PhD Position: Deep learning human movement and behaviour analysis

Organisation/Company KU LEUVEN Research Field Computer science » Modelling tools Computer science » Digital systems Engineering » Biomedical engineering Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Country Belgium Final date to receive applications 30 Jan 2026 - 23:59 (UTC) Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full‑time Offer Starting Date 13 Oct 2025 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Horizon Europe - MSCA Reference Number BAP
- Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

OBJECTIVES
Overall objective:
To develop, test, validate, and valorise decolonised, just and trustworthy FMs and an FMs‑based application for assessing FOG severity in the clinic and everyday life (the FOG severity assessment will be one use case to test and validate the Framework).
Specific research objectives:

• Analyse the technical gaps and obstacles that hinder the implementation of social justice in AI systems in healthcare for FOG; identify technical requirements for the development of just FMs‑based solutions for FOG.
• Develop a data collection method embedding wearable IMU sensors for monitoring FOG in everyday life and providing FOG severity assessment; curate a database of large‑scale multi‑label gait datasets; develop FMs that can be pretrained based on the curated database, fine‑tuned to assess FOG severity, and include semi‑automatic bias detection and mitigation.
• Develop an application for FMs‑based enhanced FOG severity assessment in the clinic and everyday life; test and validate the FMs‑based application for FOG severity assessment through a pilot action in an every‑day life use setting.
• According to the technical perspective, investigate the transferability of the FM‑based application for FOG to other clinically relevant gait assessment use‑cases; provide insights for standardisation from the technical/engineering perspective.

EXPECTED RESULTS:

• Meticulously curated multi‑label datasets for the development of gait assessment FMs;
• A FM for assessing FOG severity;
• A FMs‑based application for FOG severity assessment.

INDICATIVE PLANNED SECONDMENTS

• Radboud University Medical Center (Nijmegen, Netherlands)
• Emory University (Atlanta, USA)

Further analysis might be required, based on the development of research project.

MAIN SUPERVISOR:
Prof. Bart Vanrumste (e‑mail:  ) Due to the high transdisciplinarity of the project, the main supervisor will collaborate with other (co‑)supervisors from other project’s partners.

ADDITIONAL ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS:
Master Degree in Engineering with a background in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, AI, or related field, with outstanding study results.

DESIRABLE REQUIREMENTS:

• Programming experience in Python, particular experience in common deep learning frameworks (e.g., PyTorch and Tensor Flow) would be a benefit;
• The qualities to carry out independent research, demonstrated e.g., by the grades obtained in your (under) graduate program(s);
• Is comfortable assisting in data collection experiments with participants in general but older ones in particular;
• A critical mindset.

SELECTION CRITERIA All eligible applications will be assessed by a Selection panel according to the following criterion “Qualifications and previous experience” and related sub‑criteria:
Selection criterion and sub‑criteria for admission to the shortlist - Score Qualifications and previous experience - 0-50,0

A. quality of academic performance - 12,5

B. current knowledge and expertise - 12,5

C. relevant research skills - 12,5

D. motivation to apply - 12,5 Selection criterion and sub‑criteria of shortlisted candidates - Maximum Score Communication and Personal skills - 0-70,0

E. Ability to design and conduct original research in the subject area of the individual research project - 15

F. Excellent oral communication in English - 11 G. Enthusiasm, proactivity, creativity and commitment - 11 H. Interpersonal skills - 11 I. Attitude to team working and in working in local and international setting - 11 J. Expected impact of the doctorate on the DC’s future career - 11

Duration of the employment: 48 months since 1st September 2026…