A fully funded, full-time, three-year PhD studentship in Digital Health is available in the School of Computing at the Open University.
The project will involve the design, development and evaluation of an innovative digital system to improve health and wellbeing.
Applicants should have a good background in Computing and Human Computer Interaction. Applicants are not expected to have any pre-existing medical knowledge (though this could be an advantage). The project will provide extensive opportunities to acquire any specialised knowledge that may be required, though collaboration with physiotherapists, neuroscientists, interaction designers and hospital clinicians.
The work is expected to draw on two or more of the following elements: HCI, wearables, physical computing, pervasive computing, body-centric computing, IOT, Deep Learning, specialised sensors, motion computing, haptics or any cognate area.
Candidates are expected to have HCI knowledge and skills, or may have hardware/software prototyping skills, or both.
Applicants are welcome to propose research in digital health topics of their own choice, or may opt to extend in new directions our existing innovative work in gait rehabilitation after hemiparetic stroke. For example, our innovative devices for rehabilitation could be re-designed for use at home, or our work on gait rehabilitation could be adapted and extended to other neurological conditions such as brain trauma, Parkinson’s disease or Huntingdon’s disease.
The School of Computing hosts several well-funded projects in Digital Health, including projects with Milton Keynes University Hospital. The school has extensive internal and cross-faculty expertise with specialists including physiotherapists, neuropsychologists, ethnographers, clinicians and medical interaction designers.
Applicants are encouraged to contact Dr Simon Holland (s.holland @ open.ac.uk) for an informal discussion and advice on developing a strong proposal.
To apply, please email Dr Simon Holland (s.holland @ open.ac.uk) and [log in to unmask] with the following:
• a CV with contact details,
• a covering note that summarizes:
- evidence of appropriate knowledge, skills and experience,
- why you want to undertake this particular PhD
and why you would be a good candidate,
• a completed application form.
Applications closing date: 17th March 2017. Interviews early April.
Start date: as soon as possible, following appointment.
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