Degree type
PhD
Closing date
1 June 2024
Campus
Hobart
Citizenship requirement
Domestic
About the research project
Falls in older adults often result in serious injuries, hospitalisation and significant healthcare costs. Prior work has investigated the impact of ageing on stepping by studying how people recover from trips and slips induced by direct pushes or pulls on the body, however, less is known about the impact of ageing on stepping decision processes. In daily life, potential hazards are often perceived just prior to impact, allowing a window of opportunity for fast decisions and step adjustments to be made to avoid a slip or trip altogether. For instance, when walking through the bush, visual cues in your path (colour, slope, texture, structure) are combined with prior knowledge of the conditions (slippery, spongey, unstable, sturdy) to make moment-to-moment decisions about where to safely place your feet.
In series of laboratory experiments, this project will study decision-making mechanisms during step initiation and steady-state walking when there are either ambiguous, or conflicting, environmental cues about which foot to select, and where to step. The field of cognitive neuroscience has used computational modelling to understand the underlying mechanisms involved in upper limb actions. The current project will apply this approach to determine how different neural processes (such as the level of attention, sensory processing speed and inhibitory ability), contribute to the observed stepping behaviour. Furthermore, activity of cortical areas involved in selecting and adapting step responses, will be measured with functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS).
Healthy young (18-35 years) and older (> 60 years) adults will be recruited to determine how ageing impacts the underlying cognitive processes and brain activity needed for fast adaptable stepping decisions. The project is based at the University of Tasmania with Dr Rebecca St George and A/Prof Mark Hinder supervising, but will be in collaboration with Professor Stephen Lord and Dr Daina Sturnieks of Neuroscience Research Australia.
Primary Supervisor
Meet Dr Rebecca St GeorgeFunding
The successful applicant will recieve a Research Training Program (RTP) scholarship or Tasmania Graduate Research Scholarship (TGRS) which provides:
- a living allowance stipend of $32,192 per annum (2024 rate, indexed annually) for 3.5 years
- a relocation allowance of up to $2,000
- a tuition fees offset covering the cost of tuition fees for up to four years (domestic applicants only)
If successful, international applicants will receive a University of Tasmania Fees Offset for up to four years.
As part of the application process you may indicate if you do not wish to be considered for scholarship funding.
Other funding opportunities and fees
For further information regarding other scholarships on offer, and the various fees of undertaking a research degree, please visit our Scholarships and fees on research degrees page.
Eligibility
Applicants should review the Higher Degree by Research minimum entry requirements.
Ensure your eligibility for the scholarship round by referring to our Key Dates.
Additional eligibility criteria specific to this project/scholarship:
- Applicants must be able to undertake the project on-campus
- Applications are open to Domestic applicants.
- English language score must be above minimum entry requirements for this project.
Selection Criteria
The project is competitively assessed and awarded. Selection is based on academic merit and suitability to the project as determined by the College.
Additional essential selection criteria specific to this project:
- Undergraduate and Hons degree in a related discipline e.g. Neuroscience, Psychological Sciences, Physics, Human Movement, Biological Science.
Additional desirable selection criteria specific to this project:
- Research experience in lab-based settings
- Aptitude for programming of experimental designs
- Statistical knowledge
- Strong aptitude for lab-based behavioural neuroscience/cognitive neuroscience
- Evidence of scientific writing ability
Application process
- Select your project, and check that you meet the eligibility and selection criteria, including citizenship;
- Contact Dr Rebecca St George to discuss your suitability and the project's requirements; and
- In your application:
- Copy and paste the title of the project from this advertisement into your application. If you don’t correctly do this your application may be rejected.
- Submit a signed supervisory support form, a CV including contact details of 2 referees and your project research proposal.
- Apply prior to 1 June 2024.
Full details of the application process can be found under the 'How to apply' section of the Research Degrees website.
Following the closing date applications will be assessed within the College. Applicants should expect to receive notification of the outcome by email by the advertised outcome date.
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