Rehabilitation Robotics
rehabilitation robotics
Massimo Sartori
The Neuro-Mechanical Modeling and Engineering Lab (NMLab) at the University of Twente invites applications for a 3-year postdoctoral position funded by the ERC Consolidator Grant ROBOREACTOR. This is an exciting opportunity to join a cutting-edge team at the intersection of neurophysiology, biomechanics, and rehabilitation robotics. As a postdoctoral researcher in this project, you will work on breakthrough technology for non-invasive biopsies of skeletal muscles, specifically targeting the lower limbs. You will employ high-density electromyography (HD-EMG) and ultrasonography, combined with advanced statistical and machine learning techniques, to characterize muscle properties at multiple scales. Key focuses include motor unit phenotype distribution, 3D muscle fascicle morphology, and muscle inflammation levels. You will validate these non-invasive measurements against invasive biopsy samples and advanced imaging techniques, working with both healthy individuals and post-stroke survivors in the context of rehabilitation robotics and regenerative robotics technologies.
Massimo Sartori
This 4-year PhD position offers you the chance to work in an innovative interdisciplinary environment, collaborating on groundbreaking research at the frontier of healthcare and robotics. As a PhD fellow, you’ll play a central role in building a predictive, multi-scale model of human skeletal muscle. This model will simulate how motor units within muscles respond to neural signals discharged by spinal neurons and adapt structurally over time when subjected to specific physical strain regimens. Leveraging machine learning and statistical modeling, you’ll integrate data from in vivo and in vitro studies to accurately predict muscle remodelling. The model will be validated against data from both healthy participants and post-stroke patients following a targeted 12-week leg training protocol. Using advanced tools such as high-density electromyography, ultrasound, and robotic dynamometry, you'll bridge biomechanics, neurophysiology and robotics, driving novel insights in muscle modelling and rehabilitation.
Affordable Robots/Computer Systems to Identify, Assess, and Treat Impairment After Brain Injury
Non-traumatic brain injury due to stroke, cerebral palsy and HIV often result in serious long-term disability worldwide, affecting more than 150 million persons globally; with the majority of persons living in low and middle income countries. These diseases often result in varying levels of motor and cognitive impairment due to brain injury which then affects the person’s ability to complete activities of daily living and fully participate in society. Increasingly advanced technologies are being used to support identification, diagnosis, assessment, and therapy for patients with brain injury. Specifically, robot and mechatronic systems can provide patients, physicians and rehabilitation clinical providers with additional support to care for and improve the quality of life of children and adults with motor and cognitive impairment. This talk will provide a brief introduction to the area of rehabilitation robotics and, via case studies, illustrate how computer/technology-assisted rehabilitation systems can be developed and used to assess motor and cognitive impairment, detect early evidence of functional impairment, and augment therapy in high and low-resource settings.