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PhD Research Studentships
Faculty of Health and Wellbeing
Modelling of cardio-vascular risk-reduction: use of a smart floor with discrete populations
Dr Ben Heller, Prof Malcolm Whitfield, Prof Steve Haake
Bursary £13,290
Tuition fees
Full time for 3 years
Project Details
Cardio-vascular disease is strongly related to a number of risk factors: blood pressure, cholesterol, body mass index and the prevalence of smoking and diabetes. Estimates of the mean risk factors for a population can be used to calculate the burden of disease in terms of deaths, heart attacks and cost to the health service.
A model is being developed to determine the effect of specific interventions on these risk factors and thus on the ultimate cost. However, there are many types of intervention e.g. infrastructure such as play equipment or sports facilities, housing, sports and activity motivation schemes, etc. in which the effect of the intervention needs to be assessed.
A smart floor has been developed which interacts with dancers and can be installed in a variety of settings. The aim of this project is to develop algorithms to extract individual movement patterns from the ground-contact data and to develop software applications driven by these data. The smart-floor system will be trialled with the following populations: a) mixed-age, no pathology, b) obese young people, c) older people with balance deficits over a medium term period (6-8 weeks). Levels of activity and risk factors before and after the intervention will be determined and used to inform the SHEFFTOOL cost-benefit model.
The successful candidate will work together with three other PhD students and a team of researchers on a major project to estimate and reduce the burden of cardio-vascular disease in the population.
The Successful Candidate
Applicants should have a 1st or high 2i degree and a strong interest in Public Health and life sciences. The ideal candidate should be strong in mathematics, and experience of machine learning techniques will be highly regarded. Relevant degrees include physical sciences such as Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Mathematics and Computer Science; and sports related subjects such as Sports Science or a related discipline. Candidates should be enthusiastic, have good analytical skills, tenacity and perseverance, and be good in a team.
The Sports Engineering Research Group
The Sports Engineering Research Group sits within the Faculty of Health and Wellbeing employs approximately 20 staff comprising research engineers, designers, sports scientists and PhD students. Clients include Adidas, Prince, Puma, UK Sport, British Swimming and the International Tennis Federation Following a very successful Research Assessment Exercise, the Sports Engineering Research Group is seeking to recruit outstanding candidates to carry out multi-disciplinary PhD projects.
Opportunities
The Sports Engineering Research Group and Health and Social Care Research Centre represent a fantastic opportunity for those seeking to gain experience of a multidisciplinary research environment and wish to have a career in the engineering, sport or health sectors. PhD students have the opportunity to travel overseas and support high profile consultancy projects within the groups.
Closing date: 1 May 2010
Interviewing will take place during May with a start date to be agreed with the successful candidate. In the first instance please submit a full CV to:
Amanda Brothwell
a.brothwell@shu.ac.uk
The Sports Engineering Research Group
Faculty of Health and Wellbeing
A129 Collegiate Hall
Collegiate Crescent Campus
Sheffield
S10 2BP
Working towards equal opportunities
Amanda Brothwell
* Sports Engineering, Sheffield Hallam University| CSES, A129 Collegiate Hall, Collegiate Campus, Sheffield S10 2BP, UK
* +44 (0) 114 225 2258 (direct line) or +44 (0) 114 225 2255
7 +44 (0) 114 225 4356
* a.brothwell@shu.ac.uk
To visit the Sports Engineering website see: http://www.shu.ac.uk/research/cses/sports_engineering.html
To visit the Sports Engineering blog see: http://engineeringsport.co.uk
Faculty of Health and Wellbeing
Modelling of cardio-vascular risk-reduction: use of a smart floor with discrete populations
Dr Ben Heller, Prof Malcolm Whitfield, Prof Steve Haake
Bursary £13,290
Tuition fees
Full time for 3 years
Project Details
Cardio-vascular disease is strongly related to a number of risk factors: blood pressure, cholesterol, body mass index and the prevalence of smoking and diabetes. Estimates of the mean risk factors for a population can be used to calculate the burden of disease in terms of deaths, heart attacks and cost to the health service.
A model is being developed to determine the effect of specific interventions on these risk factors and thus on the ultimate cost. However, there are many types of intervention e.g. infrastructure such as play equipment or sports facilities, housing, sports and activity motivation schemes, etc. in which the effect of the intervention needs to be assessed.
A smart floor has been developed which interacts with dancers and can be installed in a variety of settings. The aim of this project is to develop algorithms to extract individual movement patterns from the ground-contact data and to develop software applications driven by these data. The smart-floor system will be trialled with the following populations: a) mixed-age, no pathology, b) obese young people, c) older people with balance deficits over a medium term period (6-8 weeks). Levels of activity and risk factors before and after the intervention will be determined and used to inform the SHEFFTOOL cost-benefit model.
The successful candidate will work together with three other PhD students and a team of researchers on a major project to estimate and reduce the burden of cardio-vascular disease in the population.
The Successful Candidate
Applicants should have a 1st or high 2i degree and a strong interest in Public Health and life sciences. The ideal candidate should be strong in mathematics, and experience of machine learning techniques will be highly regarded. Relevant degrees include physical sciences such as Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Mathematics and Computer Science; and sports related subjects such as Sports Science or a related discipline. Candidates should be enthusiastic, have good analytical skills, tenacity and perseverance, and be good in a team.
The Sports Engineering Research Group
The Sports Engineering Research Group sits within the Faculty of Health and Wellbeing employs approximately 20 staff comprising research engineers, designers, sports scientists and PhD students. Clients include Adidas, Prince, Puma, UK Sport, British Swimming and the International Tennis Federation Following a very successful Research Assessment Exercise, the Sports Engineering Research Group is seeking to recruit outstanding candidates to carry out multi-disciplinary PhD projects.
Opportunities
The Sports Engineering Research Group and Health and Social Care Research Centre represent a fantastic opportunity for those seeking to gain experience of a multidisciplinary research environment and wish to have a career in the engineering, sport or health sectors. PhD students have the opportunity to travel overseas and support high profile consultancy projects within the groups.
Closing date: 1 May 2010
Interviewing will take place during May with a start date to be agreed with the successful candidate. In the first instance please submit a full CV to:
Amanda Brothwell
a.brothwell@shu.ac.uk
The Sports Engineering Research Group
Faculty of Health and Wellbeing
A129 Collegiate Hall
Collegiate Crescent Campus
Sheffield
S10 2BP
Working towards equal opportunities
Amanda Brothwell
* Sports Engineering, Sheffield Hallam University| CSES, A129 Collegiate Hall, Collegiate Campus, Sheffield S10 2BP, UK
* +44 (0) 114 225 2258 (direct line) or +44 (0) 114 225 2255
7 +44 (0) 114 225 4356
* a.brothwell@shu.ac.uk
To visit the Sports Engineering website see: http://www.shu.ac.uk/research/cses/sports_engineering.html
To visit the Sports Engineering blog see: http://engineeringsport.co.uk