Rory Turnbull

Profile

I am a post-doctoral research fellow at the Institute of Design, Robotics and Manufacturing (iDR.

I completed my integrated master's at the University of Leeds in Medical and Biomedical Engineering (2017). I went on to complete my PhD in the University of Leeds Exoskeleton Laboratory under Professor Abbas Dehghani-Sanij on Human-Robot Interaction in Passive Assistive Lower Limb Robotic Exoskeletons (2022). During my PhD, I undertook consultancy work regarding medical device regulations and implementing quality management systems.

Since I have explored my research interests in miniaturisation, robotics, human interaction and sensor development.

Responsibilities

• Early Career Researcher Association Comittee Chair
• Sustainability Officer

Research interests

Since completing my PhD I have worked on a range of projects:

• In partnership with the Robotics and AI in Nuclear (RAIN) hub developing small in bore pipe exploration robots for decommissioning selafield under the remote inspection arm [paper in draft].
• Collaborating with industry partners within the medical field worked to characterize shear buffering performance of sacral dressings [paper accepted].
• Collaborating with health care proffesional within the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Leeds In-Vitro Diagnostic Co-operative to develop a point of care diagnostic device.
• I am currently working on the development of shear sensors for the prevention of diabetic foot ulcers on the EPSRC Socksess grant.

Professional memberships

• IEEE
• VPH Institute
• IET

Student education

I have run student summer internships and masters projects developing a physical gait simulator to assess wearable technologies and am co-supervising a PhD student.

I have appeared as a guest lecturer twice for the Biomechatronics and Medical Robotics Module (Masters level).