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One opening for a fully funded Ph.D. study project is available in support of the Zero-G MRI project (Suborbital Development and Testing of a Space Flight Astronaut Magnetic Resonance Imager), a project funded by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) with the goal of flying a prototype wrist magnetic resonance imager (MRI) on a series of zero-g parabolic jet flights in the summer of 2018. The open project is as follows.
Physiology PhD project. Current research uses high field MRI to study bone and muscle structure for assessing strength, density, fat content (for muscle), etc. at an image resolution of much less than 1 mm. The proposed RF encoding low-field zero-g MRI and follow-on space MRIs will not be able to attain such high resolution. So this project will focus on how lower image resolution may be used to provide the necessary physiologically relevant information. It may be that MRI data will need to be combined with other methods like ultrasonography or biochemical blood or urine assays to form a data vector capable of providing a better estimate of parameters like bone strength. An alternative, or possible complementary, approach will be through image processing. Current research has made use of information extracted from finite element models based on x-ray CT or MRI images and it will be of interest to know how these approaches may be used on lower resolution MRI data. The spatial resolution of gathered MRI data may be improved, for example, by working with projections (integrated cross-section) to obtain spatially averaged values for physiological parameters like density and fat content. Simple NMR spin-lattice (T1) and spin-spin (T2) measurement focused on isolated voxels may also be used to measure spatially averaged values of physiological parameters. Such measurements could easily be made with the proposed zero-g MRI and the main focus of the task "PhD Physiology Preflight" of the project will be to determine which of these alternative approaches to imaging will be worthwhile to try during the zero-g flight.
Start date: September 2017.
How to Apply: Email, as a pdf file, a cover letter describing your research interests and how your background and experience match the qualifications described, your CV, academic transcript, an unofficial copy of TOEFL or equivalent results, if appropriate, and, names and contact information of three references to:
Dr. Gordon E. Sarty, P.Eng.,
Division of Biomedical Engineering,
University of Saskatchewan.
gordon.sarty@usask.ca
Physiology PhD project. Current research uses high field MRI to study bone and muscle structure for assessing strength, density, fat content (for muscle), etc. at an image resolution of much less than 1 mm. The proposed RF encoding low-field zero-g MRI and follow-on space MRIs will not be able to attain such high resolution. So this project will focus on how lower image resolution may be used to provide the necessary physiologically relevant information. It may be that MRI data will need to be combined with other methods like ultrasonography or biochemical blood or urine assays to form a data vector capable of providing a better estimate of parameters like bone strength. An alternative, or possible complementary, approach will be through image processing. Current research has made use of information extracted from finite element models based on x-ray CT or MRI images and it will be of interest to know how these approaches may be used on lower resolution MRI data. The spatial resolution of gathered MRI data may be improved, for example, by working with projections (integrated cross-section) to obtain spatially averaged values for physiological parameters like density and fat content. Simple NMR spin-lattice (T1) and spin-spin (T2) measurement focused on isolated voxels may also be used to measure spatially averaged values of physiological parameters. Such measurements could easily be made with the proposed zero-g MRI and the main focus of the task "PhD Physiology Preflight" of the project will be to determine which of these alternative approaches to imaging will be worthwhile to try during the zero-g flight.
Start date: September 2017.
How to Apply: Email, as a pdf file, a cover letter describing your research interests and how your background and experience match the qualifications described, your CV, academic transcript, an unofficial copy of TOEFL or equivalent results, if appropriate, and, names and contact information of three references to:
Dr. Gordon E. Sarty, P.Eng.,
Division of Biomedical Engineering,
University of Saskatchewan.
gordon.sarty@usask.ca