We are seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate  to join an interdisciplinary research project in a collaborative environment at the intersection of neuroscience, biomechanics, wearable robotics, and data science. The successful candidate will be co-supervised by Prof. Kaylena Ehgotetz Martens and Prof. Arash Arami. We value equity, diversity, and inclusion and actively encourage applications from women, Indigenous Peoples, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, and members of other equity-deserving groups.

Project Overview

Freezing of gait is one of the most disabling symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, contributing significantly to falls, loss of independence, and reduced quality of life. This PhD project aims to advance the prediction and understanding of FOG by integrating exoskeleton technology with multimodal sensor fusion.

The successful candidate will contribute to the development and evaluation of a next-generation system that combines various wearable sensors with an assistive exoskeleton to detect, predict, and mitigate FOG episodes in real time. The work will involve close collaboration with engineers, clinicians, and people living with Parkinson’s disease, ensuring strong translational and patient-centred impact.

Key Research Components

• Experimental study of gait and freezing of gait in Parkinson’s disease
• Integration of wearable sensors with lower-limb exoskeleton systems
• Sensor fusion and machine learning approaches for FOG prediction
• Validation in laboratory and real-world or semi-ecological settings
• Knowledge translation to clinical and community stakeholders

Candidate Profile

We welcome applicants with backgrounds in one or more of the following areas:

• Movement science, kinesiology, rehabilitation science, neuroscience, or biomedical engineering
• Robotics, mechatronics, wearable technology, or human–machine interaction
• Signal processing, sensor fusion, machine learning, or data science
• Clinical research related to Parkinson’s disease or gait disorders

Desired experience or interests include:

• Wearable sensors and gait analysis
• Human-subject experimentation and ethical research conduct
• Programming skills (e.g., Python, MATLAB, R, C/C++)
• Interdisciplinary and collaborative research environments
• Parkinson’s disease research

What We Offer

• An innovative, interdisciplinary PhD project with strong clinical relevance
• Access to state-of-the-art exoskeletons, wearable sensors, and motion analysis tools
• Opportunities to work with clinicians, engineers, and patient partners
• International collaborations, conference presentations, and high-impact publications
• A supportive training environment focused on research excellence and career development

Eligibility

Applicants must meet the admission requirements for the PhD program at the host institution and demonstrate strong academic performance and research potential.

Scholarship Opportunities

The PhD position is fully funded through a combination of research funding and institutional support, subject to university and program requirements.

Canada Impact+ Research Training Awards (CIRTA): This is a special funding opportunity for candidates (international or Canadian) who currently reside outside of Canada. We are please to nominate and support the eligible applicant for this prestiguos scholarship (deadline Feb 17).

For candidates currently in Canada, we will support applications to other major funding programs, including NSERC and Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS).

To Apply

Please send your CV and a cover letter detailing your statement of interest to arash.arami@uwaterloo.ca. Please use FOG-Exo Applicant in the subject line of the email.

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PhD Program in Physical Rehabilitation Science

We are seeking motivated PhD applicants to join our interdisciplinary program that prepares the next generation of rehabilitation scientists. Our comprehensive program draws on nationally and internationally recognized research expertise across multiple departments within the University of Maryland System.

Research Areas:

• Neuromotor Control and Rehabilitation – Motor learning, balance and gait training, neuroplasticity-promoting interventions
• Musculoskeletal Performance and Rehabilitation – Exercise interventions, muscle physiology, cardiometabolic health
• Rehabilitation Engineering and Robotics – Multi-joint rehabilitation robots, assistive technology development
• Community-Based Rehabilitation – Field-based research, mobility assessment, environmental interventions
• Rehabilitation Health Services – Healthcare systems analysis, epidemiological studies, policy evaluation

UMANRRT Postdoctoral Fellowship Program

Multiple postdoctoral fellowships are available through the U.S. National Institute of Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) University of Maryland Advanced Neuromotor Rehabilitation Research Training (UMANRRT) Program.

