PhD Position Video-based Hand Motion-tracking for Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

ppAre you passionate about human movement and developing clinical tools for understanding human movement disorders? /p h3Job description /h3 pChallenge: Over a quarter of a million people in the Netherlands alone have rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with a majority suffering from debilitating pain and inflammation that makes hand dexterity and work, at times, impossible. While anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs are the main line of relief, new drugs and treatments are needed and being developed for long-term care. At the same time a major challenge in RA management is quantifying the effectiveness of treatments under real-world conditions. /p pChange: We need technologies to measure and quantify changes in hand function due to daily life factors (sleep, stress, etc.…) and treatments/drugs in the home setting. These technologies would enable drug developers, physiotherapists and physicians to make objective and quantitative assessments regarding the effectiveness of treatments. /p pImpact: Once we understand the effects of stressors and treatments on RA flare ups and hand function, clinicians will be able to more closely target treatments and plan daily routines that minimize pain and suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. /p pWe are seeking a PhD candidate for a 4-year contract to develop and apply computational models and video-based tools to capture hand movement and function with deployment in the home environment as the target. Furthermore, you will apply these tools to help us investigate the potential causes and timings of flare ups during patients’ daily lives. You will work primarily with video data, musculoskeletal models, and pose estimation algorithms. The models and algorithms you develop will be part of open source and data repositories affiliated with the broader research program and TU Delft’s commitment to Open Science. /p pYou will be an integral part of the ‘Care is coming home!’ program: a 5-year project executed by a large consortium consisting of 2 technical universities (TU Delft, UTwente), 6 hospitals (Amsterdam UMC, Erasmus MC, Leiden UMC, Maartenskliniek, Maastricht UMC, Radboud UMC), 13 companies (Able Human Motion, Biomex, Cue2Walk, DanuSports, Kinetic Analysis, Lode Holding, Madglove, ModelHealth, Moveshelf, Orikami, Sabender (Enterprising Company), Trinoma, VicarVision), 1 rehabilitation centre (Daan Theeuwes Centrum) and 5 patient organisations (Hersenletsel.nl, Hersenstichting, Parkinson Vereniging, ParkinsonNL, ReumaNederland). In total the program will encompass 9 PhDs and 5 postdocs to address the issue of translating health care to the home environment. /p pThis PhD position is hosted by the Biomechanical Engineering Department at TU Delft where you will be a part of both the Computational Biomechanics (Seth) and Neuromuscular Control (Mugge) Labs. /p pIn addition to research, there are many opportunities to develop your academic career by mentoring and teaching BSc/MSc students, presenting at international conferences, and participating in workshops/training and exchange programs abroad. /p h3Job requirements /h3 pYou should have: /p ul liMSc in engineering or similar discipline by the start date of the position /li liExperience with mechanical modeling and simulation /li liExperience in computer programming/scripting (e.g., C++, Python, Matlab, etc.) /li liExperience collecting human experimental data (movement, video, or similar) /li liExcellent written and oral communication skills in English /li /ul pThe following aspects will help you stand out: /p ul liThriving in multidisciplinary environments /li liCuriosity-driven and self-motivated working attitude /li liKnowledge of biomechanical modeling, anatomy, vision-based motion capture, machine learning, control systems /li /ul pKeep in mind that this describes the background we imagine would best fit the role. If you do not meet all the requirements, but believe that you are up for the task, we absolutely want to hear your motivation and how you would fit! The PhD process is a learning experience, so let us know what you want to learn and develop as a PhD candidate. /p h3TU Delft (Delft University of Technology) /h3 pWorking at TU Delft means contributing to solutions that really make a difference. /p pFor over 180 years, we have been training engineers who make an impact worldwide in companies, government bodies, or as entrepreneurs. Our alumni turn knowledge into concrete solutions for the challenges of today and tomorrow. /p pThese challenges are changing rapidly. That is why we focus on themes such as energy, climate, digitalisation, artificial intelligence (AI), and smart mobility every day. Our education and research are directly aligned with what society needs now and in the future. /p pAt TU Delft, our people make the difference. With their knowledge and curiosity, our staff provide a high-quality education and conduct pioneering research that extends beyond the campus. You will have the opportunity to take the initiative, work with others, and grow as a professional. /p pWorking at TU Delft means join an international community of professionals and students. Together, we create knowledge, innovations, and solutions that help move the world forward. /p h3Faculty Mechanical Engineering /h3 pFrom chip to ship. From machine to human being. From idea to solution. Driven by a deep-rooted desire to understand our environment and discover its underlying mechanisms, research and education at the ME faculty focusses on fundamental understanding, design, production including application and product improvement, materials, processes and (mechanical) systems. /p pME is a dynamic and innovative faculty with high-tech lab facilities and international reach. It’s a large faculty but also versatile, so we can often make unique connections by combining different disciplines. This is reflected in ME’s outstanding, state-of-the-art education, which trains students to become responsible and socially engaged engineers and scientists. We translate our knowledge and insights into solutions to societal issues, contributing to a sustainable society and to the development of prosperity and well-being. That is what unites us in pioneering research, inspiring education and (inter)national cooperation. /p pClick here to go to the website of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. Do you want to experience working at our faculty? These videos will introduce you to some of our researchers and their work. /p h3Conditions of employment /h3 pDoctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1,5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2,5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met. /p pSalary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from€3204 - €4051 gross per month, from the first year to the fourth year based on a fulltime contract (38 hours), plus 8% holiday allowance and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%. /p pAs a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills. /p pThe TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged. /p pWill you need to relocate to the Netherlands for this job? TU Delft is committed to make your move as smooth as possible! The HR unit, Coming to Delft Service, offers information on their website to help you prepare your relocation. In addition, Coming to Delft Service organises events to help you settle in the Netherlands, and expand your (social) network in Delft. A Dual Career Programme is available, to support your accompanying partner with their job search in the Netherlands. /p h3Additional information /h3 pFor more information about this vacancy, please contact Ajay Seth ( ) or Winfred Mugge ( ). /p /p #J-18808-Ljbffr