PhD Studentship: SuS-Tex Research Cluster: User-centric Application Design for Super-smart Textiles

Access to healthcare is an ever-increasing global issue. Over 15% of current global population require rehabilitation care, but majority of them do not receive healthcare access.

Remote monitoring of human movements and physiological parameters is critical for future healthcare, since this can enable pivotal solutions like telerehabilitation and telemedicine that can significantly increase healthcare access. Further, such technologies can facilitate remote training and performance enhancement for athletes.

Developing accurate, low-cost, comfortable technologies for monitoring of body movements and physiological parameters is extremely challenging. Existing technologies are often bulky, expensive, need recharging, contain limited range and are uncomfortable to wear.

The SuS-Tex research cluster develops pioneering wearable technologies for accurate, unobtrusive, comfortable, self-powered and low-cost monitoring of body movements and physiological parameters. This brings together world-class expertise in textiles, materials, soft robotics, sports, healthcare, machine learning and AI, with globally leading industrial and academic partners.

Your Project

The project focusses on the healthcare and sports application development related to super-smart textiles and other wearable electronic technologies. This incorporates the user-centric design considerations, biomechanical aspects related to wearable sensing, and optimisation of sensors and wearable electronics for selected healthcare and sports applications.

Your Group

This project is part of the prestigious Loughborough University Vice Chancellor’s PhD Cluster – Super-Smart Textiles (SuS-Tex) for Healthcare and Sports. The Doctoral Researcher will join a cohort of 5 Researchers belonging to the SuS-Tex cluster working on highly transdisciplinary topics in this area, and the wider wearable technologies research community at Loughborough University and beyond. The successful candidates will benefit from the world-class expertise and supervision, customised training programs, networking, outreach and career development opportunities, in addition to the standard training and development opportunities of the university.

Loughborough University has been ranked number one in the world for sport-related subjects for nine consecutive years. You will benefit from newly established state-of-the-art Smart Textiles lab facilities and work alongside a team of senior academics and doctoral researchers. We strongly encourage applicants from a diverse range of backgrounds, cultures, genders or from people with a disability.

Your Supervisors

Dr Stuart McErlain-Naylor is a Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Biomechanics and is Vice President (Publications) of the International Society of Biomechanics in Sports. Prof Andy Harland is a Professor of Sports Technology and Director of the Sports Technology Institute. Dr Chetna Prajapati is a Senior Lecturer in Textiles in the School of Design and Creative Arts.

Entry requirements:

Applicants should have, or expect to achieve, at least a 2:1 bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in
biomechanics, sport science, engineering (e.g.: mechanical, electrical, electronic, materials) or a related subject. A relevant master’s degree and/or experience in the use of wearable technology will be an advantage but not essential.

English language requirements:

Applicants must meet the minimum English language requirements. Further details are available on the International website (http://www.lboro.ac.uk/international/applicants/english/).

Funding information:

The studentship is for 3-years and provides a minimum tax-free stipend of £19,237 per annum for the duration of the studentship plus university tuition fees.

How to apply

All applications should be made online via the above ‘Apply’ button. Under programme name, select SSEHS. Please quote the advertised reference number: SSEHS/SMN25 in your application.

To avoid delays in processing your application, please ensure that you submit the minimum supporting documents.

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