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Funded research opportunities in University College Dublin

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  • Funded research opportunities in University College Dublin

    Dear Biomech-L Subscribers,

    I would like to draw your attention to some funded research opportunities
    that are available in University College Dublin:

    1. Research Associate position available for suitable candidate to work on a
    multi centre randomised controlled trial - the SWIFT trial. Further details
    at the end of this email.

    2. PhD studentships available in the field of Obesity and the Built
    Environment. Further details available at
    http://www.ucd.ie/agfoodvet/food_health_adastra_scholarsips.htm and at the
    end of this email.



    Regards

    Dr Brian Caulfield

    Head, UCD School of Physiotherapy & Performance Science

    Institute for Sport and Health

    University College Dublin

    Dublin 4







    1. RESEARCH ASSOCIATE POSITION



    UCD School of Physiotherapy and Performance Science, Institute for Sport and
    Health

    An outstanding opportunity is available to gain excellent research training
    and experience within a large scale Multi-centre randomised controlled trial




    SWIFT TRIAL - Supervised Walking In comparison to Fitness Training for Back
    Pain



    The successful candidate will join the dynamic international
    multidisciplinary research team for this HRB-funded project in conducting
    research in the area of physical activity and low back pain. The appointee
    will be based at the School of Physiotherapy and Performance Science and the
    Institute for Sport and Health, University College Dublin. Research
    development opportunities including registration for a postgraduate degree
    and teaching experience are available.



    The successful applicant should have a high honours standard primary degree
    in the health or sports science field. Excellent interpersonal,
    communication, organisational and computer skills are essential. Previous
    experience of physical activity and fitness measurement would be
    advantageous.



    Further details and application procedures from Dr Deirdre Hurley-Osing,
    Senior Lecturer, UCD School of Physiotherapy and Performance Science,

    Tel: + 353 1 7166515

    Email: deirdre.hurleyosing@ucd.ie



    Closing Date for applications: 11th July 2008

    Start Date: September 2008


    Principal Duties and Responsibilities

    1. Support principal investigator in the running of the SWIFT randomised
    controlled trial



    To include:

    * Responsibility for accelerometer data collection, storage and
    analysis

    * Responsibility for accelerometer equipment maintenance, delivery
    and return from subjects

    * Follow-up of subjects in clinic and by post



    2. To undertake other research activities related to the project

    To include:

    * Writing up of findings

    * Presentation of findings at relevant conferences



    3. To complete relevant research training courses



    Selection Criteria

    Selection criteria outline the qualifications, skills, knowledge and/or
    experience that the successful candidate would need to demonstrate for
    successful discharge of the responsibilities of the post. Applications will
    be assessed on the basis of how well candidates satisfy these criteria.



    Mandatory

    Evidence of Primary Health or Sports Science Degree at 1 or 2.1 standard

    Computer literacy - ECDL or equivalent

    Excellent interpersonal, communication and organisational skills

    Fluent in written and spoken English language

    Current Driver's License and own transport to travel to clinical sites in
    Dublin area



    Desirable

    Experience in physical activity and fitness measurement

    Previous research experience preferably involving completion of a relevant
    project

    Publication in peer-reviewed journal(s)

    Conference presentation experience




    Particulars of office


    This is a three-year temporary position.











    2. FUNDED PHD SCHOLARSHIP



    Development of Sensor Network to Monitor & Promote Physical Activity within
    the Built Environment.



    UCD Institute for Food and Health



    This proposal is led by Dr Brian Caulfield (School of Physiotherapy
    & Performance Science), Barry Smyth (School of Computer Science and
    Informatics) and Prof Colin

    Boreham, UCD Institute of Sport and Health.

    Further details are available from Dr Brian Caulfield (b.caulfield@ucd.ie).




    This proposal is based around the work required to develop the use of
    wearable sensor technology and social networking to enhance people's energy
    expenditure and motor behaviour profile within the existing built
    environment and to compare profiles in different environmental
    contexts. Physical activities such as walking and (particularly)
    stair climbing are very efficient methods of expending energy in
    that they can be incorporated into habitual daily activities and
    are socially unobtrusive. However, the trend over the past number of
    years has been to engineer these activities out of our lifestyles. In spite
    of this, there remains ample opportunity to incorporate walking and stair
    climbing into daily routine in occupational settings - particularly in a
    campus like UCD. We are proposing to develop and investigate innovative
    strategies that can be employed to maximize peoples' level of physical
    activity within their work environment. A secondary aim of the
    research would be to compare the impact of these strategies in
    different occupational environments and to investigate the effect of
    modifications to physical infrastructure and/or health promotion
    programmes on their impact.



    The programme of research would comprise the following elements:

    Development and validation of wearable (in belt or shoe) sensors that can
    be used to quantify the amount of steps taken on the flat and stairs as well
    as the time spent in different postures throughout the day.

    Extrapolation of sensor data to estimates of energy expenditure .
    Development of communication platform to enable storage of sensor data on
    users' mobile telephones with automatic upload to online database at regular
    intervals.

    Recruit user groups and build online (via PC and/or mobile phone)
    social network where users can share and compare experiences and
    even compete against each other based on uploaded sensor data. Network can
    also be used as a platform for delivery of health promotional material.

    Compare experiences and physical activity profiles from user groups
    working in different geographical regions and occupational environmental
    contexts.

    Investigate the impacts of environmental modification or personal
    messaging on activity levels. For example, impact of modifying IT or
    printing services in office environments, use of Bluetooth signature
    of phone to trigger personalized messages when a user approaches a
    lift/staircase in a building.



    The successful candidate will require a background in computer science to
    work on the software and electronics required to build the sensor network
    and would also contribute to physiological validation of sensor data
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