About the project
Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) predominantly affects young women and has a profound impact on quality of life. This PhD will advance the design and evaluation of mobile health tools to support patients in self-managing their condition through inclusive, evidence-based, and low-energy digital interfaces.
POTS is a complex disorder of the autonomic nervous system that leads to dizziness, tachycardia, and fatigue upon standing. While mobile health applications are widely used to track symptoms and treatment responses, most existing tools are not tailored to the cognitive and physical challenges experienced by people with POTS.
Earlier work at Southampton demonstrated that patient-centred design can substantially reduce the cognitive and energy burden of symptom tracking by prioritising simplicity, accessibility, and emotional sensitivity in user interface design.
This PhD project will build on those findings by conducting an in-depth investigation into user needs, interaction patterns, and long-term adherence to digital self-management strategies. You will explore how physiological data (e.g. from wearable sensors) and adaptive interface elements can be integrated to personalise support and feedback.
You will prototype and evaluate enhanced POTS-specific mobile applications through participatory design and longitudinal field studies with patients and clinicians.
You will join the Digital Health and Biomedical Engineering group in the School of Electronics and Computer Science (ECS), working at the intersection of human–computer interaction, biomedical engineering, and inclusive design. You will have access to state-of-the-art usability laboratories, wearable sensing facilities, and opportunities for patient involvement through clinical and community partnerships.
As a doctoral researcher at Southampton, you will benefit from a comprehensive programme of research and professional skills training through the Southampton Doctoral College and the Graduate School of Electronics and Computer Science.
You will receive specialist training in:
- user-centred and participatory design methods for digital health technologies
- mobile and wearable systems development, including sensor integration and data processing
- human–computer interaction (HCI) evaluation techniques and usability testing
- quantitative and qualitative research methods, including statistical analysis and thematic coding
- ethical and regulatory frameworks for digital health research.
You will also have opportunities to:
- submit your work to attend and present at national and international conferences (e.g. MobiUK, CHI)
- collaborate with healthcare professionals and patient groups
- take part in transferable skills workshops (e.g. academic writing, project management, and public engagement)
- engage with the Centre for Health Technologies and related interdisciplinary initiatives across the University.
The School of Electronics & Computer Science is committed to promoting equality, diversity inclusivity as demonstrated by our Athena SWAN award. We welcome all applicants regardless of their gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or age, and will give full consideration to applicants seeking flexible working patterns and those who have taken a career break. The University has a generous maternity policy, onsite childcare facilities, and offers a range of benefits to help ensure employees’ well-being and work-life balance. The University of Southampton is committed to sustainability and has been awarded the Platinum EcoAward.