Research Focus Areas:

• Biomechanics, neuroimaging, sensorimotor and cognitive characterizations related to neuromotor control in neurological disorders, musculoskeletal injuries, or aging populations
• Rehabilitation robotics, machine learning, and signal processing for improving neuromotor control and rehabilitation outcomes
• Interventional studies examining the interaction of neuromotor, biomechanical, cognitive, socio-economic factors, motor learning, and behavioral processes

Application Information

For PhD Applications: Applications must be submitted through the online application at https://www.graduate.umaryland.edu/admissions/how-to-apply/. Submit CV, 1-page statement of research interests and career goals, official transcripts, and three letters of reference. Applications with assistantship consideration due December 1st, 2025 for fall 2026 admission. Rolling admissions accepted until April 1st, 2026. For questions, contact Kelly Westlake, kwestlake@som.umaryland.edu.

For Postdoctoral Fellowship Applications: Submit cover letter, CV, and contact information for three references to Li-Qun Zhang, l-zhang@som.umaryland.edu and Kelly Westlake, kwestlake@som.umaryland.edu. Start date is immediate or negotiable.

Research Environment

Our program leverages state-of-the-art facilities including motion capture systems, force platforms, electromyography, virtual reality systems, neuroimaging (MRI, EEG), rehabilitation robotics, and muscle physiology laboratories. Students and fellows benefit from collaborations with the University of Maryland Medical System, bioengineering faculty at University of Maryland College Park, and established industry partnerships.

The program is committed to inclusive excellence and attracts trainees from diverse disciplines and backgrounds. We provide comprehensive support through mentorship, professional development opportunities, and access to interdisciplinary training programs including the Institute for Clinical & Translational Research and specialized centers of excellence.

Equal Opportunity: The University of Maryland, Baltimore is an equal opportunity institution. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized and are committed to providing a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment for all students and fellows.

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Area of Research:
Advancing accessible technological solutions for detecting, monitoring and improving balance dysfunction.

The research involves the development and validation of novel low cost technologies to advance innovation in balance-assessment tools and balance-assistive devices designed for real-world research and clinical applications. Innovative approaches may include (but are not limited to): wearable sensors, simple mechanical devices, neuromuscular stimulation and virtual/augmented reality that will ultimately help reduce the prevalence and impact of balance deficits and falls

The successful candidate will work under the supervision of the BFRC co-directors (Dr. Jean-Sébastien Blouin & Mark Carpenter) and core research members within the BFRC (for key members see https://balancefalls.ubc.ca/about-us/researchers) and will be expected to support collaborative scientific research that integrates basic science with clinical applications within the Centre.

Background Required:

MSc in Kinesiology, or related areas of neuroscience or engineering, completed no later than December 2025. Academic record must demonstrate academic excellence and strong research potential to be competitive for external scholarships (e.g. NSERC, CIHR).

Applicants must have a strong interest and demonstrated experience in human balance control research. Software programming skills in one or more of MATLAB, LabVIEW, Python, or related programming language is required. Experience with mechatronics, signal processing, computational modeling, motion capture and/or biomechanical analyses of human movement is also an asset.

Application Information

Interested students should submit a CV, statement of interest, and names of two potential referees to the BFRC at the following email address: balance.falls@ubc.ca by the deadline of July 31st, 2025.

Applicants will be reviewed and a short interview may be requested. The successful candidate will be notified by no later than Sept 15th, 2025 and invited to apply for the PhD position within the School of Kinesiology to begin the graduate program in January 2026 or September 2026.

We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person. All qualified persons are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. Any applicant requiring accommodation during the application process or to discuss accessibility needs, please contact either Dr. Mark Carpenter (mark.carpenter@ubc.ca) or Dr. Jean-Sébastien Blouin (jean-sebastien.blouin@ubc.ca).

