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The University of Southampton
Engineering

Bioengineering and Human Factors

Bioengineering covers the application of engineering methods and methodologies to the human body and to the bioenvironmental problems. We have significant expertise in applying novel computational and experimental techniques for bioengineering applications. Human Factors covers research into the affects of vibration, movement and technology on the human body.

Bioengineering research spans diverse areas of engineering ranging from the design of biomedical devices, and the testing and clinical evaluation of implants and technology; to understanding the basic and applied science of tissue engineering and function, and applying engineering to the management of large scale biological phenomena in the environment such as global food security and marine and atmospheric bioacoustics.

We have interests in biological and engineered materials and mechanics at the sub-cellular, cellular, tissue and organ levels. 3D approaches for quantitative bioimaging and physical and computational modelling enable us to characterize and predict the behaviour of hard and soft tissues as well as implanted constructs. This helps us in our efforts for improved diagnosis and better understanding of human diseases and in the development of tissue engineering approaches to enhance the regeneration of biological tissues in vitro. This work is complemented by microfluidic/lab on a chip research on processing, analysis and biosensing.

We are helping to improve the quality of life for the partially and profoundly deaf through research activities related to hearing, auditory implants, bioacoustics, audiology and bio-signal processing.

Research in biotribology and microbial tribology is carried out by the National Centre for Advanced Tribology at Southampton (nCATS). Research in this area includes: marine antifouling, modelling of octopus skin to improve camouflage materials, characterising the interactions of skin and wet shaving products, investigating the wear and lubrication of surgical implants such as hip replacements.

We also carry out research in orthopaedic biomechanics, biofluidics and modelling of porous media flows.  

Our research relating to human factors assesses the impact of vibration, vehicle movement and new technology on the human body. This includes research into hand-arm vibration which has been used to educate policymakers and develop tools to diagnose the syndrome.

We work closely with colleagues in Medicine, Health Sciences and Biological Sciences here at the University as well as working with industrial partners.

Research in bionengineering and human factors is funded by industry, charities and UK research councils.

Cochlear implants for people with severe to profound deafness
Cochlear implants for people with severe to profound deafness
Combating hand-arm vibration
Combating hand-arm vibration
Joint venture: working in partnership to develop a unique hip replacement
Joint venture: working in partnership to develop a unique hip replacement
Newborn hearing screening
Newborn hearing screening

Research Areas

Audiology

Bioengineering Science Research Group 

Human Sciences Group

 

Auditory Implant Service

Performance Sports

Institute for Life Sciences

Our researchers have access to a wide range of specialist facilities including the Bioengineering Laboratory which consists of three main suites for tissue testing, cell culture and microscopy. As well as our Human Factors Research Unit laboratories which have a unique range of human-rated test facilities for experimental studies of human responses to whole-body vibration, hand-transmitted vibration and low frequency oscillation. We also have the Hearing and Balance Centre clinic and the University of Southampton Auditory Implant Centre.

Our Equipment includes: six-axis motion simulator; 12m, 6m & 1m Horizontal shakers; 1m vertical shaker; various dynamic actuators and acquisition systems; Cell Culture and Tissue Lab (Cat2 bio containment rooms); atomic force microscope (located in nano-metrology); 50kN servo hydraulic test machine; incubators; range of optical microscopes; -80 freezer;-20 walk in freezer.

Hand-transmitted vibration research
Hand-transmitted vibration research

If you are interested in joining us either to study or to become part of our research team please select the relevant link below for further information.

