Stage M2: Gait Smoothness Metrics in Prosthetic Locomotion

Title :  Gait Smoothness Metrics in Prosthetic Locomotion in Ecological Conditions

Laboratory : BioMovE Team / BMBI UMR 7338 CNRS UTC / Université de Technologie de Compiègne - 60200 Compiègne
bmbi.utc.fr/recherche/axes-de-recherche/biomove-2/

Project description :Restoring fluid gait after lower-limb amputation is a critical biomechanical and clinical objective. Prosthetic locomotion remains inherently asymmetric and energetically demanding, raising metabolic cost by up to 50% in transfemoral amputees, driven by compensatory mechanics, stabilisation efforts, and the absence of sensory feedback. Because existing assessment tools focus primarily on geometric symmetry, they fail to capture functional complexity or guide tailored fitting decisions.To bridge these gaps, this Master's degree internship will focus on the first phase of a doctoral thesis structured around three core objectives:

• Biomarker Identification (Internship Focus): identifying and validating gait fluidity metrics for real-world/ecological environments.
• Clinical Scoring: Developing a composite, interpretable indicator for clinical evaluation.
• Predictive Modelling: Building a personalised OpenSim/Moco simulation pipeline to optimise prosthetic parameters (such as blade stiffness) and motor strategies, targeting minimised metabolic cost and muscle fatigue.

Candidate Profile &  Required Skills : 
Education: Currently pursuing a Master’s degree (M2 / M.Sc. / last year of Engineering School) in Biomechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Movement Sciences, or a related field.

Technical Skills:

• Solid foundation in human locomotion mechanics and gait analysis.
• Proficiency in data processing using Python or MATLAB.
• Familiarity with biomechanical simulation environments (knowledge of OpenSim is a plus).

Languages: Fluent in English (read, write, speak)

Duration:  6 months (From ~01 February 2027 to ~30 July 2027)

Financial information : Funding application pending

Application deadline : 31 October 2026

Supervisor / Contact : Khalil BEN MANSOUR  / Cette adresse e-mail est protégée contre les robots spammeurs. Vous devez activer le JavaScript pour la visualiser.