Career opportunities

The Post-Doc Fellow will contribute to a novel clinical trial investigating the efficacy and potency of daily acute intermittent hypoxia combined with transcutaneous electrical spinal stimulation and skill-based walking practice in individuals with spinal cord injury. The position is supported by the NIH. A successful applicant should have a background in biomedical research, engineering, neuroscience, biomechanics, or a related discipline with knowledge or interest in physiology, rehabilitation, and biomedical/clinical principles. Ideal candidates would also have strong computational and statistical skills. A moderate level of independence will be expected, including the ability to mentor undergraduate and graduate students. Previous experience with electrical stimulation techniques and analyzing physiological sensor-based data (such as from EMG, ECG, accelerometers, or gyroscopes) is strongly preferred. The Post Doctoral Fellow will consistently demonstrate support of the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab statement of Vision, Mission and Core Values by striving for excellence, contributing to the team efforts and showing respect and compassion for patients and their families, fellow employees, and all others with whom there is contact at or in the interest of the institute. The Post Doctoral Fellow will demonstrate Shirley Ryan AbilityLab Core Attributes: Communication, Accountability, Flexibility/Adaptability, Judgment/Problem Solving, Customer Service and Core Values (Hope, Compassion, Discovery, Collaboration, and Commitment to Excellence) while fulfilling job duties.

Principal Responsibilities

The Post Doctoral Fellow will: Design, execute, and interpret research pertaining to neuromodulation and electrical stimulation. Assist with development of collaborative projects within and outside the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab and test ideas for new project development. Apply for fellowships and grants for external lab funding and career development. Develop, submit and publish the results of research projects in high quality journals and present data to public conferences/seminars when needed. Participate weekly lab meetings, journal clubs and seminars. Build and maintain a well-organized and accountable journal of own laboratory protocols, experiments, results and analyses. Perform all other duties that may be assigned in the best interest of the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab.

Required Experience

Doctoral degree (PhD) and relevant research experience in biomedical engineering, neuroscience, rehabilitation science, or a related field. Less than 2 years of postdoctoral training. Excellent oral and written communication skills in English. Proficiency in analytical and statistical skills to execute appropriate tests and interpret results. Ability to work closely with patients, clinicians, research team members, and professional organizations. Strong interpersonal and organizational skills needed to participate as a creative member of a growing research team. Willingness to network within the organization and to independently strengthen/develop new external collaborations. Ability to make timely plans and to coordinate project completions. Experience with electrical stimulation techniques and EMG signal processing is strongly preferred.

This is a hugely impactful role that has the potential to significant improve the quality of life of those with spinal cord injury.

This exciting project is supported by the INSPIRE foundation sits within the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering at the University of Bath and is in collaboration with Oxford University Hospitals Trust, and the University of Bristol.

The Department of Electronical and Electrical Engineering holds a Bronze Award for the Athena SWAN scheme, which promotes gender equality among all disciplines. We particularly encourage applications from under-represented groups.

This role is fixed term starting ASAP with an expected duration of 12 months.

For informal enquires please contact Dr Benjamin Metcalfe via bwm23@bath.ac.uk

What we can offer you:

• a very generous employer contributory pension scheme
• generous annual leave allowance with an additional 5 discretionary days so that you can enjoy a positive work life balance
• we are a family-friendly University and with an increasingly agile workforce, are open to flexible working arrangements
• an excellent reward package that recognises the talents of our diverse workforce
• a wide range of personal and professional development opportunities
• a number of support options available for new and existing staff to help with the cost of some immigration expenses which you may be eligible for: Relocation allowance, Visa Reimbursement, Interest-Free Loan.

We aim to be an inclusive university, where difference is celebrated, respected and encouraged. We have an excellent international reputation with staff from over 60 different nations and have made a positive commitment towards gender equality and intersectionality receiving a Silver Athena SWAN award. We truly believe that diversity of experience, perspectives, and backgrounds will lead to a better environment for our employees and students, so we encourage applications from all genders, backgrounds, and communities, particularly from under-represented groups, and value the positive impact that will have on our teams. 

We are very proud to be an autism friendly university and are an accredited Disability Confident Leader; committed to building disability confidence and supporting disabled staff.

Find out from our staff what makes the University of Bath a great place to work. Follow us @UniofBath and @UniofBathJobs on Twitter for more information.

The thesis will be structured around three main axes:

• Analysis of the evolution of motor capacities in children with cerebral palsy

The thesis will define relevant biomarkers for analyzing the quality of walking in children with cerebral palsy (kinematics/dynamics) and extract them automatically from the raw data available on the GRAIL movement analysis system. These biomarkers will be a valuable tool to analyze the evolution of walking during the child’s growth and the effects of rehabilitation.
Different solutions will be studied and compared to extract this information (learning, dynamic modeling…).
Other tools are available and will be used to objectify motor progress, so the thesis will focus on proposing a complete evaluation framework combining these different tools: isokinetics, force platforms, motion capture, electromyography, etc. The PhD student will develop new methodological solutions in the field of signal processing and biomechanics (modeling / reconstruction of human movement)

• Gait assistance

 Biomarkers will need to be available in real time while using the GRAIL platform in order to control the triggering of electrical stimulation to assist walking. A software interface will be developed to facilitate interaction between the clinician and the assistance system. The aim will be to explore and optimize the impact of electrical stimulation of a given muscle group according to a given pattern on these biomarkers. Advanced control laws will be explored in order to optimize and individualize the assistance of electrical stimulation to correct gait defects in a precise and targeted manner. These control laws will adapt the parameters of the electrical stimulation (timing and pulse width) according to the measurements provided by the gait platform and the clinicians’ instructions.

