PhD Position in Rehabilitation Engineering and Low-cost Robotics at Wayne State University

[E. Peter Washabaugh]

The Rehabilitation Robotics and Biomechanics (R2B) lab, directed by Dr. E. Peter Washabaugh in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Wayne State University, is seeking an enthusiastic Ph.D. candidate interested in rehabilitation engineering and affordable robotics applications. The central goal of the R2B lab is to develop systems that use the principles of movement biomechanics, motor control and learning, and neuroplasticity to retrain an individual’s lost abilities or augment existing ones.

By joining our expanding team, the selected candidate will have the opportunity to develop and test robotic tools for patients with mobility impairments. Key responsibilities will encompass designing and testing novel electromechanical systems, performing translational human subjects testing, analyzing biomechanical data (kinematics, kinetics, electromyography), and more. The appointed individual will also be pivotal in preparing and submitting research papers for peer review, sharing research insights at conferences, putting forward grant applications, and guiding undergraduate and Master's students within the lab.

Preferred qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Robotics, or a comparable discipline
• Background in designing or working with robotic systems
• Experience with human-subject research
• Experience with Python, Matlab, LabVIEW, or other C-based software
• Experience in statistical analysis

Interested students should forward their CV along with a motivation letter to Dr. Washabaugh at epwash@wayne.edu. We will be accepting applications until a suitable candidate is chosen. The applicant could begin the position as early as January 2024. For further insights into our lab, please visit: r2b-lab.eng.wayne.edu