PhD Studentship in Biomedical Engineering

Post Summary

Applications are invited for a highly motivated PhD student to join an exciting new project that will use high density electromyography (EMG) and electroencephalography (EEG) to examine changes in neuroelectric signalling in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). This is a 4-year studentship funded by the Trinity Research Doctorate Award.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as motor neuron disease, is a nervous system disease that causes a progressive loss of muscle control. One of the major challenges in the diagnosis and assessment of ALS is the lack of biomarkers to quantify changes in motor function. Recently, research from Academic Unit of Neurology (AUoN) in Trinity College Dublin has shown that information from signals recorded from the brain (EEG) and muscle (EMG) can identify distinct differences in sensorimotor network function in motor neuron diseases (doi: 10.1093/brain/awab322; doi: 10.1093/cercor/bhad152). This project will examine whether features of high density surface EMG signals can be used to detect early signs of motor unit dysfunction.

In this role the successful candidate will use dimension reduction techniques and nonlinear dynamic measures to examine the high density EMG structure. The aim of the project is to assess whether features of the high density EMG signals can sensitively detect subtle signs of motor unit degeneration in people with ALS. To address this aim, the high density EMG analysis will first be refined and tested using simulated data and data from healthy participants, before being applied to signals recorded in people with ALS.

The candidate will join a dynamic and growing team of researchers at the EXG Research Group under the supervision of Dr Lara McManus, hosted in the Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute 's AUoN. AUoN is a multidisciplinary research group consisting of experts in clinical management, cognition, advanced neuroimaging, epidemiology, and genetics of ALS. The student will work alongside this growing group of ALS researchers and will be able to draw on the clinical and engineering expertise within AUoN.

This position has a required start date of the 1st September 2024, and interviews are expected to take place in April/May 2024.

Please note that Garda vetting will be sought in respect of individuals who come under consideration for this post. 

Application Procedure

Applicants should submit:

• A cover letter, to include specific details and evidence of relevant experience/skills and the motivation for pursuing this research area (~1 page)
• Transcripts for all undergraduate and postgraduate courses to date and copies of degree certificates (or equivalent) to show the degree has been or will be awarded
• A full Curriculum Vitae
• Evidence of English language proficiency if required (see www.tcd.ie/study/apply/admission-requirements/postgraduate/)

Application emails should be addressed to:

The applications are required to be submitted as one e-mail with all the requested documents attached in PDF format.

Please quote the following in the subject heading of the emailed application:

“Application for Trinity Research Doctorate PhD Position”

Specific queries about the role can be directed to Dr Lara McManus at  

At Trinity, we are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion. Trinity welcomes applications from all individuals, including those applicants with disabilities, those who may have had non-traditional career paths, those who have taken time out for reasons including family or caring responsibilities. We also welcome international applicants including those whom have been displaced due to war.

We are ranked 3rd in the world for gender equality (Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2020) and we hold an Athena SWAN Bronze award, recognising our work to advance gender equality. The University is actively pursuing a Silver level award, which it has committed to achieving by 2025. Trinity is committed to supporting the work-life balance and to creating a family-friendly working environment