April, 2011 | Scholarship for Nigerians and Africans - Part 73

PhD Position at LIRMM-INRIA, Montpellier, France: Whole body control framework for lower limb stability in computational rehabilitation

INRIA is the French national institute for research in computer science and control. DEMAR project’s research interests are centered on the human sensory motor modeling, including muscles, sensory feedbacks, and neural motor networks.

research direction:
Identification of biomechanical dynamics and muscle dynamics for neurologically damaged patient is already challenging as the system
response can drastically vary depending on the degree of the patient deficiencies. In FES (Functional Electrical Stimulation), movement
synthesis and control are still a challenging task due to the complexity of whole body dynamics computation and the nonlinearity of
stimulated muscle dynamics. One of the challenge concerns the feedback (torque, EMG, joint angle) that can be used to control joint angle,
torque or stiffness. Moreover, control strategies have to be designed in order to be performed on portable architecture and tuned through
advanced modeling and simulation.
In this context, the goal of this PhD work is to study the optimization-based motion synthesis and real-time control framework
which can generate stimulation patterns from the pre-computed motion synthesis database. Motion capture system together with the estimation of the Center of Mass would be used to assess the strategies. This work aims at the development of automatic method to establish deficient limb stability in computer-aided rehabilitation.
This PhD work is performed under the collaborative project named @walk (artificial walking) between INRIA DEMAR project and AI lab of
Stanford University.

Research background:
-Master in control engineering, computer science, biomechanics, robotics or related disciplines.
– good knowledge of C/C++ programming and matlab.

Scholarship Application Deadline: Contact Employer

Further Scholarship Information and Application

Graduate Assistantship Position at University of West Florida, USA

The Department of Environmental Studies and the Online GIS Certificate Program at The University of West Florida invite applications for a twelve-month Graduate Assistantship to begin as early as August 22, 2011. Compensation includes tuition (36
credits) towards M.S. Environmental Science and salary (14k per year for two years). The successful candidate will be expected to assist in online GIS Certificate Program courses such as Introduction to GIS, Cartography, Remote Sensing + Photo Interpretation, and GIS Programming as well as provide assistance with outreach activities. Requirements include a B.S. or B.A. in Geography, Environmental Studies, or related degree, 3.2 GPA, 1000 on GRE, acceptance to graduate program, and eligibility to work in the United States. The ideal candidate must demonstrate theoretical and practical experience with GIS, communicate effectively both orally and in writing, and be organized, productive and ethical.Applicants are encouraged to visit http://www.uwf.edu/gis/gisonline/

Apply: Send the following materials in PDF format: (1) A cover letter including experience, academic and research interests and (2) résumé to Amber Bloechle, GIS Online Coordinator (abloechle@uwf.edu). Email Ms. Bloechle for inquiries.
Submit the following to the Office of Graduate Admissions by May 10, 2011:
1. An on-line graduate admission application https://nautical.uwf.edu/utility/admissionapp/ui/graduate/ along with official transcripts of all
college work and a nonrefundable processing fee.
2. A formal letter of interest, background, and professional goals, including a preference for the thesis or non-thesis track. Applicants for the thesis track are encouraged to contact departmental faculty in their field of interest before applying to secure availability of a thesis
advisor.
3. Three letters of recommendation by individuals in professionally relevant fields.
4. A current curriculum vitae.
5. Official scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). A minimum ranking in the50th percentile and 40th percentile for the verbal and quantitative parts of the GRE
respectively are recommended by the department.
Department of Environmental Studies, University of West Florida, 11000 University Pkwy, Pensacola, FL 32514. Ph: (850) 474-2746 Fax: (850) 857-6036
Scholarship Application Deadline:Review of applications will begin March 21, 2011 and continue until the position is filled. The University of West Florida is an Equal Opportunity/Access/ Affirmative Action Employer. Minorities and women are encouraged to apply.

Further Scholarship Information and Application

PhD Student Fellowship: Transcriptome Data Analysis and Modeling of Aspergillus fumigatus – Phagocytes Interaction, Germany

Dynamic models for the interaction between fungal pathogen A. fumigatus and phagocytes shall be inferred from RNA?Seq? and microarray?based gene expression data integrating the available prior knowledge. RNA?seq data analysis shall be used to search for splice variants and small regulatory non?coding RNA species and to study their impact for the fungal phagocytose interaction. The inferred models shall be aggregated, scaled?down to predictive minimal models and used for experiment design.

We expect:
• a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Bioinformatics. Candidates about to obtain their degree are welcome to apply.
• required methodological skills: data and biodatabase mining, mathematical modeling
• high motivation and interest in joining one of the interdisciplinary research areas of the JSMC
• creativity and interest in shaping your own thesis project
• an integrative and cooperative personality
• very good communication skills in English (the language of instruction at the JSMC)

We offer:
• a highly communicative atmosphere within a scientific network providing top?level research
conditions
• a PhD stipend paid for three years according to the rules of the DFG (German Research
Foundation) as well as generous research funding
• a comprehensive mentoring program with efficient supervision by a team of supervisors
• a top?level PhD training program with courses in state?of?the?art research technologies and soft skills
• Jena – the German City of Science 2008: a young and lively town with dynamic business activities, successful scientific centers of innovation and a vibrant cultural scene around the famous Friedrich Schiller University

The application procedure takes place exclusively online via the JSMC website:www.jsmc.uni?jena.de

To apply, please acquaint yourself with the open PhD projects and the application process described on this website. Applications can only be considered upon receipt of the completed ‘Statement of Interest’ form, submitted by email to apply-jsmc-at-uni-jena.de before the deadlines listed below.
Selected applicants will be invited to a JSMC Recruitment Meeting in Jena, Germany, in June 2011. Award decisions will be made shortly thereafter, allowing the PhD projects to start immediately.

Scholarship Application Deadline: (i.e. deadlines for submission of the completed ‘Statement of Interest’ form):
Deadline for applicants who will require a visa to enter Germany and attend the recruitment meeting in June: April 6, 2011

For applicants who will not require a visa to enter Germany: Deadline April 29, 2011

(Please note: after April 29, applications from non-EU-nationals can only be considered if attendance at the recruitment meeting is possible within two weeks of receiving notice of acceptance. Please provide a brief explanatory statement together with your application)

Further Schlarship Information and Application