Image analysis of osteocyte networks in bone

Overview

Bone tissue contains a dense network of cells called osteocytes. The osteocyte network in bone is a built-in mechanical processing unit that controls when and where bone needs to be added, replaced, mineralised, or removed throughout our life. There is still much uncertainty about how the architecture of the osteocyte network is generated and how it achieves regulatory control of bone.

In this project, you will develop new image analysis tools tailored to the osteocyte network to analyse how it grows, and gain insights into its control functions. You will work with new high-fidelity 3D images of bone samples that exhibit both the architecture of the osteocyte network and the structure of new bone tissue created during bone formation. The tools you will develop and apply to the experimental data will be based on mathematical models of the evolution of the bone surfaces during bone formation, pair correlations functions of osteocyte positions, and network branching metrics.

Research engagement

You will be exposed to leading-edge research from the literature, unprecedented 3D imaging data of osteocyte networks, and develop novel mathematical and computational image analysis tools to help analyse the data.

Research activities

You will work closely and meet regularly with the supervisory team to carry out all aspects of the project, including engaging with key literature, developing new mathematical models, performing mathematical and numerical analyses of novel experimental data and interpreting results.

Research skills

Research skills you will acquire include reading and understanding specialised literature on mathematical analyses, network metrics, and point position data in biological systems. You will also learn to apply established and novel mathematical analyses, and critically analysing results obtained. You will develop skills in presenting your results to a general and specialist audience. This project will involve interdisciplinary collaboration with international researchers.

Outcomes

The outcomes of this projects are new understandings of the generation of the osteocyte network in bone, which has important implications for how bone is responding to mechanical loads, and how it regulates mineral homeostasis.

Skills and experience

This project can be tailored to suit research students at VRES, Honours, Masters, and PhD level. Some proficiency in computer modelling is expected. No prior knowledge of biology is required.

Start date

2 November, 2026

End date

19 February, 2027

Location

Gardens Point, QUT

Additional information

The supervisory team may take some leave over the summer break. Suitable dates will be arranged within this period.

Keywords

• Mechanobiology
• Tissue growth
• Biomechanics
• Network growth

Contact

Pascal Buenzli

x81558

pascal.buenzli@qut.edu.au