PhD project in Development of wearable solutions to monitor lower limb health in daily living
PhD @University of Southampton posted 1 day agoJob Description
About the project
This project will employ advanced engineering methods, including data mining, signal processing, and machine learning based on our advanced wearable sensors, to detect gait disorders.
This interdisciplinary research aims to deliver critical outcomes that will underpin future healthcare monitoring systems and its potential integration of the Internet of Medical Things.
Millions of people globally suffer from lower limb musculoskeletal (MSK) impairments, particularly those related to foot and ankle health, leading to significant issues such as immobility, imbalance, and overall physical dysfunction. Prolonged disorders or immobility can exacerbate MSK conditions, including plantar tissue damage, muscle atrophy, joint stiffness, and even amputations, severely impacting quality of life. Chronic health conditions such as diabetic neuropathy, Parkinson’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and neurological damage from events like strokes often contribute to these impairments. These conditions frequently manifest as gait disorders, which progressively worsen over time compared to healthy gait patterns. Wearable technology has emerged as a critical tool for diagnosing and monitoring these disorders in daily living environments.
This project aims to develop continuous monitoring solutions based on wearable insole sensors to aid gait analysis, activity monitoring, and abnormality detection in pathological gait, such as in individuals with diabetes. This interdisciplinary project involves research activities in the development of embedded wearable sensor systems, advanced signal processing, and machine learning, supported by innovative foot biomechanical studies. The project builds upon the extensive research expertise of our dynamic research group at the School of Engineering, as well as strong collaborations with MSK health scientists, offering unique interdisciplinary opportunities for students. This will not only provide the candidate with the specific training required for the project but also equip them with highly sought-after interdisciplinary research and technical skills, essential for the rapidly evolving field of healthcare technologies.
The student will receive training in foot and ankle biomechanics, as well as in the use of wearable sensor data for biomechanical assessment. This training will be provided by the primary supervisor’s dynamic research group, which specializes in the development of medical devices and systems for healthcare. Interdisciplinary training in foot and ankle biomechanics can also be offered by clinical co-supervisors with expertise in musculoskeletal health.
Entry requirements
You must have a UK 2:1 honours degree or its international equivalent.
Candidates should have skills, experience, or a strong interest in one or more of the following areas of embedded systems:
- signal processing
- machine learning
- biomechanics
- biomedical engineering
Experience or interest in programming languages, is also required.
Fees and funding
We offer a range of funding opportunities for both UK and Horizon Europe students.
Horizon Europe fee waivers automatically cover the difference between overseas and UK fees for qualifying students.
To learn about funding opportunities visit our Doctoral College scholarships and bursaries information.
Funding will be awarded on a rolling basis, so apply early for the best opportunity to be considered.
How to apply
You need to:
- choose programme type (Research), 2025/26, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences
- select Full time or Part time
- choose the relevant PhD in Engineering
- add name of the supervisor in section 2
Applications should include:
- a personal statement
- your CV (resumé)
- 2 reference letters
- degree transcripts to date
Contact us
Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences
If you have a general question, email our doctoral college (feps-pgr-apply@soton.ac.uk).
Project leader
For an initial conversation, email Professor Liudi Jiang (L.Jiang@soton.ac.uk).
