PhD Student/Research Assistant
Locomotor Control Systems Laboratory
Departments of Bioengineering and Mechanical Engineering
University of Texas at Dallas

The Locomotor Control Systems Laboratory
(http://www.utdallas.edu/~rgregg/locolab/) at the University of Texas at
Dallas (UTD) is accepting applications for the position of PhD
Student/Research Assistant to start in Fall 2014. The student will
pursue a PhD in Bioengineering (joint with the UT Southwestern Medical
Center) or Mechanical Engineering. This position is funded by an NIH
Director?s New Innovator Award and a Burroughs Wellcome Fund Career
Award at the Scientific Interface. Graduate Research Assistants receive
a living stipend starting at $1650/month in addition to a tuition
waiver. Strong domestic students may be eligible for departmental
recruitment fellowships to supplement the living stipend.

The PhD student will contribute to a newly funded initiative to develop
a robot control paradigm for high-performance powered prosthetic legs
and exoskeletons. The project will have theoretical and experimental
components, including human subject experiments. This work will take
place at both UTD and UT Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), where the
PhD student will work with clinical collaborators and have opportunities
to shadow clinicians in the Prosthetics-Orthotics Program and the
Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation program. For detailed information on
the proposed project, visit
http://www.utdallas.edu/~rgregg/locolab/research.html.

Qualifications

Applicants should have a Bachelor?s degree in a related engineering
discipline (e.g. robotics, mechanical, electrical, biomedical, controls,
or systems engineering). The student must have excellent oral and
written communication skills and strong knowledge in control systems and
robotics. Prior research experience in a related area is highly
encouraged. In order of importance, the following skills are desired for
this position:
1. Control systems/mechatronics
2. Matlab or Mathematica
3. LabView or dSPACE
4. Microcontrollers (e.g., C programming)
5. CAD software (e.g., SolidWorks, ProE)
6. Signal electronics

This position will require travel between the UTD and UTSW campuses
(about a 30 minute drive).

About the Laboratory

Directed by Prof. Robert D. Gregg, the mission of the Locomotor Control
System Laboratory is to develop high-performance wearable control
systems (e.g., robotic prostheses and orthoses) to enable mobility and
improve quality of life for persons with disabilities. We approach this
needs-driven research from the perspective of dynamical systems and
control theory, translating concepts from the field of humanoid robotics
into transformative solutions for physical rehabilitation. The
Laboratory is a highly interdisciplinary environment dedicated to
scientific innovation and achievement, clinical translation, and
individual career development. The Laboratory operates in the brand new
Arts & Technology Center at UTD and is currently establishing a new gait
laboratory at UTSW.

About the Institutions

UTD is a dynamic and rapidly growing institution with strong support
from the state of Texas. UTD is the home of the Erik Jonsson School of
Engineering & Computer Science, which has more than doubled its research
funding since 2003 and is on track to double it again by 2020. The
University has many new facilities that offer unique resources,
including the Center for Brain Health, the Arts & Technology Center, and
the Texas Biomedical Device Center. A brand new Bioengineering and
Sciences building is under construction to be completed in 2015, which
will be the new home of the Department of Bioengineering.

In addition to BS degrees, UTD Bioengineering offers MS and PhD degrees
jointly with UTSW, which is the largest of the six health institutions
in the UT System. The PhD student will leverage collaborations with the
clinical programs and resources at UTSW, which is located at the
southwestern medical district in Dallas?a 30 minute drive from the UTD
campus. UTSW ranks among the nation?s top 20 medical schools in US News
& World Report and is renowned worldwide for its biomedical and clinical
research. In particular, the Prosthetics-Orthotics Program at UTSW is
dedicated to research, education, and clinical services for the large,
diverse population of the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Between UTSW and UTD,
physicians, therapists, prosthetists, orthotists, scientists, and
engineers collaborate closely and are devoted to restoration and
improvement of quality of life for individuals with disabilities.

Application Process

Formal applications must be submitted through UTD Graduate Admissions:
http://www.utdallas.edu/admissions/graduate/

Interested individuals should also email informal applications to Prof.
Robert Gregg (rgregg@utdallas.edu). The subject line of the email should
be ?Rehabilitation PhD Student Application.? In the email, please include:
- Cover letter describing background and research interests (PDF, < 1 page)
- Resume (PDF)
- Expected or actual date of graduation for previous degree
- Preferred PhD program: Bioengineering or Mechanical Engineering
(Electrical Engineering may also be considered)
- List of at least 3 references with contact information

Incomplete applications will not be considered.


--
Robert D. Gregg, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Department of Bioengineering
University of Texas at Dallas
(972)883-4657
rgregg@utdallas.edu
http://www.utdallas.edu/~rgregg/locolab/