An Investigation into Diagnosis of Dementia from Analysis of Behavioural Patterns using Computational Intelligence Techniques

The project aims to investigate means of identifying dementia in its early stages using quantitative sensor data gathered from the home environment and wearable sensors. The data collected, which indicates the behavioural/motion patterns, will be gathered at intervals over a period of months. This monitoring and data collection will be applied to both a control group and a group of the elderly who have already been given a tentative diagnosis of cognitive impairment. The project will in particular rely on behavioural/motion patterns, as output of automatic sensing, to supply the medical expert with an evidence-based assessment of the state of the person under observation. This project requires that the candidate is keen to learn different subject areas including modelling and predicting of behaviour in the home environment, application of Wireless Sensor Networks and data analytics techniques namely Computational Intelligence (fuzzy rule-based systems) and statistical methods (hidden Markov model).

You can find more information about our current research in this area from Computational Intelligence and Applicants research group web site

(http://www.ntu.ac.uk/apps/research/groups/22/home.aspx/group/149741/overview/computational_intelligence_and_applications_research_group_(cia)).

The Supervisory team will comprise Director of Studies: Dr Ahmad Lotfi and Co-Supervisors: Dr Caroline Langensiepen and Dr Kofi Appiah.

Entry requirements
Candidates will be expected to hold a Master’s degree with a minimum of a merit, and/or a UK 1st Class/2.1 Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Mathematics, Electronic or Control Engineering or related discipline.

Applications will only be accepted from new applicants. Current students who are already registered for a PhD are not eligible to apply.

Award
The studentships will pay UK/EU fees and provide a maintenance stipend linked to the RCUK rate (currently £13,726 per annum) for up to three years. Applications from non-EU students are welcome, but a successful candidate would be responsible for paying the difference between non-EU and UK/EU fees. (Full-time Fees for 2014/15 are £12,000 for non-EU students and £3,996 for UK/EU students )

Eligibility
Applications can be accepted from UK/EU and also International students. The minimum English language proficiency requirement for candidates who have not undertaken a higher degree at a UK HE institution is IELTS 6.5 (with no element to be below 6.0, for non-EU students) or TOEFL 560/iBT 94 – 95 (for EU students).

Applying
For informal enquiries about the studentship, please contact Dr Ahmad Lotfi –[Email Address Removed].
To download an application pack, please visit http://www.ntu.ac.uk/research/graduate_school/studentships/index.html
Please return completed application forms, with copies of academic certificates, to:
[Email Address Removed]

The closing date for receipt of completed application forms plus CVs is 12 noon Monday 23rd March 2015. Application by CV only will not be accepted. Interviews are likely to take place week starting April 13th.