Funded PhD Opportunities

Postgraduate Taught Courses

Current job vacancies at the University of Southampton 

List of related projects to
Related ProjectsStatusType
Invention outperforms clinicians monitoring kidney treatment in patients ActiveOther
Do dolphins think nonlinearly?ActiveOther
3D printing small implantsActiveOther
Multiple femur finite element analysis of the resurfaced femoral headActiveOther
Abrasion-corrosion of cast cocrmo in simulated hip joint environmentActiveOther
Application of novel acoustic trapping perfusion bioreactor to generate 3-D co-culture system for modelling tumour microenvironment interactionsActiveOther
Application of ultrasound standing wave fields for augmentation of cartilage bioengineering strategiesActiveOther
Assesment of short-term knee arthroplasty function using clinical measure, motion analysis and musculoskeletal modellingActiveOther
Assessment of ankle arthrodesis with internal fixation using finite element analysisActiveOther
Characterisation and computational modelling of acrylic bone cement polymerisationActiveOther
Combined musculoskeletal and finite element modelling of total hip replacement to account for surgical and patient related factorsActiveOther
Computational simulation of engine noise radiation using Discontinuous Galerkin MethodsActiveOther
DeSSOSActiveOther
Determining the optimal mechanical requirements for early intervention devices in the kneeActiveOther
Developing Hip Replacements: Simulations and Experimental MethodsActiveOther
Development and assesment of embedded acousitc emission technology of non-descructive assessment of cemented hip replacement constructsActiveOther
Effect of total knee replacement design and surgical technique on patello-femoral joint performance: an explicit finite element studyActiveOther
EnDuRE: Hip Resurfacing Implants for Durability and BiocompatibilityActiveOther
Enhanced pre-clinical assesment of total knee replacement using computational modelling with experimental corroboration and probabiliActiveOther
Experimental and analytical techniques for the assessment of in vitro implant migration in polymer foam modelsActiveOther
Experimental and Theoretical Investigations of Lymphatic Fluid Flows and ImmunologyActiveOther
Finite element analysis of a cementless proximal femoral stem in relation to early stem stability and interface bone strainActiveOther
Finite element analysis of the proximal implanted tibia in relation to implant losseningActiveOther
Finite element modelling of biological connective soft tissue - application to the ligaments of the human kneeActiveOther
Finite element simulation of surface wear in total knee joint replacementActiveOther
Imaging and modelling of the interference fit in cementless joint replacementActiveOther
Investigating effects of estrogen on trabecular bone mineralisationActiveOther
Large scale, multi femur computational stress analysis using a statistical shape and intensity modelActiveOther
Large scale population based finite analysis of cementless tibial tray fixationActiveOther
Local strain and microdamage assessment during micromechanical testing of single bovine trabeculae and cortical bone tissueActiveOther
Micromechanical aspects of fatigue failure in conventional and carbon nanotube-reinforced acrylic bone cementActiveOther
Modelling the Lymphatic SystemActiveOther
Modelling the mechanical behaviour of the interface between prosthesis and boneActiveOther
Multi-parameter computational and experimental investigations into the robustness of cementless total hip replacements ActiveOther
MXL project – Improving Joint SurgeryActiveOther
Optimising plant P use for arable farmingActiveOther
Probabilistic finite-element analysis of the uncemented total hip replacement ActiveOther
RASPEDActiveOther
Simulation of the passive and active motions of the replaced knee-effect of mal-alignment and ligament strainsActiveOther
Simulation of tissue differentiation in uncemented hip implants based on a mechanoregulatory hypothesisActiveOther
Targeting stem cells with nanoparticlesActiveOther
Skin Health SensingActiveOther
Structural integrity assessment of novel polymer based knee implantsActiveOther
Telemedicine in cochlear implantsActiveOther
The application of probabilistic methods for the assessment of hip implant performanceActiveOther
The computational assesment of mechanical fixation faliure in cemented total hip arthroplastyActiveOther
X-ray Computed Tomography and image-based modelling of plant roots and nutrient uptakeActiveOther
Coronary Artery Stent Design for Challenging DiseaseActiveOther
The Role of Arterial Pulsations in Perivascular Drainage and its Implications for Alzheimer's DiseaseActiveOther
Improving the acquisition of Auditory Evoked Potentials for clinical diagnosisActiveOther
Independent component analysis in the automated detection of evoked potentials from multichannel recordingActiveOther
Objective measures of hearing aid benefitActiveOther
Validation of a spatial-temporal soil water movement and plant water uptake modelActiveOther
Dynamic modelling of the effect of physical activity on glycaemic control in people with type 1 diabetesActiveOther
Electron Beam Melting of Biomedical AlloysDormantOther
Development and evaluation of a new device for the clinical measurement of tissue blood flow and tissue oxygenationActiveOther
Feature extraction in clinical dataActiveOther
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