Empowering People with Parkinson’s using Intelligent Systems for Personalised Support

Summary

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects more than six million people worldwide and over 22,000 people across the island of Ireland alone.

Characterised by both motor (e.g., tremor, rigidity, slowness) and non-motor symptoms (e.g., fatigue, anxiety, cognitive decline), PD presents substantial variability between individuals and over time.

Current clinical monitoring relies on periodic, clinic-based assessments and subjective self-reporting, which fail to capture daily fluctuations or real-world performance.

Recent advances in wearable sensing and mobile health technologies enable the continuous capture of rich, multimodal physiological and behavioural data.

These data when analysed with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning methods can potentially offer transformative understanding of disease progression, as well as opportunities to personalise interventions, monitor and improve disease self-management.

This PhD will address a critical gap in interpreting sensor health data into clinically relevant feedback to support clinical decision making using relevant AI systems.

The project builds on a recently funded PD-LIFE emerging hub of excellence, which unites six universities and multiple advocacy and clinical partners to advance innovative, person-centred research in PD.

Within this collaborative framework, the student will benefit from collaborating with staff involved in PD-LIFE’s Technology workstream, which focuses on AI-driven interpretation of sensor data collected during physical activity and dance interventions.

Essential criteria

Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree in a subject relevant to the proposed area of study.

We may also consider applications from those who hold equivalent qualifications, for example, a Lower Second Class Honours Degree plus a Master’s Degree with Distinction.

In exceptional circumstances, the University may consider a portfolio of evidence from applicants who have appropriate professional experience which is equivalent to the learning outcomes of an Honours degree in lieu of academic qualifications.

• Experience using research methods or other approaches relevant to the subject domain
• A demonstrable interest in the research area associated with the studentship

Desirable Criteria

If the University receives a large number of applicants for the project, the following desirable criteria may be applied to shortlist applicants for interview.

• First Class Honours (1st) Degree
• Masters at 70%
• Experience using research methods or other approaches relevant to the subject domain
• Work experience relevant to the proposed project
• Publications - peer-reviewed
• Experience of presentation of research findings
• Use of personal initiative as evidenced by record of work above that normally expected at career stage.

Equal Opportunities

The University is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applicants from all sections of the community, particularly from those with disabilities.

Appointment will be made on merit.

Funding and eligibility

This project is funded by:

• BBSRC/UKRI Doctoral Landscape Award

This scholarship will cover tuition fees and provide a maintenance allowance of £21,000* (tbc) per annum for four years (subject to satisfactory academic performance).  A Research Training Support Grant (RTSG) of approximately £5000 per annum is also available.

To be eligible for these scholarships, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Be a UK National, or
• Have settled status, or
• Have pre-settled status, or
• Have indefinite leave to remain or enter, or
• be an Irish National

Applicants should also meet the residency criteria which requires that they have lived in the EEA, Switzerland, the UK or Gibraltar for at least the three years preceding the start date of the research degree programme.

Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Due consideration should be given to financing your studies.