Funding Information

Successful applicants will receive at least $24 000 per year for up to 4 years, in base-level financial support. Financial support would comprise a combination of Teaching Assistantships and Research Assistantships. Base-level support may be supplemented with internal and external Scholarships and other research funding depending on level of experience. Upon acceptance, the successful applicant will be encouraged to apply for external funding, if eligible.

Research Group

The UBC Balance and Falls Research Centre (co-directed by Drs. Jean-Sébastien Blouin and Mark Carpenter) unifies a world-class network of internationally-recognized scientists that inter-weaves fundamental balance & falls research, clinical balance assessment, and bio- engineering/technological advancements, to understand the sensorimotor control of human balance and factors that contribute to balance deficits and falls associated with age-related degenerative disorders, spinal cord injuries, vestibular disorders, brain injury and Parkinson’s disease.

The BFRC is situated in a new state-of-the-art research laboratory within the new UBC Gateway Building. The 60 m2 research facility will link community outreach facilities, Gateway health clinic and surrounding neuromechanical kinesiology labs co-located within the Gateway Building, and centralize activities with other research labs, clinical facilities, and centres of excellence across UBC and the Lower Mainland. The dedicated BFRC lab space will provide a critical hub to conduct collaborative multi-disciplinary research, concept testing and technological development for BFRC members, trainees, visiting researchers and partners. For more information on the BFRC, please visit https://balancefalls.ubc.ca/

The Balance and Falls Research Centre is committed to Inclusive Excellence as described in the UBC Strategic Plan. This commitment is a shared responsibility between all researchers, trainees, staff and industrial partners involved in the activities of the Centre. We make every effort to attract the best trainees from various natural and clinical science disciplines from diverse social identities. Equity, Diversity and Inclusion training is a requirement for all Centre members, both to foster our Inclusive learning environment and to empower trainees to become future leaders who value and foster inclusion. In the Balance and Falls Research Centre environment, we do not tolerate any form of harassment, discrimination or bullying. In addition, UBC as an institution is committed to providing a safe, supportive, and inclusive living and learning environment with dedicated resources and services from the Faculty of Graduate Studies, UBC Service Centre, The Black Graduate Student Network and The First Nations House of Learning to support all students.

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Project details:

• Crowded public places often necessitate collision avoidance behaviours. This project seeks to understand the factors that influence a person’s decisions on where and how to walk (PhD position 1) and to develop computational models of this behaviour (PhD position 2).
• Experiments will involve collection and analysis of unscripted pedestrian walking behaviour across various real-world locations.
• Related research article:
  • Nikmanesh M, Cinelli ME, Marigold DS. Identifying factors that contribute to collision avoidance behaviours while walking in a natural environment. bioRxiv, 2024. https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.06.11.598509v1.

Position 1

Requirements:

• Background in neuroscience, psychology, kinesiology, and/or closely related area
• Self-motivated
• Proficient research and numerical skills
• Proficient oral and written English communication skills

Assets:

• Master’s degree
• Proficient in computer programming (ideally MATLAB and/or Python)

Position 2

Requirements:

• Background in neuroscience, psychology, kinesiology, statistics, mathematics, computer science, engineering, and/or closely related area
• Self-motivated
• Proficient in computer programming (e.g., MATLAB, Python)
• Demonstrated computational modeling expertise
• Proficient research and numerical skills
• Proficient oral and written English communication skills

Assets:

• Master’s degree
• Proficient in statistical modeling approaches
• Experience with the design, data collection, and analysis of human behavioural experiments

Funding: Guaranteed for at least 4 years (PhD level) in agreement with current Departmental policies. It is expected that the successful applicant will apply for both internal and external scholarships when eligible.

Location: The labs is part of the Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology (BPK) at Simon Fraser University (SFU). SFU is consistently ranked as one of the top comprehensive universities in Canada. The campus is located on the top of Burnaby Mountain in Metro Vancouver and is near numerous outdoor recreational opportunities.

