PhD Studentship: New generation neuromusculoskeletal computational modelling for digital patient

Location: Streatham Campus, Exeter

The University of Exeter’s Department of Engineering is inviting applications for a fully-funded PhD studentship. The studentship can commence in December 2023 or as soon as possible thereafter. For eligible students the studentship will cover Home or International tuition fees plus an annual tax-free stipend of at least £18,622 for 3.5 years full-time, or pro rata for part-time study. The student would be based in the Department of Engineering in the Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy at the Streatham Campus in Exeter.

Project description:

Globally, approximately 20-33% of the population suffers from painful musculoskeletal disorders. While recent advancements in rehabilitation devices and research show promise in predicting, understanding, and restoring human function, there is a need for further investigation to fully comprehend the interaction between humans and these devices. Neuromusculoskeletal computational modelling has the potential to serve as a valuable tool for informing the design of rehabilitation devices and understanding the human-device interaction. By combing the neural control techniques and musculoskeletal models, the neuromusculoskeletal modelling can capture the features and functionalities of the motor control system to mimic human neuromechanical behaviour. The aims of this project are to develop an advanced neuromusculoskeletal computational modelling that combines neural control techniques and musculoskeletal models, and based on the neuromusculoskeletal modelling, to develop a digital patient model that can predict the patient’s locomotion and human function based on the sensor data collected from wearable devices.

The main innovation of the neuromusculoskeletal modelling and digital patient system is that they can be used not only in laboratory settings but also in out-of-the-lab conditions, which will be used in designing and developing novel rehabilitation devices, such as orthotics, prosthetics and exoskeleton. The neuromusculoskeletal modelling will also be used to analyse the muscle function and dysfunction during human movements and sport exercise, and to understand the mechanisms and identify the risk of lower limb injuries.

The PhD candidate will be part of a team of academic researchers working in the fields of numerical modelling and additive manufacturing. Moreover, the project will offer the opportunity to interact with industrial partners as well as to travel for conferences and research stays with international academic collaborators. Candidates are expected to have a strong background in mechanics, numerical modelling, additive manufacturing as well as some coding experience.

The award:

This award provides annual funding to cover Home or International tuition fees plus at least £18,622 per year tax-free stipend. The studentship will be awarded on the basis of merit for 3.5 years of full-time study to commence on 01 December 2023 or as soon as possible thereafter International applicants need to be aware that you will have to cover the cost of your student visa, healthcare surcharge and other costs of moving to the UK to do a PhD.

For further information on the project, please contact Dr Xijin Hua, e-mail: x.hua@exeter.ac.uk.

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