We are the Parkinson Rehabilitation Research Lab within the Neurorehabilitation Research Group (eNRGy) at KU Leuven university, under the supervision of Prof. Moran Gilat.
We aim to improve rehabilitation care for people with Parkinson’s disease by better understanding their difficulties with moving during daily life, difficulties with learning new motor skills, and the associated impaired neural networks in order to generate new behavioral interventions or improve the effects of current rehabilitation. We hope to contribute to improved quality of life for people with Parkinson’s and their loved ones and contribute to rehabilitation innovation.
Our team currently consists of 5 PhDs, 2 Postdocs, and 4 research assistants, with Prof Moran Gilat as the principal investigator.
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Project
We offer a doctoral position for research on cycling safety in people with Parkinson's disease, under the supervision of Prof. Moran Gilat from the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Prof. JJ Orban de Xivry and Prof. Friedl De Groote from the Department of Movement Sciences.
In Flanders, 83% of the adult population uses bicycles, and cycling seniors are increasingly opting for electric bicycles. Cycling is a good way to stay physically active and has many positive effects on the cyclist's health. For people with Parkinson's disease, cycling is often recommended due to problems with walking (see video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaY3gz5tJSk). Because people with Parkinson's often have reduced balance and an increased risk of falling, safety while cycling is an important consideration. Moreover, falls often have more serious consequences for older cyclists than for younger ones. The vast majority of cycling accidents involving seniors occur without another road user being involved. This means that the neuro-musculoskeletal characteristics of the cyclist (e.g., poor balance, cognitive problems, etc.) play a significant role in these accidents. Surprisingly, no studies have been conducted to date on cycling safety in people with Parkinson's disease. In this project, we therefore aim to investigate the extent to which cycling skills and neuro-musculoskeletal characteristics influence cycling safety in people with Parkinson's and how this compares to healthy peers without Parkinson's. With this knowledge, we aim to develop an educational program and a physiotherapeutic treatment program to improve cycling skills in people with Parkinson's and enhance cycling safety. For a relevant study by our group on this topic in healthy older adults, see: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.03.01.481993v1.abstract
The project is part of a larger multidisciplinary study on cycling safety across all ages and the development of a valid test battery to document cycling skills. In this study, we will specifically measure the cycling skills of a large number of people with Parkinson's disease using a standardized test battery, as well as during a free cycling route. Cycling experiences will be evaluated through questionnaires, and cycling skills will be objectively recorded using wearable sensors.
We are looking for a dynamic and motivated candidate with a physiotherapy background and a strong interest in studying how the brain controls our movements and how Parkinson's disease affects this. The candidate should also be interested in developing educational material and will undertake practical teaching assignments within the Rehabilitation Sciences program at KU Leuven.
Profile
You hold a Master's degree in Rehabilitation Sciences (i.e. Physical Therapy) or equivalent and obtained at least a distinction (a requirement for a PhD at KU Leuven).
-You speak fluent Dutch/Flemish and English.
-You enjoy conducting clinical research and working with Parkinson's disease patients.
-You are motivated to improve physiotherapy.
-You enjoy working as part of a team.
-Writing comes naturally to you, even in English.
-You already possess, or are willing to learn, programming skills (including R and Matlab).
-You can take on responsibilities and work independently.
-You are interested in giving practical lessons in rehabilitation sciences and supervising master's theses in this field.
-You have good communication skills (both oral and written).
Offer
We offer an initial doctoral appointment for the duration of one year, with the possibility of an extension for an additional three years, subject to a positive evaluation after the first year. The intended start date is 1 September 2024. Applications for this position can be submitted until 15 July 2024 via our online application system (a link to the online application page will be provided upon publication). Selected candidates will be invited for an interview between 15 and 19 July.
Interested?
For more information please contact Prof. dr. Moran Gilat, tel.: +32 16 32 94 27, mail: moran.gilat@kuleuven.be
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