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Wireless Communications and Networking Laboratory

Opportunities  

Joint PhD Supervision Program with Eindhoven University of Technology, Netherlands

Context-Aware Ultra-Low Power Wireless Body Area Network Research for Health Monitoring

Recent advances in sensor and wireless communication technologies enable the creation of a new generation of healthcare monitoring systems with wearable electronics and photonics. This research intends to develop a platform (for example an intelligent jacket) and associated algorithms and protocols to support ultra-low power wireless body area networks (e.g. 60 GHz or UWB WBANs) to monitor various vital health parameters, such as ECG, respiration, EEG, EMG, etc. The research will consist of platform design, WBAN protocol development, system performance optimization and user testing.

1. Platform design and WBAN protocol development

 Firstly, the format of the general platform will be investigated. The research in this part will include defining the health monitoring functions an intelligent platform (e.g. intelligent jacket) could have, investigating what kind of electronic and optical sensors will be suitable for the general platform, and determining what advantages and limitations an intelligent jacket will bring to the users. Secondly, research to determine the strategy will be carried out for integrating different electronic and optical sensors on the general platform. In this part, the research focus will be on the size, numbers and locations of sensors for obtaining reliable sensing results. Thirdly, a WBAN will be designed and established by integrating different sensors and a low power wireless front end on the platform. WBAN protocols will be developed to support the targeted health monitoring applications.

 2. System performance optimization and user testing

During the phase of technology integration, performance optimization will be carried out. A platform will be configured for several applications and will support dynamic adaptability. Physical and MAC layer protocol design and optimization for combating noise and interference and for minimizing energy consumption and maximizing throughput will be carried out. Adaptive context aware sensing and communication will be investigated. The proposed WBANs system will be built and validated via user testing either in hospital or at other locations, depending on applications. The system trade-offs will be investigated. One interesting application could be neonatal monitoring at hospitals for the health status of newborn babies. According to feedback from the user testing, the WBAN system will be further refined.

The project will be conducted at Wireless Networking and Communications Laboratory, Department of Physics and Engineering, Macquarie University, Australia and Designed Intelligence Group, Department of Industrial Design, Eindhoven University of Technology, the Netherlands. Supervisors for the PhD student will be Prof. Eryk Dutkiewicz from Macquarie University, Assis/Prof. Dr. Wei Chen, and Prof. dr. ir. Loe Feijs from Eindhoven University of Technology. Interested applicants can apply for admission to either Macquarie University or Eindhoven University of Technology as the primary home institution. The two universities will then prepare a joint PhD supervision agreement for the successful applicant, enabling the applicant to enrol and carry out the research simultaneously at both institutions. The applicant will be expected to spend approximately half of the PhD study period at each university. Each university will carry out the PhD thesis examination according to its own examination processes. Upon successful completion of the research program, the applicant will receive two separate PhD degree certificates – one from each university. For funding support opportunities please contact the home university of your choice.

If you are interested in this Joint PhD Program and would like to enrol at Macquarie University as your home university, please contact Prof. Eryk Dutkiewicz for further information. If you would like to enrol at Eindhoven University of Technology as your home university, please contact Assis/Prof. Dr Wei Chen for further information. 

Macquarie University Research Excellence Scholarships (MQRES)

MQRES scholarships are available for full-time PhD studies in the Wireless Communications and Networking Laboratory at Macquarie University. Eligible domestic and international candidates are encouraged to apply. Applicants should hold a First Class Honours (or equivalent) degree in the engineering or equivalent field and be eligible for admission to the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Faculty of Science. Entry requirement details and application forms are available from the Higher Degree Research Office. If you are interested to undertake a PhD study in the Laboratory, please discuss a suitable research topic with members of the Laboratory before submitting your application to the Higher Degree Research Office. 

Generous top-up scholarships sponsored by the Commonwealth Scientific, Industrial and Research Organisation (CSIRO) are also available to apply for by successful MQRES scholarship applicants.

For other scholarship opportunities please check the information on the Higher Degree Research Office website.

Please note that Macquarie University is currently offering additional MQRES scholarships to Australian domestic students. If you are eligible for these scholarships and are interested to conduct PhD studies into wireless technologies at Macquarie University, please contact Prof. Eryk Dutkiewicz for further information.

Do not miss out on this unique opportunity as these scholarships are very popular and will run out fast!