Dr Alison Jones

Profile

Alison is an Associate Professor of Computational Biomedical Engineering within the Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering.  She has a background in mathematics and computer science, which she later applied to human joint mechanics.  She joined the School of Mechanical Engineering as a lecturer in 2011 and was awarded a Royal Academy of Engineering – Leverhulme Trust Fellowship in 2020 focused on impingement in the human hip joint.

Research interests

Alison’s research focuses the improvement of surgical devices and interventions for musculoskeletal pain and degeneration.  Her technical expertise is in mathematical modelling and finite element analysis of human joints and includes the use of imaging modalities such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging.  She works at the interface between in vivo human data collection, whole joint laboratory testing methodologies and clinical practice, leveraging theoretical analysis to add value to each.

Her work includes projects in the spine, the hip joint and the knee joint, and is supported by the EPSRC through the Optimising Knee Therapies Programme Grant and a Healthcare Impact Partnership, and by the Royal Academy of Engineering and Leverhulme Trust through a Fellowship focused on early intervention hip surgery.

To find out more about the Institute of Medical & Biological Engineering's research visit imbe.leeds.ac.uk

• Assessing a wearable sensor for use in pre-surgical hip replacement planning
• Engineering tools for analysis of impingement in the human hip joint.

Qualifications

• PhD in Scientific Computation (School of Computing, Leeds, 2005)
• BSc Computer Science with Mathematics (Centre for Joint Honours, Leeds, 2001)

Professional memberships

• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
• British Orthopaedic Research Society
• European Society of Biomechanics

Student education

I have taught finite element analysis for the level 3 and MSc cohorts, including level 3 module leadership at our UK school and at our joint school in China (SWJTU-Leeds Joint School).  I have developed and led core a MSc Medical Engineering module, provide research-led projects at levels 3, 4 and MSc, contribute to undergraduate and postgraduate tutoring, and provide support for industrial placement students.

Through a previous period as the undergraduate admissions tutor, I have run assignments for applicants on the Access to Leeds admissions route.

Research groups and institutes

• Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering

Current postgraduate researchers

• Taiyibah Afzal
• Trent Rayment
• Jonathan Kenning

Projects

<li><a href="//phd.leeds.ac.uk/project/2155-clinical-validation-of-a-computer-model-for-prediction-of-hip-joint-impingement-severity">Clinical validation of a computer model for prediction of hip joint impingement severity</a></li>