PhD opportunities at MDRI

Informing decision making in the development of orthopaedic implants, Associate Professor Egon Perilli

In the design of orthopaedic implants, additive manufacturing (for example, selective laser melting) is an increasingly used process. However, defects can arise in the structure (e.g., pores or unmelted powder in lattice structures), which may impact the mechanical behaviour of the implant. X-ray micro-computed tomography imaging can be employed to capture and quantify defects in the structures under investigation. In our preliminary studies we have identified pores and unmelted powder in 3D printed titanium structures, which may impact both the mechanical behaviour as well as the longevity of the implant once implanted.

There has been a shift towards cementless orthopaedic implants in recent years, for which additive manufacturing is being increasingly used. The success of cementless long term fixation critically depends on primary fixation and micromotion, the relative movement between the implant and the surrounding bone. In the development of a new implant, both the built quality (as flawless as possible after manufacturing) as well as the biomechanical behaviour of the bone-implant construct once implanted, have to be considered. In a recent study, we were able to quantify the interference fit and the mechanical environment of tibial knee implants post implantation. The developed technique can be adapted to implant types from various manufacturers, including to prototypes, aiding in the decision making process during implant development.

This project will expand on such techniques to 1) assess the manufacturing defects of prototype implants and 2) quantify experimentally the mechanical environment of the host bone once it is inserted with such an implant, to obtain a deeper understanding of implant primary stability. The results of this project will guide the decision making during orthopaedic implant development, with the aim to improve implant manufacturing and implant stability. The results can further be used to validate computer simulations (finite element models) of implant biomechanical behaviour.

The Virtual Human Hand, Dr Rami Al Dirini

The human hand enables exceptional dexterity through a complex combination of joint movements, including flexion/extension, radial/ulnar deviation, and rotational motions. These coordinated actions underpin our ability to perform essential daily tasks that directly affect our wellbeing. Biomechanically, the hand and wrist are intricate systems comprising multiple bones, ligaments, and articulating surfaces. Despite their importance, our understanding of how anatomical structures (e.g., bone shape and ligament orientation) and mechanical properties (e.g., ligament stiffness or the effects of injury) contribute to dexterity and stability remains limited.

This PhD project aims to develop a high-fidelity computational model of the human hand and wrist, capable of capturing anatomical and biomechanical variation across a healthy population. Unlike previous models that have relied heavily on quasi-static cadaveric data—limited by the absence of live muscle activity and often driven by artificial mechanisms—this research leverages modern imaging techniques such as 4D CT and dynamic MRI. These modalities allow for detailed, non-invasive assessment of in vivo wrist and hand biomechanics during real movement.

Advanced modelling approaches, including statistical shape modelling and finite element analysis, will be used to analyse the data and explore how variations in anatomy and mechanics influence functional outcomes. This research will provide deeper insights into the mechanisms that enable hand dexterity and joint stability, laying the groundwork for improved clinical interventions, surgical planning, and rehabilitation strategies. Furthermore, the resulting model holds significant potential to inform next-generation prosthetic design and robotic systems, bridging the gap between human biomechanics and technological innovation.

Listen to Your Heart—in-ear cardiovascular monitoring for adults with hearing loss, Professor Mridula Sharma

This project aims to develop a cardiovascular monitoring technology embedded within hearing aids to improve awareness and management of high blood pressure (BP) in adults with hearing loss.

High BP, also known as hypertension, kills more Australians than any other disease, yet over half of those with high BP are either unaware of it or do not have it under control even with treatment. Older adults (≥ 65 years) are particularly at risk of hypertension, putting them at higher risk of heart attack and stroke. Regular BP monitoring is thus important for detection and ongoing management of hypertension. However, conventional BP monitoring can be tedious, inconvenient and uncomfortable for individuals. Wearable BP monitoring technology holds great potential to overcome barriers of conventional BP monitoring given the ease of use and inconspicuous capability to monitor BP continually. Besides BP, other cardiovascular parameters can also be monitored with this technology. Although this form of wearable technology has mostly been integrated into watches or rings, it can also be embedded into devices worn in the ear, a location which provides more stable signals for derivation of BP and other cardiovascular parameters (e.g. heart rate).

Given one in three Australian adults aged ≥ 65 years have hearing loss, by embedding BP monitoring and other cardiovascular monitoring into hearing aids, older adults with hearing loss can benefit from both treatment of hearing loss and monitoring of vital health parameters with the one device. This allows for increased self-awareness of high BP and other cardiovascular risk factors in already at-risk adults, which older adults may not otherwise engage with.

This project will be supported by industry partners specialising in in-ear monitoring technology and cardiovascular monitoring, ensuring scalability, implementation and commercialisation.

Improving Personal Protective Equipment for Healthcare

During 2020, when COVID-19 spread rapidly across the globe, there was an unprecedented demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) – not only for frontline medical staff, but for the general population. In Adelaide, local food packaging company Detmold, were approached by Federal and State Governments to establish a PPE manufacturing facility to secure supply for Australia. Within months, they were producing one million facemasks per day. At Flinders University, with the support of the South Australian government, we established a testing facility to ensure that PPE being manufactured, used and imported was effective and meeting the required Standards.