Application Process: If interested, please send (1) a brief statement of research interests and career goals, (2) a current CV, and (3) transcripts (unofficial versions are acceptable to start) to daniel_marigold at sfu dot ca. Please send the statement in the body of the email and the CV and transcript documents in PDF format. In addition, please indicate which position(s) you are interested in. Positions are subject to acceptance into the graduate program in BPK at SFU. Please visit the following site for more details: www.sfu.ca/bpk/. We will start considering applications at the end of January and will continue until the position is filled.

Both research labs are committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Earliest Start Date: September 1, 2025. Later start dates may be possible.

Research and Training Associated with the Department: BPK has excellent systems-level neuroscience groups, which includes the labs of Drs. Gustavo Balbinot, Dylan Cooke, Sam Doesburg, Max Donelan, Andy Hoffer, Randy McIntosh, and Alex Wiesman. Graduate students can participate in the Translational and Integrative Neuroscience graduate specialization, which offers courses and workshops (www.sfu.ca/neuro-institute/training/graduate.html). In addition, SFU’s Institute for Neuroscience and Neurotechnology (www.sfu.ca/neuro-institute.html) provides networking opportunities and seminars. Students will also be trained by Dr. Cinelli who has expertise in visuomotor control and decision-making as it pertains to collision avoidance behaviours between individuals. Drs. Cinelli and Marigold will work closely with the students to foster their skillsets and professional development to prepare them for both their current research and their future careers within or outside of academia.

The post Graduate Student (PhD) Positions in Walking Collision Avoidance Behaviours – Simon Fraser University, Metro Vancouver, Canada appeared first on ISPGR.

Project details:

• What drives the decision of where, when, and for how long we look at environmental features? What drives where we step or the path to walk? This project will determine the role of different factors (e.g., self-efficacy, visual uncertainty, motor cost) in these decisions.
• Experiments will involve mobile eye tracking, virtual reality, and “in-the-wild” environments
• Related research articles from the lab:
  • Da Eira Silva V, Marigold DS. Fork in the road: how self-efficacy related to walking across terrain influences gaze behaviour and path choice. J Vis 24(7): 7, 2024.
  • Domínguez-Zamora FJ, Marigold DS. Motives driving gaze and walking decisions. Curr Biol 31: 1632-1642, 2021.

Requirements:

• Master’s degree and background in neuroscience, kinesiology, psychology, &/or closely related area
  • Prospective students without a master’s degree but interested in starting at the master’s level and transferring into a PhD program after 1 year can inquire about the possibility
• Self-motivated
• Proficient research and numerical skills
• Proficient oral and written English communication skills

Assets:

• Proficient in computer programming (ideally MATLAB and/or Python)
• Experience with virtual reality (and Unreal Engine or Unity)
• Applicants with expertise in computational modeling approaches relevant to the lab’s research focus are encouraged to apply; please explain how you can contribute to the lab in your application

Funding: Guaranteed for at least 4 years (PhD level) in agreement with current Departmental policies. It is expected that the successful applicant will apply for both internal and external scholarships when eligible.

Location: The labs is part of the Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology (BPK) at Simon Fraser University (SFU). SFU is consistently ranked as one of the top comprehensive universities in Canada. The campus is located on the top of Burnaby Mountain in Metro Vancouver and is near numerous outdoor recreational opportunities.

Application Process: If interested, please send (1) a brief statement of research interests and career goals, (2) a current CV, and (3) transcripts (unofficial versions are acceptable to start) to daniel_marigold at sfu dot ca. Please send the statement in the body of the email and the CV and transcript documents in PDF format. Positions are subject to acceptance into the graduate program in BPK at SFU. Please visit the following site for more details: www.sfu.ca/bpk/. We will start considering applications at the end of January and will continue until the position is filled.

The Sensorimotor Neuroscience Lab is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Earliest Start Date: September 1, 2025. Later start dates may be possible.