• Training at home

In addition to punctual assistance by functional electrical stimulation on a treadmill, the thesis will also be interested in proposing a protocol for playful functional rehabilitation at home for children. Thus, pedaling on an ergocycle combined with FES will be proposed. Indeed, pedaling under SEF seems to generate various beneficial physiological actions for the patients, in particular a reduction in muscle spasticity. The objective is to develop an ergocycle platform from commercial components in order to allow the child to pedal with the help of electrical stimulation, at home and on a regular basis, based on previous work carried out by the CAMIN team. The use and development of virtual immersion applications will also maximise adherence to the protocol and compliance with the paediatric subject, by providing a fun and interactive dimension.
A clinical protocol will allow us to evaluate the evolution of the gait patterns thanks to the analysis tools and by referring to the biomarkers presented above.

This thesis should therefore make it possible to define a complete framework for the management of children with sensory-motor deficiencies, ranging from muscular preparation at home to the evaluation of gait parameters, including real-time assistance for locomotion. The thesis aims to develop viable technological solutions adapted to the child, paving the way for the creation of an adapted and novel device.

We anticipate the possibility of industrializing these results (transfer or creation of a startup).

Main activities

1. State of the art in the management of children with CP for gait assistance T0 to T6
2. Development of a methodology for the objective evaluation of the effects of a rehabilitation modality on the quality of walking (isokinetism, GRAIL…)
   Identify the clinical need and formalise the specifications
   Theoretical and technical tools envisaged: (AQM GRAIL, Spirometry, EMG, cardiofrequency meter, external Phidget devices)
   Indicators: (spatio-temporal parameters of walking, joint amplitude, respiratory and cardiac physiological parameters, endurance, muscular activity) T6 to T18
   
3. Design of a home gait rehabilitation protocol based on pedalling assisted by functional electrical stimulation (paediatric ergocycle) and virtual reality. The pedalling will be done on a connected “home trainer” device, to encourage the child’s adherence to the protocol, by giving a playful character to the training. Development of the technical solution and software tools for the use of the technologies by the users (clinicians and families). Deployment of the protocol, collection and processing of experimental data. T6 to T24
4. Development of a solution (control-command algorithms) for the application of SEF during treadmill walking (Motek GRAIL) in virtual immersion adapted to each pathology studied. T24 to T36
   
5. Software development of personalized walking rehabilitation applications (Motek D-Flow software) in virtual immersion with real-time feedback. T18 to T36

The thesis will be based on a series of clinical protocols that will be submitted to a CPP ethics committee and to the ANSM as required by legislation.

– Thesis supervisor: Christine Azevedo Coste, research director, head of the CAMIN team, expert in motion assistance technologies.
– Co-supervisor Institut St Pierre : Benoît Sijobert (PhD), R&D project leader Institut St Pierre, Fabmanager Humanlab St Pierre.
– Institut St Pierre referent: Dr Karine Patte (PhD), chief physician, physical and rehabilitation medicine.

This thesis has a clinical application and a clinical, technological or even fundamental research dimension in neurophysiology… The ambition of the project is based on solid competences and the complementarity of each member of this team.

Skills

• Required skills
• Programming, mastery of at least 1 programming language (C++, Python, Matlab, …),
• Knowledge in signal processing
• Ability to read, write, and present in French and English

Benefits package

• Subsidized meals
• Partial reimbursement of public transport costs
• Leave: 7 weeks of annual leave + 10 extra days off due to RTT (statutory reduction in working hours) + possibility of exceptional leave (sick children, moving home, etc.)
• Possibility of teleworking and flexible organization of working hours
• Professional equipment available (videoconferencing, loan of computer equipment, etc.)
• Social, cultural and sports events and activities
• Access to vocational training
• Contribution to mutual insurance (subject to conditions)

Remuneration

Duration: 36 months
Location: Sophia Antipolis, France
Gross Salary per month: 2051€ brut per month (year 1 & 2) and 2158€ brut per month (year 3)

The study is
evaluating the effect of FES on Bradykinesia in people who have Parkinson’s. This is a follow-on project from the feasibility study STEPS. Please see: https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/444785/ . STEPS II is a 7 site RCT, which aims to recruit 234 participants. The study will compare FES with usual care with usual care alone. STEPS II will run until mid 2026, after which the post holder will continue working in related FES research. The clinical FES responsibilities of this role are to deliver FES treatment for lower and upper limb management of stroke, MS, SCI, CP, and other neurological conditions. The post requires experience in neurological physiotherapy and while FES experience is an advantage, training can be provided. There will be an opportunity to contribute to the development of new FES techniques and to promote FES through participation in training of FES clinicians, conferences and exhibitions.
Odstock Medical Limited is a subsidiary company of Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust. It was established in 2005 to provide FES treatment and further the FES research developed within the Trust. The team set up the first clinical FES service in the UK and through its training courses have established FES as a standard treatment in the NHS. Its research has contributed to NICE (IPG278) RCP and ACPIN guidelines.

For more information about OML please see: https://www.odstockmedical.com.
For more information about STEPS II please see: https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/research/penctu/steps-2