PhD Position: Co-Creation of Exosuits for children with Cerebral Palsy (CP) with Motion Capture–Based Evaluation of Movement and Fatigue
Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) - Rehabilitation Research Group (RERE) & Studies in Media, Innovation and Technology (SMIT) Research Group
📍 Brussels, Belgium | 🕒 Full-time | 📅 Start: September 2026
About the position
We are recruiting a PhD candidate for an ambitious interdisciplinary project at the intersection of rehabilitation science, human movement analysis, and co-creation, focused on the development and evaluation of next-generation exosuits.
The project specifically targets children and young people with cerebral palsy (CP), aiming to enhance mobility, participation, and quality of life through user-centred technological innovation. A key feature of the project is the active involvement of caregivers, families, and clinical professionals, ensuring that solutions are meaningful and feasible in daily life contexts.
The position contributes to two central components:
WP1 – User engagement and co-creation (SMIT & RERE): grounding exosuit development in the lived experiences of children with CP and their caregivers
WP4 – Pilots and testing (RERE & SMIT): evaluating exosuits in a progressive fatiguing laboratory protocol that reflects the real-world activities identified by children and caregivers.
This PhD offers a unique opportunity to bridge advanced motion capture analysis of movement and fatigue with real-world user needs and co-creation practices.
Your role
1. User engagement and co-creation (WP1)
You will actively contribute to a human-centred co-creation process, ensuring that exosuits are designed and evaluated in line with users’ lived experiences.
This includes:
Engaging with users, caregivers, clinicians, and other stakeholders
Contributing to the identification of user needs, barriers, and aspirations
Conducting co-design activities (e.g., interviews, focus groups, participatory workshops)
Translating qualitative insights into design requirements and evaluation metrics
Supporting the development of realistic usage scenarios and implementation pathways
2. Pilots and testing (WP4)
You will lead the development and implementation of advanced mocap-based assessment protocols to evaluate how users move, adapt, and experience fatigue when using exosuits.
This includes:
Designing assessment protocol in laboratory for pilot settings
Conducting experiments using VICON motion capture, force plates, EMG, IMUs, and eye-tracking
Quantifying outcomes such as movement variability, coordination, balance, and fatigue-related changes in performance
Contributing to multi-site pilot studies assessing usability, acceptability, and inclusion of exosuits
Integrating biomechanical data with user-reported outcomes and behavioural responses
Your profile
We’re looking for a candidate with an interest in movement analysis, a willingness to learn, and a strong motivation for co-creation and real-world impact.
Essential
Master’s degree in Human Movement Sciences, Physiotherapy, Biomedical Engineering, or related field
Strong interest in biomechanics, movement analysis, and fatigue
Interest in exosuits, motor learning, or balance control
Experience with or willingness to learn motion capture systems (VICON)
Affinity with data analysis (Python, MATLAB, or R)
Strong written and verbal communication skills in both Dutch and English; proficiency in French is considered an advantage.
Strong assets
Experience with multimodal measurements (EMG, IMUs, eye-tracking)
Experience or interest in co-creation, participatory research, or living lab methodologies
Ability to work in an interdisciplinary and international environment
Eligibility (important)
This position is specifically aimed at junior researchers who are eligible to apply for an FWO PhD fellowship (https://www.fwo.be/nl/ondersteuningsprogramma-s/predoctorale-mandaten/) during the course of their trajectory. The selected candidate will be actively supported in preparing an FWO fellowship application, making this position an excellent stepping stone toward a competitive, externally funded academic career.
Candidates should:
Not yet hold a PhD degree at the start of the position
Hold (or obtain before start) a Master’s degree from a recognised university
Have obtained strong academic results (in line with FWO excellence criteria)
Be able to submit a competitive FWO PhD fellowship application within the first year of the project (with support from the supervisors)
Research environment
You will be embedded in two complementary research groups located in Jette and Etterbeek:
RERE (Rehabilitation Research Group, https://rere.research.vub.be/): internationally recognised for its expertise in rehabilitation, movement analysis, fatigue, and ecologically valid assessment of human movement using advanced mocap systems
SMIT (Studies on Media, Innovation and Technology, https://smit.research.vub.be/): a leader in co-creation, human-centred design, and living lab research, ensuring societal relevance and user impact
You will have access to the BruBotics Rehabilitation Research Center (https://brrc.research.vub.be/), featuring cutting-edge infrastructure for human movement analysis and rehabilitation research, and there will be close collaboration with Inkendaal Rehabilitation Hospital.
What we offer
A fully funded 1-year PhD position, with the possibility of extension up to four years
Access to state-of-the-art motion capture and multimodal measurement infrastructure
Training in both advanced biomechanical analysis and co-creation methodologies
A dynamic, interdisciplinary, and international research environment
Opportunities for international collaborations and research stays
Why join this project?
This PhD goes beyond traditional research by combining:
High-end biomechanical analysis of movement and fatigue
Real-world evaluation of exosuits in diverse contexts
Direct involvement of users in design and evaluation
You will contribute to a European interdisciplinary project (EXOAIM) shaping exosuits that are not only technically advanced, but also usable, meaningful, and impactful in everyday life.
For further questions or information, you can contact Prof. David Beckwée (RERE, david.beckwee@vub.be), Prof. Eva Swinnen (RERE, eva.swinnen@vub.be) and Prof. An Jacobs (SMIT, An.Jacobs@vub.be)
To apply, please submit your CV , motivation letter (max. 1 page), academic transcripts and the contact details of 2 referees to Eva Swinnen (eva.swinnen@vub.be), before June 7, 2026.