There was significant demand for the facility, and it quickly became apparent that there was a huge range in quality, and that many imported products were not meeting Standards, despite claims otherwise. During this time we collaborated closely with a number of relevant organisations including the Therapeutic Goods Administration to ensure testing was being performed appropriately.

It also became apparent that some of the Standards were limited in their appropriateness, and that the science behind the development and testing of PPE was not well understood or reported.

Since establishing our PPE testing facility, we have been undertaking experiments to better understand the science and the limitations of current testing methods. These experiments have potential not only to influence testing standards, but also the development of new PPE.

This PhD project will extend this work, ensuring scientific rigour to the testing and development of PPE, ensuring future safety for our healthcare workers and general population. It will also look to ensure sustainable solutions, to reduce the enormous economic and ecological burdens associated with single-use PPE. During the height of the pandemic, it was estimated that 645,000 tonnes of polypropylene waste was produced per month from discarded PPE. 

Novel Teacher-Student exoskelton control for gait rehabilitation following stroke

Recovering the ability to walk following events such as stroke is a high priority because of its importance to community participation. For patients that are unable to bear weight, rehabilitation is difficult, equally so for therapists that must manipulate their lower limbs. Exoskeletons have the potential to reduce the reliance a patient has on their own ability and to simultaneously reduce the exertion that therapists must provide to deliver rehabilitation. Providing intuitive methods of control is important to ensure that users have the inputs they need.

This project will extend early published work (May 2025) that demonstrated the feasibility of a teacher student paradigm for gait rehabilitation, that sees a teacher provide the input to the control of the student’s movement. The goal of this work is to develop controllers that clinicians (the teacher) can use that boost engagement with their patient (the student) while using rehabilitation robotics. Rehabilitation robotics has a range of potential advantages in a rehabilitation setting that have not been realised, and this may because their use separates a therapist with expert knowledge and guidance, from the patient, creating a disconnect. Possible areas of enquiry include;

1)      the development of human machine interfaces that better facilitate the connection between therapist and patient. This can include both the interface that the therapist and patient use in the interaction, the underlying control of the exoskeleton and possible feedback mechanisms

2)      exploring the benefit of the proposal with a human participant study; this would include exploring the role and perceptions of clinicians and patients, further testing the feasibility of the proposal, and exploring the rehabilitation benefits, through functional ability testing, and multimodal imaging.

3)      Exploring the application of teacher-student paradigms in telerehabilitation where a physical connection between the therapist and patient is otherwise impossible.

Empowering Stroke Survivors: An AI-Powered Chatbot for Recovery

This project aims to create and assess a conversational AI system (chatbot) designed to help stroke survivors develop safe and effective plans for resuming their daily activities.

Utilising Artificial Intelligence techniques, including Large Language Models (LLMs), this chat-based system will guide stroke survivors in setting realistic and safe goals for their ongoing physical recovery. It will achieve this by integrating physiotherapeutic clinical knowledge with advanced dialogue management techniques to facilitate effective goal-setting and progress monitoring.

Many stroke survivors feel a lack of structured support after completing clinical rehabilitation, highlighting a significant need for ongoing physical activity guidance to help them reintegrate into everyday life. This project will leverage previous research by the Virtual Conversations research group on goal-setting during and after rehabilitation (e.g., RehabChat, Journey 2 Recovery).

A key focus will be exercise safety, ensuring a controlled intervention that significantly reduces the risks associated with general-purpose solutions like ChatGPT.

Supporting prosthetic services for patients in remote communities using virtual reality, sensors, and advanced manufacturing

Over 40 million people globally require prosthetic care. The greatest barrier to access is a shortage of prosthetists. In Australia, there are 1400 patients per prosthetist, and remote areas have only 28% of the recommended number of prosthetists (Ridgewell, 2016). In remote communities, 29% of Aboriginal adults have diabetes (Hare, 2022), and 36% of these will require a major amputation (Norman, 2010). Aboriginal Australians under 50 years old are 38x more likely to have an amputation than non-Aboriginal Australians, highlighting significant inequities in Australia’s health system (Norman, 2010). Most amputees in regional Australia do not use a prosthesis because it requires ongoing rehabilitation, clinical support, and device maintenance services that are only available in cities, and the prosthetics provided are unsuitable for remote Australia’s harsh natural environment.

This PhD aims to improve access to appropriate prosthetic devices and services in remote Australia by creating a technology system that utilises sensors, virtual reality, 3D scanning and 3D printing technologies. It will enable a remote specialist to guide a local generalist healthcare worker, who has an ongoing relationship with the patient, to provide fitting and rehabilitation for the prosthesis-user. The remote prosthetist will interact with virtual digital twins of patients’ residual limbs via immersive VR platforms and haptic-enabled tools, receiving biomechanical feedback on residual limb shape and stiffness, while patients feel adjustments to fit in real time. This two-way interaction mimics the in-person fitting process. 3D scanning and printing technologies will rapidly fabricate low-cost trial sockets.

The project leverages Flinders University’s links to remote Aboriginal communities in South Australia and Northern Territory, the Australian Orthotic Prosthetic Association (AOPA), and SA Health to co-design the research methodologies with remote communities, set up the digital system, pilot it in communities, and evaluate the technology-enabled care model to improve prosthetic service delivery in underserved regions.