College of Science and Technology
Salary £30,424 - £36,298
Together with partners in the School of Health Sciences and at the University of Manchester, we have been awarded a 3-year EPSRC grant to develop new designs for energy efficient lower limb prostheses. Above knee amputees consume up to 60% more energy during walking than the able-bodied, which has a tremendous impact on what amputees can achieve and their endurance. The energy storage and return capabilities of prostheses are crucial to improving the situation and yet modern prostheses only store and return significant energy below the knee, and energy is not returned in a controlled manner.
You will be developing new system designs and undertaking simulation studies to establish the potential for hydraulic technology to store, transfer between joints, and return energy in lower limb prostheses. You will also assess the practicality of the designs in terms of size, weight, manufacturability, cost etc. You will be working closely with Chas A Blatchford & Sons Ltd., the leading UK manufacturer of lower limb prostheses, and where your system simulations show worthwhile performance improvements, we will jointly plan physical prototyping and testing with the company.
You will join a research team at Salford that specialises in Biomedical Engineering and Biomechanics and is part of the larger Centre for Health Sciences Research, which is an internationally leading multi-disciplinary research group focusing on the rehabilitation of human movement. We are a friendly and informal team of enthusiasts and are looking for a like-minded individual to join us for a 3-year fixed term contract. If your work is successful there could be opportunities to extend your employment at Salford or to join the team at Blatchfords.
Interviews are expected to be held in June and the successful applicant is expected to take up the position in September 2013.
For more information and to apply follow this link:
For informal enquiries, please email Professor David Howard at D.Howard@salford.ac.uk
The closing date is 9 June 2013