AIM CP is an interdisciplinary Trinity College Dublin project which seeks to achieve improved outcomes for children with cerebral palsy. Currently seeking PhD applications for cross discipline projects in motion analysis, sleep, multiorgan function and inflammatory patterns, and health and wellbeing indicators. Closing date for applications January 24th, 2024. Information sessions on Tuesday 16th January. Contact Michelle Spirtos for further information.
Fully funded PhDs available to seek improved outcomes for children with cerebral palsy
Interested students are encouraged to apply for one of four fully funded PhD projects which have the goal of achieving improved outcomes for children with cerebral palsy (AIM CP). The projects will commence in March 2024 (later start date may be possible).
Students will work across disciplines in Trinity, including engineering, occupational therapy, medicine, and computer science and statistics, and with external collaborators.
The funding includes a stipend of 25,000 euro per year for four years, and student fees.
PhD 1: Movement patterns (Engineering)
PhD 1 will have primary supervision in Trinity’s School of Engineering (with Prof. Ciaran Simms) and will involve the development of motion analysis methods for examining walking patterns and upper limb movements in children with CP.
Specifically, the project will test the use of single camera view, marker-less pose estimation with suitable training data to reconstruct walking patterns and upper limb movement in children with cerebral palsy with sufficient accuracy to aid in clinical decision-making.
This will run in collaboration with Prof. Michelle Spirtos (Occupational Therapy), Prof. Richard Reilly (Engineering and Medicine) and Dr Damien Kiernan at the Central Remedial Clinic in Dublin.
Suitable candidates will have a biomedical engineering or related background with a strong interest in biomechanics, human pose and computer coding (Matlab/python). Interested candidates should send a CV and cover letter to Prof. Ciaran Simms.
PhD 2: Multiorgan function and inflammatory patterns (Medicine)
PhD 2 will have primary supervision in Paediatrics in Trinity’s School of Medicine (Prof. Eleanor Molloy and Prof. Denise McDonald) and will examine multiorgan function and inflammatory patterns and their relationship with function and quality of life in children with CP.
The project will have collaborators across disciplines including Prof. Michelle Spirtos (Occupational Therapy).
This is a clinical PhD and a medical degree is required. Interested candidates should send a CV and cover letter to Prof. Eleanor Molloy.
PhD 3: Sleep (Occupational Therapy)
PhD 3 will have primary supervision in Occupational Therapy in Trinity’s School of Medicine (Prof. Michelle Spirtos) and will involve an examination of sleep in children with CP. The study will include a national, whole-population sleep survey and a multi-level, in-depth exploration of sleep in a population of children with CP.
The project will run in collaboration with Prof. Olive Healy (Psychology) and Dr Rory O’Sullivan at the Central Remedial Clinic in Dublin.
Suitable candidates will have a strong undergraduate or Masters degree in a related field. They should send a CV and cover letter to Prof. Michelle Spirtos.
PhD 4: Modelling health and wellbeing indicators (Computer Science and Statistics)
PhD 4 will have primary supervision in Trinity’s School of Computer Science and Statistics (Prof. Arthur White) and will involve creating a latent variable statistical model for health and wellbeing indicators in children with CP.
The project will run in collaboration with Prof. Jason Wyse (Computer Science and Statistics), Prof. Eleanor Molloy (Medicine) and Prof. Ciaran Simms (Engineering).
Suitable candidates will have a strong undergraduate (2.1 or above) or Masters degree in mathematics, statistics, or a related field. Experience with R, Python or similar will also be beneficial. They should send a CV and cover letter to Prof Arthur White.
Closing date for applications January 24th 2024