viceconti as primary supervisor. Some opportunities are listed below:
1) At the Medical Technology Laboratory IRCCS Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute. Prediction of bone fracture risk – co-tutor: Dr Antonino La Mattina. Bone-prosthesis interaction – co-tutor: Dr Cristina Curreli.
Possible titles:
- Finite element simulations to estimate wear in dual mobility hip replacements
- Subject-specific kinematic analysis of an implanted ankle joint
- Finite element simulations to estimate wear in knee prostheses under in vivo load and kinematics conditions
- Creation of finite element models for the prediction of fractures in femur affected by metastases
- Musculoskeletal and finite element simulations to estimate the risk of fracture of the spine of the scapula following the implantation of a reverse shoulder prosthesis
3) Thesis and internships in industry at Medacta International [https://www.medacta.com/] SA, Rancate (Switzerland). (co-tutor: Ing. Daniele Ascani).
4) Thesis and internships at the Centre for Biomedical Technologies [https://research.qut.edu.au/cbt/] of the Queensland University of Technology (Australia), (co-tutor: Prof. Saulo Martelli [https://www.qut.edu.au/about/our-people/academic-profiles/saulo.martelli] ). Given the high travel costs, it is recommended to explore scholarships. QUT itself finances some for foreign students. Possible titles:
- The geometric constraint of motor control: defining the control space of human movement
- InSilico clinical trials of exercise intervention
5) Thesis and internships at the Vigorso Prosthesis Center of Budrio of INAIL (co-tutor: Dr. Emanuele Gruppioni)
6) Thesis and internship at Zimmer Biomet, Winterthur (CH) (co-tutor: Dr. Philippe Favre).
7) Internships and theses at the Insigneo Institute for In Silico Medicine [https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/insigneo] of the University of Sheffield (UK) (co-tutor: Dr. Pinaki Bhattacharya [https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/mac/people/mech-eng-academic-staff/pinaki-bhattacharya] ). Thesis projects in computational biomechanics of mineralized tissues.
8) Thesis with internship on various topics at Technogym, Cesena. (co-tutor: Dr. Luca Zoffoli)