Research and Training Associated with the Department: BPK has excellent systems-level neuroscience groups, which includes the labs of Drs. Gustavo Balbinot, Dylan Cooke, Sam Doesburg, Max Donelan, Andy Hoffer, Randy McIntosh, and Alex Wiesman. Graduate students can participate in the Translational and Integrative Neuroscience graduate specialization, which offers courses and workshops (www.sfu.ca/neuro-institute/training/graduate.html). In addition, SFU’s Institute for Neuroscience and Neurotechnology (www.sfu.ca/neuro-institute.html) provides networking opportunities and seminars.

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Title (English): Benefits of precise visual tasks and laser pointing tasks to improve postural control in patients with Charcot-marie Tooth

Abstract: Patients with Charcot-Marie Tooth (CMT) are unstable upright as a consequence of their peripheral neuropathy. Postural instability is problematic for everyday activities because it is directly linked to higher risk of falls and falls are a major societal problem at the physical level (injuries), at the psychological level (threat to fall again) as well as at the financial level (health care systems). The Ph. D. project’s main objective will be to test the stabilizing power of performing two sorts of visual task (precise visual tasks and pointing laser tasks) on patients with CMT and healthy controls. In the literature reports, is well-known that the realization of precise visual tasks and pointing laser tasks is beneficial to improve postural stability in healthy, young adults. In main objective we will test the stabilizing power of two visual tasks on CMT patients and their controls. This investigation has never been done in the literature. Patients with CMT et healthy controls will perform 3 studies. They will be standing on a force platform and will wear three markers (Polhemus motion system) located at the head, upper back, lower back levels and an eye tracker (glasses). We will measure kinematic eye and body movements task performance and the level of difficulty to perform the tasks. The visual tasks will consist of i) maintaining a laser light as best as possible within a central target located in front of the participants on a wall (study n°1); ii) localizing targets on pictures as best as possible (study n°2). Patients with CMT should improve their postural stability more than healthy controls thanks to these visual tasks. In study n°3, we will study the stabilizing effects of the combination of these two tasks (secondary objective n°1). We will expect that pointing a laser within a target and localizing targets within images simultaneously should better stabilize patients with CMT and controls than the realization of both tasks separately. In our secondary objective n°2, we will study 1) if healthy controls get better visuo-motor performances than patients with CMT in the three studies and 2) if performances of patients are closer to the controls’ ones in study n°3 than in studies n°1 and n°2, thus showing the benetits of adding these tasks. Our project will allow – we hope – to discuss new therapeutic perspectives for patients with CMT with respect to visual tasks with/without pointing. During this Ph. D., the doctorate fellow will interact with two neurologists at the regional hospital of Lille (CHRU), one professor of rehabilitation (CHRU) and one American colleague. The experimental setup is ready for an optimal use. This Ph. D. is not financed today but our objective (you and I) is to propose this project to the Bio-santé doctoral school of the University of Lille and to get the financial support for this thesis. All studies will be financed for their realization (already paid engineer, participants, materials, experimental room). For more information, please contact me and visit my website. Please. If you would like to discuss another Ph. D. project with me, in relation to postural stability and vision, please contact me also to discuss this opportunity.

Ph.D. director: Dr. Cédrick Bonnet CR1 CNRS, SCALab (Laboratoire de Science Cognitive et Affective), University of Lille; cedrick.bonnet@univ-lille.fr ; https://pro.univ-lille.fr/cedrick-bonnet/

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Abstract: Title (English) : The benefits of standing for optimally performing visual tasks

