RA and/or MPhil – Engineering (Faculty of Engineering), Brain Computer Interfaces (BCI)
Positions available for research on a clinical trial at Teaching Hospital Karapitiya for a neural engineering and rehabilitation related research project. Candidates should be highly self-motivated and able to work in multi-disciplinary teams.
Project Summary: Evaluate the effectiveness of BCI in stroke therapy. Data will be collected from at least 30 new stroke patients with hand dysfunction for 3 sessions per week (3 groups of subjects). The outcome measures will be compared between the BCI and control groups and the findings will be published.
- Data Collection:
- Minimum qualifications: UGC approved 4 year Bachelor’s degree (local or foreign graduate) with a second class (upper or lower) honours in the field of Biomedical/ Electronics/ Electrical/ Computer/ Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Mathematics or relevant field. Some coding experience with MATLAB or Python needed for editing the code. Any prior clinical experience also will be useful.
- Responsibilities including but not limited to – setting up of the experimental environment, modification of data acquisition/ BCI experiment code, data acquisition (5 days a week) at Teaching Hospital Karapitiya, Collaborate with the physiotherapy MPhil student for data collection and provide necessary information. Participate in weekly meetings with supervisor and bi-weekly lab meetings.
- Data Analysis and set up (MPhil):
- Minimum qualifications: UGC approved 4 year Bachelor’s degree (local or foreign graduate) with first class or second class (upper) honours in the field of Biomedical/ Electronics/ Electrical/ Computer/ Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Mathematics or relevant field. Coding experience with MATLAB or Python needed. Signal Processing knowledge (Analog/ Digital) required (either as part of degree or through an external course). Machine Learning will be an added advantage. Any prior clinical experience also will be useful.
- Responsibilities including but not limited to – setting up of the experimental environment, writing/ debugging/ modification of data acquisition/ BCI experiment code, analysis of neural signals, programming machine learning algorithms and data analysis for Brain-Computer Interfaces to apply in stroke Rehabilitation, journal publication at the end of 30 subjects. Collaborate with the physiotherapy MPhil student for data analysis and provide necessary information for the research publication. Participate in weekly meetings with supervisor (scheduled individually) and bi-weekly lab meetings (during week days).
- Selected candidates will need to pass a qualifying exam/ viva by a panel appointed by the board of studies, Faculty of Engineering.
Position 1 (preferred) – Funded RA position with MPhil (2 years Full time): This role is including both data collection and data analysis (MPhil). Need to physically be in Karapitiya (Galle) 5 week days a week.
Position 2 (considered if position 1 is not filled) – Funded RA position (minimum 6 months Full time): This role is only data collection. Need to physically be in Karapitiya (Galle) 5 week days a week. Need to also work with the setting up of experiment with the MPhil student (position 3) during the initial stages of the project.
Position 3 (considered if position 1 is not filled) – Self funded MPhil position (minimum 2 years part time): This role is only data analysis and set up. Need to physically be in Karapitiya (Galle) to work with the RA (position 2) at the initial stages of the project. Should visit Karapitiya once a month after that while working remotely during weekends and/or evenings.
Interested candidates should fill out the application form https://forms.gle/83iuEPytKsDUDn8Y6 (there are 3 sections). Initial round of interviews will be held between 4th and 14th January 2022 via zoom. Expected start date 18th January 2022. You may contact Dr. Prins on prins@eie.ruh.ac.lk or +94763677121 for further details.
