Doctoral student in Biomechanics: Gait exoskeletons and rehab robotics

Doctoral student in Biomechanics: Gait exoskeletons and rehab robotics

School of Engineering Sciences at KTH

Third-cycle subject: Engineering Mechanics

The PhD student will join the research group at KTH MoveAbility , in biomechanics of human movement, with a focus on development and innovation of assistive devices. Our research focuses on technology to decode, measure and enhance human movements, particularly in people with motor disabilities. The KTH MoveAbility research group is part of the Department of Engineering Mechanics. The Promobilia MoveAbility Lab is a well-equipped experimental research infrastructure, centrally located on KTH's campus and in close collaboration with an interdisciplinary network of clinical and technical researchers and healthcare professionals. The growing group is multicultural and multidisciplinary.

This position will be financed by the Promobilia Foundation and Digital Futures, and focuses on active assistive devices that facilitate walking. It will involve prototype development, biomechanical simulation, innovation, experiments on human subjects, and collaboration with clinical professionals.

• A postgraduate education at an institution that is active and supportive in matters pertaining to working conditions, gender equality and diversity as well as study environment
• Work in a multidisciplinary, multicultural and well-equipped biomechanics research environment.

Admission requirements

To be admitted to postgraduate education (Chapter 7, 39 § Swedish Higher Education Ordinance), the applicant must have basic eligibility in accordance with either of the following:

• passed a second cycle degree (for example a master's degree), or
• completed course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits, of which at least 60 second-cycle higher education credits, or
• acquired, in some other way within or outside the country, substantially equivalent knowledge
• master’s degree or equivalent in engineering physics, robotics, mechatronics, mechanical engineering, biomedical engineering or other relevant area

In order to succeed as a doctoral student at KTH you need to be goal oriented and persevering in your work. During the selection process, candidates will be assessed upon their ability to:

• independently pursue his or her work
• collaborate with others,
• have a professional approach and
• analyse and work with complex issues
• construct and control exoskeletons and robots

Beyond the qualification requirements, great emphasis will be placed on personal competency, specifically:

• Experience with movement analysis, biomechanical simulation are desirable
• You should have good social skills to interact with people with disabilities
• Very good skills in speaking and writing technical English are required for daily work
• Genuine desire to learn Swedish to communicate with patients and clinicians is advantageous
• Social skills, equality philosophy and ethical approach required to perform experiments on people
• We have a gender balanced environment and equal treatment of all people, which much be respected
• Very good knowledge of writing and speaking English as it is required in the daily work

Information regarding admission and employment

Only those admitted to postgraduate education may be employed as a doctoral student. The total length of employment may not be longer than what corresponds to full-time doctoral education in four years ' time. An employed doctoral student can, to a limited extent (maximum 20%), perform certain tasks within their role, e.g. training and administration. A new position as a doctoral student is for a maximum of one year, and then the employment may be renewed for a maximum of two years at a time.In the case of studies that are to be completed with a licentiate degree, the total period of employment may not be longer than what corresponds to full-time doctoral education for two years.

Union representatives

You will find contact information for union representatives on KTH's website .

Doctoral section (Students’ union on KTH Royal Institute of Technology)

Apply for the position and admission through KTH's recruitment system. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the advertisement.

Applications must be received at the last closing date at midnight, CET/CEST (Central European Time/Central European Summer Time).

Applications must include the following elements:

• CV including your relevant professional experience and knowledge.
• Application letter with a brief description of why you want to pursue research studies, about what your academic interests are and how they relate to your previous studies and future goals. (Maximum 2 pages long)
• Copies of diplomas and grades from previous university studies and certificates of fulfilled language requirements (see above) . Translations into English or Swedish if the original document is not issued in one of these languages.Copies of originals must be certified .
• Representative publications or technical reports. For longer documents, please provide a summary (abstract) and a web link to the full text.

Other information

Striving towards gender equality, diversity and equal conditions is both a question of quality for KTH and a given part of our values.

The positionmay includesecurity-sensitive activities. To become authorized, you therefore need to pass a possible security check.

We firmly decline all contact with staffing and recruitment agencies and job ad salespersons.

Disclaimer: In case of discrepancy between the Swedish original and the English translation of the job announcement, the Swedish version takes precedence.

About KTH

KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm has grown to become one of Europe’s leading technical and engineering universities, as well as a key centre of intellectual talent and innovation. We are Sweden’s largest technical research and learning institution and home to students, researchers and faculty from around the world. Our research and education covers a wide area including natural sciences and all branches of engineering, as well as architecture, industrial management, urban planning, history and philosophy. Read more here

Monthly salary according to KTH's doctoral student salary agreement