MQ-Cochlear joint fund: Enhancing vestibular implants
In collaboration with Cochlear Limited on campus, this project is designed for a PhD student to investigate vestibular function and improve implant design, supporting balance restoration in individuals with vestibular disorders, particularly in ageing populations.
The project in Dr Pastras’s lab focuses on advancing the understanding of vestibular system function, with a particular emphasis on the mechanics and neural coding of the otolith organs.
Key details
- 20257457
- MRes and PhD
- Applications close on 18 May 2025
- Domestic
- Engineering, medicine and health
- $38,500 p.a.
About the scholarship
This work supports the development of evidence-based strategies for improving vestibular implant (VI) technologies and forms the foundation of the PhD candidate’s research.
Key outcomes of this research include:
- characterisation of the spatial tuning and mechanical compliance of otolithic tissues in response to physiologically relevant stimuli
- investigation of the encoding strategies used by vestibular hair cells, including the role of electrical coupling and spatial interactions
- comparative analysis of neural responses evoked by natural versus artificial stimulation to inform the design of more physiologically congruent VI systems.
The PhD candidate will undertake experimental work using an established in vivo model and will have access to custom electrophysiological and mechanical techniques developed at Macquarie University.
The project is supported by a multidisciplinary Macquarie and Cochlear Joint Fund and is aimed to understand inner ear balance to advance the bionic balance system, analogue to the bionic ear or Cochlear Implant.
The primary aims of the project are to:
- map the spatial response properties of otolithic maculae to vibrational stimuli
- define vestibular sensory encoding fields through targeted activation of otolithic hair cells
- evaluate the mechanistic differences between natural and electrically evoked activation of vestibular pathways.
This project contributes to ongoing efforts to refine vestibular neuromodulation and improve outcomes for individuals with balance disorders, particularly in the context of age-related vestibular dysfunction.
Availability
This scholarship is available to eligible candidates to undertake a direct entry three-year PhD program.
Components
The scholarship comprises:
- a tuition fee offset/scholarship
- a living allowance stipend.
The value of each stipend scholarship is $38,500 per annum (full time, indexed) for three years.