Dr J Shippen
Applications accepted all year round
Self-Funded PhD Students Only
About the Project
Duration: Full Time 3 years fixed term (Starting September 2016)
Application deadline: Ongoing
Informal enquiries are essential before application; contact Dr. James Shippen to discuss this opportunity.
Congratulations on taking your first steps toward a Research Degree with Coventry’s Faculty of Engineering, Environment and Computing. As an ambitious and innovative University, we’re investing an initial £100m into our new research strategy, ‘Excellence with Impact’. Through original approaches from world-leading experts, we’re aiming for our research to make a tangible difference to the way we live. As a research student you are an integral part of Coventry’s lively and diverse research community and contribute to our reputation for excellence. With our exceptional facilities and superb support mechanisms you are afforded every opportunity for academic success.
THE PROJECT
This project will research a method for introducing fatiguing characteristics into a locomotor muscle representation suitable for utilisation in a full body musculoskeletal model.
Musculoskeletal models are currently widely used in applications from the development of medical devices through maintaining and enhancing personal mobility to the design and development of sporting equipment. Such models are also being used to improve the life quality of the elderly and health maintenance of paraplegic subjects. A leading musculoskeletal model, Biomechanics of Bodies (BoB), has been developed at Coventry University and is being used at over 300 universities worldwide on many of the above mentioned applications. However BoB, along with the other musculoskeletal models, operates with a basic locomotor muscle model which does not include many of the physiological characteristics of real muscle tissue. The most significant factor absent in these muscle models in the ability of the muscle model to display fatiguing characteristics as observed in human muscle. The introduction of the ability to represent locomotor muscle fatiguing characteristics into a musculoskeletal model will advanced the field of biomechanics and will significantly broaden the potential applications of the analysis. This project will research methods and analytical techniques to introduce a fatiguing capability into a musculoskeletal model.
ABOUT THE CENTRE/DEPARTMENT
Our research in Mobility & Transport works across our faculties and focuses on the design and engineering of future transport systems, including the growing influence of the internet and connectivity. The focus is on inclusive, sustainable and safe transport integrating the strongest research elements in design and engineering. Future transport systems have a number of high level aims including ambitions to totally eliminate road fatalities, to eliminate congestion, to provide users with seamless integrated and connected transport systems, to eliminate emissions and to develop vehicles and systems that use lightweight, efficient and recycled materials.
SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS
Successful applicants will have:
A minimum of a 2:1 first degree from a research institution in a numeric quantitative subject, probably engineering, physical science or mathematics, experienced in mathematical modelling and simulation and possessing an interest in biological systems.
The potential to engage in innovative research and to complete the PhD within a prescribed period of study
Language proficiency (IELTS overall minimum score of 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in each component).
Additionally:
Good inter-personal skills for interacting with subjects participating in experimental data collection.
Experience of using Matlab and writing analytical code.
A wish to publish academic research in the highest quality journals.
An understanding of the ethics of experimentation with human participants.
ELIGIBILITY & APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Application Procedure:
Application information can be found in our how to apply section: http://www.coventry.ac.uk/research/research-students/how-to-apply/?id=88848
Before completing the application please contact Dr. James Shippen (cc'ing [Email Address Removed] when you do) for an initial informal discussion about the opportunity.
Eligibility:
All UK/EU students are eligible to apply that meet the academic requirements, the eligibility criteria can be found here: http://www.coventry.ac.uk/research/research-students/research-entry-criteria/?id=88841
Funding Notes
Award Details: £15,000 Bursary plus tuition fees
Eligibility: UK/EU students only