SAS
PhD study program: Measurement Technology
Academic year: 2026-2027
Advisor: Ing. Jana Švehlíková, PhD. (jana.svehlikova@savba.sk)
External educational institution: Institute of Measurement Science SAS
Accepting university: Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Institute of Electrical Engineering
Each mechanical contraction of the heart muscle with each heartbeat is the result of the propagation of the so-called action potential throughout the heart muscle. It is this electrical activity that is recorded in the well-known ECG examination, which is currently the first choice and most commonly performed heart examination. The main focus of the dissertation will be the modeling and simulation of the heart’s electric field using a computer model of the heart ventricles and torso with realistic geometry obtained from CT imaging. The properties of the ventricular myocardium leading to certain pathologies, such as hypertrophy, ischemic heart disease, or heart failure, will be modeled. Using a simulation of the activation process in the ventricles, the corresponding ECG signal on the torso surface will be calculated, and changes in the ECG signal will be analyzed depending on pathological changes in conduction/electrical activation in the ventricles. The simulation results will be compared in terms of the complexity of the model used, as well as with realistic measurements on patients.
The topic will be covered/conducted in the Institute of Measurement Science, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia.
The applicant is expected to have knowledge of the theory of electromagnetic fields, a positive attitude to mathematics/physics, and the ability to do Matlab programming. Knowledge of professional English and the ability to work with electronic information resources are required. During the study, the Ph.D. student will extend his knowledge of biomeasurements, medical imaging methods, and numerical solving of electromagnetic fields and obtain experience in evaluating simulation experiments and interpreting ECG signals. At the same time, he can get new contacts and cooperation within the international consortium for electrocardiographic imaging https://www.ecg-imaging.org/