An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the Centre for Pain by undertaking a PhD in user design or assisted living. We will fund a full-time 3 year PhD studentship in either of the following areas:
a) Inclusive design in dementia. Innovating and improving methods of inclusive design for people with dementia and their carers. How do we ensure that we can design independent living solutions for people with dementia by finding ways to fully include them in our problem definition and solution generation. Or
b) Safe and Mobile. We are producing a number of SMART technology solutions to help people stay independent in the home. This PhD can focus on enabling people with early dementia to be safe outside the home (using communication and sensor devices) or to support carers in being mobile while their loved one is safe in their home.
a) Inclusive design in dementia. Innovating and improving methods of inclusive design for people with dementia and their carers. How do we ensure that we can design independent living solutions for people with dementia by finding ways to fully include them in our problem definition and solution generation. Or
b) Safe and Mobile. We are producing a number of SMART technology solutions to help people stay independent in the home. This PhD can focus on enabling people with early dementia to be safe outside the home (using communication and sensor devices) or to support carers in being mobile while their loved one is safe in their home.
The start date of the studentship will be Monday 9 January 2012; however a different start date may be negotiated for the right candidate.
Background:
The Centre for Pain, led by Professor Chris Eccleston: http://www.bath. ac.uk/health/ pain/, Bath Institute for Mechanical Engineering (BIME) is actively involved in researching appropriate technology to enhance the social inclusion of people with dementia. The Centre for Pain have developed mobile platforms and intelligent software that can provide support for customised rehabilitation and self management, including monitoring and activities for daily living. With further work this could be incorporated in smart home technology to provide an additional, tailored care for the person with dementia and provide peace of mind for their families. We would like to continue this work which brings greater autonomy to all concerned and is line with Department of Health plans to extend the uptake of assisted living to allow people to continue living independently in their own homes and communities.
Role Description:Within the broad area of research outlined, the details of the research work programme will be designed together with the successful candidate. Duties will include:
Successfully completing a PhD thesis
Contributing to the Department for Health research activities including research presentations and publications
Being an active member of the postgraduate student group and wider department
Successfully completing a PhD thesis
Contributing to the Department for Health research activities including research presentations and publications
Being an active member of the postgraduate student group and wider department
Requirements:
- A good first degree (upper second or first – or equivalent) in a Health or Social Science related discipline.
- A desire to work towards long-term goals and ability to meet deadlines.
- Good verbal and written communication skills, and IT literate.
- To meet the English language requirements
- Graduates with experience and/or a Masters degree are particularly welcomed. Current final year undergraduates are also eligible to apply.
Fees and stipend:The successful candidate will be supported for 3 years (For 2011/12 this will be approximately £13,590 stipend plus UK/EU tuition fees of £4,400 and a consumables allowance of £1,525 all subject to slight increase each year). Overseas students outside EU are eligible to apply, however they must be able to fund the additional amount due for overseas tuition fees.
How to apply:
You must submit an online application and all supporting documents by the closing date.
Please see the following link: http://www.bath. ac.uk/health/ researchsupport/ brd/news. html for FULL DETAILS of how to apply.
You must submit an online application and all supporting documents by the closing date.
Please see the following link: http://www.bath. ac.uk/health/ researchsupport/ brd/news. html for FULL DETAILS of how to apply.
Closing date: 31 October 2011
For informal enquiries contact Lisa Austin L.Austin@bath. ac.uk or tel 01225 386575
