{"id":267,"date":"2025-12-15T11:49:33","date_gmt":"2025-12-15T11:49:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.staff.ncl.ac.uk\/haoyuhuang\/?p=267"},"modified":"2025-12-15T11:49:33","modified_gmt":"2025-12-15T11:49:33","slug":"looking-for-one-funded-phd-student","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.staff.ncl.ac.uk\/haoyuhuang\/2025\/12\/15\/looking-for-one-funded-phd-student\/","title":{"rendered":"Looking for one funded PhD student"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Full details are in the link: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncl.ac.uk\/postgraduate\/fees-funding\/search-funding\/?code=DLA2610\">https:\/\/www.ncl.ac.uk\/postgraduate\/fees-funding\/search-funding\/?code=DLA2610<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Structural and Material Influence on Floor Vibration-Based Fall Detection<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Newcastle University \u2013 School of Engineering<\/strong><br>\ud83d\udccd Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Supervisors:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Dr Haoyu Huang<\/strong>, Lecturer in Structural Engineering<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Prof Sean Wilkinson<\/strong>, Professor of Structural Engineering<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Funding body:<\/strong> EPSRC<br><strong>Start date:<\/strong> 1 October 2026<br><strong>Duration:<\/strong> 4 years<br><strong>Application deadline:<\/strong> <strong>18 February 2026<\/strong><br><strong>Studentship code:<\/strong> <strong>DLA2610<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Funding and Benefits<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>100% tuition fees covered<\/strong> (UK or international students)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Tax-free annual stipend of at least \u00a320,780<\/strong> (UKRI 2025\/26 rate)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Additional funding for <strong>research expenses, experiments, and training<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Project Overview<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Falls are one of the most serious safety risks facing older adults, and rapid, reliable fall detection can significantly reduce injury severity and improve emergency response times. Recent advances in vibration-based sensing have demonstrated strong potential for non-intrusive fall detection using floor-mounted sensors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This PhD project will investigate <strong>how the structural form and material properties of floor systems influence vibration signatures generated by human falls and everyday activities<\/strong>, and how these differences affect the performance of <strong>AI-based fall detection models<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unlike much existing research, which assumes a single, uniform floor condition, real buildings vary widely \u2014 from <strong>timber and composite floors to reinforced concrete slabs<\/strong> \u2014 each with distinct stiffness, damping, and boundary conditions. These variations fundamentally alter vibration transmission and signal characteristics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The project will develop a <strong>physics-informed, data-driven framework<\/strong> linking structural behaviour to fall detection accuracy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Research Methods<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The PhD will combine:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Experimental testing<\/strong> on different floor systems<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Finite element modelling<\/strong> of vibration propagation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>AI and machine-learning techniques<\/strong> for signal classification and fall detection<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This interdisciplinary project sits at the intersection of <strong>civil engineering, structural dynamics, and artificial intelligence<\/strong>, with strong potential for real-world impact in smart buildings and healthcare monitoring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Eligibility and Requirements<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>We adopt a <strong>contextual admissions approach<\/strong>, valuing potential, experience, and motivation alongside academic achievement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Essential requirements:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A <strong>minimum 2:1 Honours degree<\/strong> (or international equivalent) in Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related discipline<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Strong analytical skills and the ability to work independently<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Excellent written and verbal communication skills<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Enthusiasm for interdisciplinary and experimental research<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>A Master\u2019s degree is <strong>not mandatory<\/strong> if you meet the above criteria or can demonstrate relevant research or professional experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>English language requirements:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>IELTS <strong>6.5 overall<\/strong>, with <strong>minimum 5.5 in each sub-skill<\/strong> (or equivalent)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>International applicants may require an <strong>ATAS clearance certificate<\/strong> prior to visa application.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How to Apply<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Apply via the <strong>Apply to Newcastle Portal<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Select <strong>Civil Engineering (Full-time) \u2013 Programme code: 8040F<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In the application:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Upload your <strong>Personal Statement using the required template<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Enter <strong>DLA2610<\/strong> in the <em>Studentship\/Partnership Reference<\/em> field<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>When asked about your proposal, select <strong>\u201cWrite Proposal\u201d<\/strong> and enter the <strong>project title exactly as advertised<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>No separate research proposal is required<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>\u26a0\ufe0f Applications <strong>without the required personal statement template will not be considered<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Enquiries<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>\ud83d\udce7 <strong>Dr Haoyu Huang<\/strong> \u2013 <a>haoyu.huang@newcastle.ac.uk<\/a><br>\ud83d\udce7 <strong>Doctoral Awards Team<\/strong> \u2013 <a>doctoral.awards@ncl.ac.uk<\/a> (independent application advice)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Full details are in the link: https:\/\/www.ncl.ac.uk\/postgraduate\/fees-funding\/search-funding\/?code=DLA2610 Structural and Material Influence on Floor Vibration-Based Fall Detection Newcastle University \u2013 School of Engineering\ud83d\udccd Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom Supervisors: Funding body: EPSRCStart date: 1 October 2026Duration: 4 yearsApplication deadline: 18 February &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.staff.ncl.ac.uk\/haoyuhuang\/2025\/12\/15\/looking-for-one-funded-phd-student\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10903,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-267","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.staff.ncl.ac.uk\/haoyuhuang\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/267","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.staff.ncl.ac.uk\/haoyuhuang\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.staff.ncl.ac.uk\/haoyuhuang\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.staff.ncl.ac.uk\/haoyuhuang\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10903"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.staff.ncl.ac.uk\/haoyuhuang\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=267"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.staff.ncl.ac.uk\/haoyuhuang\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/267\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":268,"href":"https:\/\/www.staff.ncl.ac.uk\/haoyuhuang\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/267\/revisions\/268"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.staff.ncl.ac.uk\/haoyuhuang\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=267"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.staff.ncl.ac.uk\/haoyuhuang\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=267"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.staff.ncl.ac.uk\/haoyuhuang\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=267"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}