Name: Hannah Kaur Soomal
University: University of Dundee
Status: PhD
Area of Research: Creating computerised lower limb models by combining magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans and biomechanical data to understand ageing through MSK health.
This post is the third of a series of posts showcasing some of the amazing research projects from our community of Lateral pioneers.
What are you researching currently?
I am researching lower limb anatomy and biomechanics at the Clinical Research Imaging Facility (CRIF), as well as the Tayside Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Technology (TORT) centre.
The research aims to provide as a tool, focusing on the lower limb, that uses both biomechanical models and MRI segmented models to understand the ageing process. Biomechanics combines gait analysis, electromyograph (EMG) and joint motion analysis to produce numerical data for 3D models. This research will combine anatomical structures to the biomechanical models to explain the relationship and function of structures, while producing high quality geometry and physical characteristics for reliable predictions for healthcare.
The focus is to understand how muscle and bone anatomy as well as physiology changes over time. It is intended that this research will help consequently reduce pressure on the UK health and social care fields by creating interventions of care for the ageing population.
What is your #1 research tip?
Creating a work breakdown structure with a section for resources has helped me keep track of my short term and long-term goals. It helps identify and order the tasks you need to do and gives a visual time frame that allows you to allocate your time to activities easier. In addition, under the resources section, I have found it crucial, to further breakdown into the various materials used and keep them l noted, from the beginning. This then is easily accessible when returning to research to check over or to compare new research sources.
How does Lateral help you with your research?
As mentioned previously, in work breakdown structure plans it is important to keep note of your sources and with Lateral I can do so with references to the section(s) important to my research. Lateral helps me keep track of journals in respect to the different topics I need to research/compare and does not sacrifice organisation in the process. Additionally, the ‘suggested snippets’ gives me suggestions for topics with no highlights yet based on previous saved snippets, this is beneficial if I have missed parts in papers.
Due to its table view I can also quickly highlight topics I would like to discuss with my supervisor without wasting time during meetings. Overall, Lateral has been helpful in saving important documents from the start of my literature review and organising them into those that are most important to use for citations.
How have you organised your Lateral table?
I have organised my literature review section as the main subheadings in that chapter, this allows me to work through the section in order and focus on each concept separately.
