Dr. Milad Nazarahari

At IDEA Lab, we are still accepting applications for funded PhD positions.
Robotic systems can actively assist/guide individuals with severe impairment during repetitive therapy exergames (i.e., exercise games) while tracking kinematic and kinetic data. However, the existing systems deliver therapy exercises that are similar among all patients, and the specific needs of patients are mostly neglected. Thus, we aim to develop an affordable and portable robotic system (hardware and software) to deliver cost effective personalized upper extremity rehabilitation following a neurological or musculoskeletal disorder.

Technical Training

• Control theory: developing intelligent controllers for bio-robots to adapt their assistance during therapy.
• Optimization: developing therapy optimization strategies to adapt therapy to the user’s functional capacity.
• Bio-mechatronics: designing and prototyping an affordable and portable back-drivable robotic system.
• Design and implement experimental studies with humans using robotic and motion capture systems as well as wearable EMG sensors.

Qualifications

1. MSc degree in Mechatronics, Biomedical, Mechanical, or Electrical Engineering.
2. Research interest and/or experience (coursework, research, and/or industrial): bio- mechatronics, robot design/simulation/prototyping, biomedical and rehabilitation engineering, control theory, and optimization.
3. Experience in programming with MATLAB and Simulink.
4. Object-oriented programming, preferably C++ and/or C#.
5. Minimum GPA of 3.5/4.0 (or equivalent).
6. Effective written and verbal communication skills in English.

Preferred Qualifications

1. Experience designing bio-robots to interact with humans, specifically real-time hardware/software system design and data processing.
2. Experience in bio-mechatronics, physiological data measurement and analysis, robot controller design, and motor control.
3. Experience in state estimation and optimization.
4. Experience working with wearable sensors (EMG) and camera motion capture system.
5. Experience in interdisciplinary research in collaboration with health scientists, the healthcare system, and the biomedical industry

Contact

please submit your application to Dr. Nazarahari via email (milad.nazarahari@ualberta.ca):

1. (Required) Cover letter: a brief statement of your motivation, research interests, & relevant past experiences (max 1 page).
2. (Required) Academic CV, including a list of publications and contact information of three references**.
3. (If available) Transcripts of your previous degrees (pdf file).
4. (If available for international students) English language test results, e.g., TOEFL, IELTS (pdf file).
5. (If available) Your representative publications (pdf file, max 3 samples). 

* Please use “Prospective [MSc/PhD/PDF] Candidate – [Project title] – [Your Full Name]” as the subject of your email. If there is no position advertised but you are interested to join us, use “External” instead of “Project title.”

** Your references will be contacted only after your (online) interview.