Developing real-time, data-driven predictive models of digital health data for personalised medication management in Parkinson’s.

About the Project

Are you interested in using AI and wearable technology to transform how Parkinson’s is managed in everyday life?

People with Parkinson’s (PwP) experience fluctuating motor symptoms such as mobility impairment and tremor. Although medication can help, complex dosing schedules often lead to unpredictable “off” periods and reduced quality of life. Clinical appointments typically occur only once or twice per year, providing limited insight into real-world symptom variation.

This PhD offers an exciting opportunity to develop next-generation digital tools that use real-world wearable data to predict symptom fluctuations and support personalised medication management.

Based at Newcastle University, you will join a leading interdisciplinary digital health research team working at the interface of AI, bioengineering and translational neuroscience.

Research Question

The central question this PhD aims to answer is:

Can predictive modelling of real-world wearable data generate personalised, actionable insights to improve medication management in Parkinson’s?

Methodology

You will work with rich longitudinal data from the CiC-PD study (ISRCTN13156149), including continuous recordings of mobility, motor symptoms and medication intake captured using Axivity AX6 devices and smartwatches, alongside detailed clinical data.

Your work will focus on:

1. Predictive modelling of medication response:
   You will develop advanced AI approaches — such as hierarchical Bayesian models and hidden Markov models — to characterise individual medication-response patterns, identify motor states and detect mobility changes following medication intake.
2. Real-time digital decision support:
   You will translate these models into a proof-of-concept real-time analytics system capable of generating personalised feedback for self-management and clinical care. This will involve building efficient data-streaming pipelines and optimising models for real-time deployment.

This is a translational PhD: the goal is not only methodological innovation, but practical systems that could integrate into future clinical care.

Why Apply?

• Work with high-quality real-world wearable datasets
• Develop cutting-edge AI for healthcare
• Collaborate closely with clinicians and people with Parkinson’s
• Contribute to national priorities in digitally enabled, personalised care
• Gain training for a career in academia, digital health or AI-driven healthcare innovation

Consider applying if you are motivated by impactful, interdisciplinary research and want to build AI systems that could genuinely improve Parkinson’s care.

Supervisory Team

An interdisciplinary team with expertise in digital health (Del Din), Parkinson’s (Yarnall), AI and time-series modelling (Kingston), and real-time systems (Noccaro) will guide you. You will benefit from close interaction with clinicians, PwP, and a highly supportive and translational training environment.

Funding

Students who have, or are expecting to attain, at least an upper second-class honours degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject, are invited to apply. Funding is available for Home (UK) students to cover tuition fees, a tax-free stipend at the UKRI rate (indicative amount in year 1 in 2026-27, £21,805) and research costs, for four years. Applicants normally required to cover International fees will have to cover the difference between the Home and the International tuition fee rates. There is no additional funding available to cover NHS Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) costs, visa costs, flights etc.

Funding for this studentship is awarded on a competitive basis and is not guaranteed; availability will depend on the outcome of the selection process and subject to final approval by the University.

HOW TO APPLY

Please complete the following application form – Google Form

Applicants can only apply for 1 project; any additional applications will not be accepted.

Applicants should send the following documents to FMSstudentships@newcastle.ac.uk:

• a CV (including contact details of at least two academic (or other relevant) referees).
• a Cover letter – stating your project choice, as well as including additional information you feel is pertinent to your application.
• copies of your relevant undergraduate degree transcripts and certificates.
• a copy of your IELTS or TOEFL English language certificate (where required)
• a copy of your passport (photo page).

A GUIDE TO THE FORMAT REQUIRED FOR THE APPLICATION DOCUMENTS IS AVAILABLE

Please submit your documents in the following format only:

• each document should be submitted as a separate attachment and should be named as follows: candidate surname, candidate name – document type. For example: Jones, Jamie – CV; Jones, Jamie – cover letter.
• Please submit .pdf documents where possible for your CV, cover letter, transcripts and certificates. Do not submit photos of certificates.
• Do not combine documents into one pdf. You may zip separate documents into a zip file to send via email if required.
• When emailing your application, please use the email subject header: FMS PhD Application 2026

Applications not meeting these criteria may be rejected.

Informal enquiries may be made to the lead supervisor of the project you are interested in.

The deadline for all applications is 12 noon BST (UK time) on Wednesday 20th May 2026.