Applications are invited for a 4 year, fully funded PhD studentship on the topic of remote
monitoring of sleep, respiration and swallowing in neurodegenerative diseases, with the
Neuromuscular Systems Group (https://www.ucd.ie/neuro/) at University College Dublin. The
PhD project will be supervised by Dr. Emer Doheny (https://people.ucd.ie/emer.doheny).
This aim of this project is to develop a non-invasive system and method to measure
swallowing, and respiratory-swallow coordination, during sleep and wakefulness, suitable for
long term remote monitoring. The PhD student will explore the capability of different sensors
to detect and characterise swallowing, through experimental studies in healthy participants
and in patients. Advanced signal processing techniques together with machine learning
methods may be used to develop methods to detect and characterise swallowing, and to
monitor aspiration risk in individuals with neurodegenerative disease, such as Parkinson’s
Disease. The project will involve working with a multi-disciplinary team of experts in
biomedical signals and sensors, collaborating with clinical experts in respiratory medicine and
sleep, neurology and speech and language therapy. The project will commence in January
2023, or soon thereafter.
Applicants should have, or expect to obtain, a first or upper second class honours Bachelors
or Masters degree in Electrical/Electronic/Computer or Biomedical Engineering (or a related
discipline). Suitable candidates will have a strong interest in biomedical engineering, and in
clinical applications of wearable sensors. Excellent analytical, computational and
communications skills are essential. Experience in biomedical signals, signal processing and
machine learning are also an advantage.
The PhD studentship covers tuition fees for EU applicants and a tax-free stipend of €18,000
per year. An annual allowance is provided for research consumables and for conference
attendance.
Please send a cover letter describing your experience and interest in this project (1 page max),
CV, and academic transcripts before October 31st 2022 to:
Dr Emer Doheny
School of Electrical & Electronic Engineering
University College Dublin
Belfield
Dublin 4
Ireland
Email: emer.doheny@ucd.ie
