PhD Studentship: Characterising and Validating Turn Strategies in the Real-world in People with Parkinson’s Disease

Award summary

100% of Home tuition fees paid and annual living expenses of £18,622 (full award). International applicants are welcome to apply but successful international candidates will be required to make up the difference between the home fees and international fees.

Overview

Wearable technology may be deployed in the real-world for monitoring functional mobility in people with Parkinson’s disease (PD). This PhD provides an exciting opportunity to work with a multidisciplinary team from the NIHR Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre Digital Health, Ageing Innovation and Inclusion theme  and Brain and Movement Research Group  who have an established international reputation in gait analysis and digital health. The team are based at the Clinical Ageing Research Unit  and The Catalyst . 

You will work as part of an EPSRC-funded research programme: “Transforming the Objective Real-world measUrement of Symptoms” (TORUS ). The PhD will: 1.develop and validate an algorithm for characterising turn strategy; 2.evaluate the daily architecture of gait and turning in the real-world; 3.explore the utility of home-based technologies for evaluating turning in people with PD, and 4.publish and present key findings. 

The PhD student will be mentored by experienced members of academic staff at the Translational and Clinical Research Institute  and will have the opportunity to undertake relevant training.

Number of awards: 1

Start date: 16th September 2024

Award duration: 3 years

Sponsor: NIHR BRC Digital Health, Ageing & Inclusion theme 

Supervisors:

Dr Alcock  (turning/biomechanics)  

Dr Scott (technical validation) 

Dr Del Din  (digital health)  

Professor Rochester  (movement disorders)  

Eligibility criteria

• This award is available to UK/EU applicants. 

Essential qualifications

• At least a 2:1 honours degree or international equivalent, in Biomedical Engineering, Movement Science, Computer Science, Statistics or related discipline (completed or completion within 6-months of interview).  
• Expertise in movement analysis, wearable sensors and developing algorithms/analytics. 
• Expertise in signal processing and high-level computer programming languages. 
• Knowledge of statistical techniques 
• English Language requirements: IELTS 6.5 overall (minimum of 5.5 in all other sub-skills). 

Desirable 

• MRes/ MSci in a relevant discipline  
• Knowledge of movement analysis  
• Knowledge of ML techniques 
• Experience of working with older adults/ people with PD

How to apply

You must apply through the University’s Apply to Newcastle Portal

In ‘Course choice’ tab, put ‘Postgraduate Research’ in 'Type of Study', ‘Full Time’ in ‘Mode of Study’, ‘2024’ in ‘Year of Entry’, code ‘8440F’ in ‘Course Title’, blank in ‘Research Area’. Press ‘Search’, select ‘PhD Translational and Clinical Research (FT)’, and save selection.

Either upload a document or write into ‘Personal Statement’. Put code ‘TC092’ in ‘Studentship/Partnership Reference’. When prompted for research proposal, select ‘Write Proposal’. Type in the title of the research project from this advert. A research proposal is not required. Please upload a covering letter, CV and state how your interests and experience relate to the project.

Degree transcripts/certificates and, if English is not your first language, a copy of your English language qualification if completed must be uploaded.

Contact details: Dr. Lisa Alcock