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PhD studentship in Musculoskeletal Biomechanics

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PhD studentship in Musculoskeletal Biomechanics

School: Applied Sciences
Duration of studentship: fixed-term, 3-years
Scholarship: includes stipend of £15,000 per annum, tuition fees at the UK rate and research costs
Closing date for applications: 15th May, 2022

Applications are invited for a full-time three-year fully funded PhD studentship at London South Bank University (LSBU), to begin in September 2022.

Ankle injuries account for approximately 10-20% of all injuries in football, with ~75% of these being ligament sprains/rupture to the lateral ankle complex. Worryingly, re-injury rates after a first-time sprain, across all sports, may be as high as 40-50%. Despite an intensive two decades of research, explicit ligament-specific diagnostic markers for risk of (re-)injury continues to allude sports practitioners. The purpose of this project is to develop a methodology to diagnose the susceptibility to lateral ankle ligament injury and differentiate normal from ineffective healing.

We are seeking an exceptional and enthusiastic person to join the researchers within the Sport and Exercise Science Research Centre (SESRC) at LSBU for a programme of training in applied biomechanics research. The Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014 has placed our research group in the top ten of all UK universities by intensity-weighted research quality with world-leading and internationally excellent research (73%) and impact (90%).

Supervisors

Dr Darren James, Dr Sevan Harput and Prof. Kiros Karamanidis

Project details

The objective of the PhD programme is to develop and evaluate a methodology to analyse the biomechanical properties of ligaments, with particular focus on diagnosing the susceptibility to lateral ankle ligament injury and differentiate normal from ineffective healing. Specifically, the project will use ultrasonography to develop an image processing technique that directly evaluates ligament properties. The main scope will be to: i) ensure the robustness of ultrasound (B-mode and/or high-frequency) for this purpose, ii) develop a statistical colour model, iii) validate the model’s sensitivity on a human foot and ankle phantom, and iv) investigate ligament biomechanical properties in-vivo. There will be opportunities to travel to a collaborating laboratory for the successful candidate.

Eligibility

The successful candidate will have a degree and ideally an MSc in a relevant branch of engineering; and have an interest in programming and image processing. They will have prior experience of working in a laboratory environment and preferably within the topic area. The scholarship will be awarded, based on merit, for three years of full-time study. EU and international candidates are welcome to apply, but non-UK based students will be required to source funding to bridge the gap between home and international tuition fees.

Contact for informal enquiries: please contact Dr Darren James on email: jamesd6@lsbu.ac.uk.

How to apply

If interested, please send your resume/CV, copies of academic transcripts and a covering letter – outlining your suitability for the position, to Dr. Darren James (Director of Studies) at: jamesd6@lsbu.ac.uk by 15th May, 2022.

Shortlisted candidates will be contacted with an invitation to attend an interview. Candidates are requested to respond promptly to such an invitation, indicating their availability and agreement to attend. The successful candidate will be selected for the award in accordance with the University’s postgraduate admissions requirements and must be eligible under the Education (Fees and Awards) Regulations 1997.