Optimising Revision Hip Arthroplasty Planning

A fully funded PhD studentship in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. This studentship is open to UK and international students.

Key information

Lead supervisor: Dr Anna Di Laura
Application deadline: 05 January 2026
Project start date: 01 February 2026 or soon after
Project duration: 4 years (full-time)
Location: UCL Mechanical Engineering (Bloomsbury, London) and the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital (Stanmore, London)
Funding available for: UK Students, EU Students, International Students
Studentship funding provided:
4 years of tuition fees (Home rate). International students will receive a UCL award to cover the home/international fee difference.
Maintenance stipend (currently at least £22,780 per year, and rises each year)

PhD project description

Background:
Revision hip arthroplasty is a complex procedure required when primary replacements fail due to loosening, wear, infection, or fracture. Success is often challenged by altered anatomy and bone loss, making planning and decision-making difficult. While CT imaging is essential for assessing bone morphology, implant position, and peri-implant osteolysis, image quality is frequently degraded by metal artefacts, limiting diagnostic accuracy and compromising surgical outcomes.

Emerging tools, such as metal artefact reduction (MAR) algorithms, AI-based segmentation, and automated 3D anatomical modelling, promise clearer, more reliable imaging. Integrated effectively into clinical workflows, these advances have the potential to produce clearer, more reliable visualisations of bone and implant structures, thereby enhancing the accuracy of pre-operative planning and enabling more precise, patient-specific surgical strategies.

Aim:
The principal aim of this research is to develop, validate, and implement advanced CT image-processing techniques designed to optimise pre-operative planning in revision hip arthroplasty.

A key strength of this PhD is its strong clinical integration. The project will be undertaken in close collaboration with clinicians at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital (Stanmore), ensuring that the research is directly informed by clinical challenges and patient needs. This clinical input will guide the development of image-processing tools, support validation in real-world surgical contexts, maximise translational impact. The student will also benefit from engineering expertise at Synopsys / Ansys, and from training in high-impact research at UCL.

Summary:
This body of research is an exciting collaboration between Mechanical Engineering at UCL, the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, and Synopsys/Ansys, aimed at improving the planning and delivery of redo hip replacements to make a real difference in the lives of patients. By combining clinical expertise, cutting-edge engineering, and advanced simulation tools, this project offers a unique opportunity for PhD students to contribute to transformative research with direct patient impact.

Person specification

Applicants must have a UK-equivalent first degree in mechanical engineering, software engineering, or a related discipline.
A passion for simulation/mathematical modelling, experimental evaluation and data analysis.
Excellent organisational, interpersonal and communication skills, along with a stated interest in interdisciplinary research and creativity, are essential.
Experience in computer programming and design would be essential.
Experience in one or more of the following:
- Image analysis
- Matlab and Python programming
- Machine Learning
Fluency and clarity in spoken English as well as good written English in accordance with UCL English requirements (TOEFL>92 or IELTS>6.5).

Eligibility

This studentship is open to those with Home and International fee status (including EU); however, the number of students with International fee status which can be recruited is capped according to the EPSRC terms and conditions so competition for International places is particularly strong. Please refer to our website for further information about tuition fee status.

Applicants whose first language is not English are required to meet UCL’s English language entry requirements.

Please refer to this webpage for full eligibility criteria: Mechanical Engineering MPhil/PhD