Abstract: In the standing position, humans sway continuously. In the literature on postural control, the need to control balance has always been viewed as a burden for task performance. However, many arguments and a new trade-off (postural sway/performance) hypothesis suggest that the fact of swaying in the standing position may be advantageous to optimally perform precise visual tasks (e.g. detection of targets in the visual environment). The main objective of the Ph. D. proposal will be to test the validity of this trade-off hypothesis. Three studies with healthy, young adults will be performed. They will be sitting and standing in various experimental condition (more or less constraining) and will carry three markers (Polhemus motion system) located at the head, upper back, lower back levels as well as an eye tracker (glasses). We will measure kinematic eye and body movements, task performance and the level of difficulty to perform the tasks. Study n°1: to test the effects of the body position and quantity of sway (seated and upright in various positions) on task performances in two precise visual tasks (one easy, one hard). Study n°2: to test the effects of the body position and quantity of sway on task performances in a precise visual task vs. a cognitive one (counting in one’s head). Study n°3: to test with a head-mounted virtual reality display the effects of the perceived quantity of optic flow on task performance in a precise visual task. The participants will only stand comfortably with feet in usual condition and the background of the visual display will show more or less postural sway as if the participants swayed more or less depending on the experimental condition. This study n°3 will test if it is really the quantity of sway, and not really the body position, that matters to explain highest success in task performance, as suggested by the trade-off hypothesis. Our results can have implications for human factors engineering and the way to improve task performance and productivity. During this Ph. D., the doctorate fellow will interact with me and my collaborators and will perform the studies at the Equipex IrDIVE in Tourcoing (our experimental lab). This Ph. D. is not financed today but our objective (you and I) is to propose this project to the SHS doctoral school of the University of Lille and to get the financial support for this thesis (be careful: first selection at the SCALab end of May 2021). All studies will be financed for their realization (already paid engineer, participants, materials, experimental room). For more information, please contact me and visit my website. If you would like to discuss this Ph. D. project eventually to reshape it, please contact me to discuss this opportunity.

Ph.D. director: Dr. Cédrick Bonnet CR1 CNRS, SCALab (Laboratoire de Science Cognitive et Affective), University of Lille; cedrick.bonnet@univ-lille.fr ; https://pro.univ-lille.fr/cedrick-bonnet/

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The Sensorimotor Neuroscience Lab (www.sfu.ca/smnl; twitter.com/SMNLab) is seeking
applications for available graduate student positions (at the PhD or MSc level) for projects related to
how we use visual information to navigate our world.

Project themes:
• How we make decisions about where to look and where to walk
• Visuomotor learning during walking
Requirements:
• Self-motivated
• Proficient research and numerical skills
• Proficient oral and written English communication skills
• Proficient in computer programming (ideally MATLAB and/or Python) or evidence of a
willingness to learn
• Background in neuroscience, kinesiology, physiology, computer science, biomechanics,
and/or closely related area
• Applicants with expertise in computational modeling approaches relevant to the lab’s
research focus are encouraged to apply

Funding: Funding is guaranteed for at least 2 years (MSc level) or 4 years (PhD level) in agreement
with current Departmental policies. It is expected that the successful applicant will apply for both
internal and external scholarships when eligible.

Location: The lab is part of the Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology at Simon
Fraser University (SFU). SFU is consistently ranked as one of the top comprehensive universities in
Canada. The campus is located at the top of Burnaby Mountain in beautiful Metro Vancouver and is
in close proximity to numerous outdoor recreational opportunities.

Application Process: If you are interested, please send (1) a brief statement of research interests
and career goals, (2) a current CV, and (3) transcripts (unofficial versions are acceptable to start) to
daniel_marigold at sfu dot ca. Please send the statement in the body of the email and the CV and
transcript documents in PDF format. Positions are subject to acceptance into the graduate program
in the Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology at SFU. Please visit the following site for
more details: www.sfu.ca/bpk/. The Lab will start considering applications in the middle of February
and will continue until the position is filled.

The Sensorimotor Neuroscience Lab is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Earliest Start Date: September 1, 2021 OR January 1, 2022. Other dates are possible.

Research and Training Associated with the Department: The Sensorimotor Neuroscience Lab is
part of the Neuromechanics Group, which includes the labs of Drs. Dylan Cooke, Max Donelan, Andy
Hoffer, Dawn Mackey, Steve Robinovitch, and James Wakeling. Graduate students will have the
opportunity to participate in the Translational and Integrative Neuroscience graduate specialization,
which offers courses and workshops (https://www.sfu.ca/neuroscience/TRAIN.html).

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