Research assistant

Do you want to contribute to improving human health?

Spasticity, EMG of lower limb muscles and muscle strength

Children with cerebral palsy have, due to an injury to the developing brain, often both spasticity and a tendency for contracture formation leading for example to a flexed ankle and difficulty to walk. Spasticity is a non-voluntary muscle contraction that we can treat with botulinum toxin injections. Contracture formation due to muscle shortening may become so severe that surgery with tendon lengthening procedures have to be performed. We now want to learn more about how the muscle is activated in cerebral palsy, how stiff it is and how it is affected by botulinum toxin injections. You will be part of a research team that is dedicated to solving what is causing muscle contractures in CP and then how we can help these children and teenagers.

Your mission

As part of the project, we’re exploring the dynamic components of resistance and following standard treatment including BoNT-A. Strength is measured in the shank muscles, and we’re estimating the spasticity with an instrumented resistance device, the Neuroflexor. Throughout the measurements of strength and spasticity, muscle activity is collected with EMG (from the muscles: gastrocnemius, soleus, and tibialis anterior – all muscles around ankle joint) in order to differentiate between voluntary contractions (inability to relax during the examinations) and the abnormal muscular response of spasticity.

Your tasks are to analyze previously recorded EMG data during both NeuroFlexor measurement and strength measurement on both children with cerebral palsy and controls and contribute to data analysis method development.

The work will be part-time (up to 50%) for up to 4 months.

Your profile

Master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering, Medical Engineering, Electrical Engineering or equivalent
Previous knowledge in biosignal processing
Proficiency in Matlab or Python
Proficiency in both spoken and written English

What do we offer?

A creative and inspiring environment with wide-ranging expertise and interests. Karolinska Institutet is one of the world's leading medical universities. Our vision is to pursue the development of knowledge about life and to promote a better health for all. At Karolinska Institutet, we conduct successful medical research and hold the largest range of medical education in Sweden. Karolinska Institutet is also a state university, which entitles you to several good benefits through our collective agreement. And you get to practice freely in our modern wellness facilities, where trained staff are on site.

Location: Solna

Choose to work at KI – Ten reasons why

https://ki.se/en/people/eva-ponten#about-me

Application

Welcome to apply.

The application is to be submitted through the Varbi recruitment system.In this recruitment, you will apply with your CV without a personal letter. Instead, you will answer some questions about why you are applying for the job in the application form.

Want to make a difference? Join us and contribute to better health for all