Supervisor: Dr William Holderbaum and Prof William Harwin

Overview: This PhD studentship is part of an EPSRC funded project called “SPHERE’ – a Sensor Platform for HEalthcare in a Residential Environment”. The project is part of a consortium of universities and industrial partners with the aim of monitoring individuals using both mobile and static sensors and using this information to report useful diagnosis information to relatives, carers and heath care professionals. In particular the research at the University of Reading will focus on developing a low-power sensor to be worn on the body or in clothing that records, communicates and interprets data useful for physicians. Such data could include kinematic signals such as movement, or biological signals such as temperature.

The PhD student will be involved in the pre-processing sensor data, and the subsequent integration, modelling and data mining. This work will include fusing multiple data sources to provide a most likely model of activity which maximises information content in a health monitoring context. Moreover, the decision-making process (e.g., distinguishing between regular activities and medical emergencies) needs to be implemented and fine-tuned taking into account the specific characteristics of sensors and people.

Eligibility: Applicants should hold a minimum of a UK Honours Degree at 2:1 level or equivalent in engineering, physics or mathematics or similar subject. Please note that international students will need to fund the difference in fee costs between the EU/UK and the international fees.

Funding Details: Studentship will cover Home/EU Fees and pay the Research Council minimum stipend (£13,726 for 2013/14) for up to 3 years. The studentship will begin in October 2013.

How to apply: To apply for this studentship please submit an application for a PhD in Cybernetics to the University – see the Apply button below.

Important note – Please quote the reference ‘GS13-57’ in the ‘Scholarships applied for’ box which appears within the Funding Section of your online application.

Application Deadline: Mon 8th July 2013

Further Enquiries: Please contact Dr William Holderbaum, tel: +44-(0)-118-378-8086, email: w.holderbaum@reading.ac.uk or Professor Harwin, tel: +44-(0)-118-378-6792, email: w.s.harwin@reading.ac.uk or see http://www.reading.ac.uk/sse/sphere.aspx