THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD
Welcome to the website of the Natural Interaction Lab (NIL) based at the Department of Engineering Science at the University of Oxford. We aim to create need-led technologies that feel naturally connected with the users and their environments.
Research focus
TEAM MEMBERS
Group Leader
Prof Jeroen Bergmann is Associate Professor at the Department of Engineering Science and Senior Research Fellow in Engineering & Entrepreneurship at the University of Oxford, the Group Leader of the Natural Interaction Lab, an Official Fellow at Reuben College and Director of the Oxford HealthTech Labs (previously Oxford Biodesign programme). His research interest is in developing new preventative and assistive (digital) technologies that allows for more natural interactions. He has experience in developing laboratory prototypes and taking them through clinical validation to make a real-world impact. His work focuses on the development, design and application of novel healthcare technologies. Active projects consist of creating wearables sensors for physical activity monitoring in extreme conditions, researching new solutions for limb-different patients, virtual prototyping and design affordability, as well as developing new methodologies for data-driven regulatory science in a clinical context. His research vision is to prevent more people from becoming patients by creating innovative solutions.
Program Manager Regulatory Navigation
Dr Rita Hendricusdottir is the Program Manager in Regulatory Navigation for Medical Devices working on an EPSRC funded strategic project.
Program Manager Oxford HealthTech Labs
Daniel Mogefors is the Program Manager for the Oxford HealthTech Labs funded by EIT Health.
Postdoctoral Research Assistant
Dr Vikranth Harthikote Nagaraja is the Postdoctoral Research Assistant working on an GCRF/EPSRC funded project for developing prosthetics.
Postdoctoral Research Assistant in need-led innovation
Dr Erfan Soliman is the researcher working on need-led innovation funded by EIT Health.
(Post)doctoral Research Assistant in in regulatory data science
(Dr) Aaron Ceross is the researcher working on Digital MedTech Regulations
Postdoctoral Research Assistant in Urinary Technology
Dr Monica Armengol is the researcher working on new assistive technologies for paediatrics
DPhil Student
Elyse Levens is reading for a DPhil in Engineering Science
Supervision: Prof Jeroen Bergmann & Prof Tim Denison
DPhil Student
Leonardo de Almeida e Bueno is reading for a DPhil in Engineering Science
Supervision: Prof Jeroen Bergmann
DPhil Student
Xinyu Hou is reading for a DPhil in Engineering Science
Supervision: Prof Jeroen Bergmann
DPhil Student
Joe Russell is reading for a DPhil in Engineering Science
Supervision: Prof Jeroen Bergmann
DPhil Student
Fahad Alshaibani is reading for a DPhil in Engineering Science
Supervision: Prof Jeroen Bergmann and Prof Vicente Grau
DPhil Student
Yu Han is reading for a DPhil in Engineering Science
Supervision: Prof Jeroen Bergmann
DPhil Student
Frederik Massie is reading for a DPhil in Engineering Science
Supervision: Prof Jeroen Bergmann
DPhil Student
Runbei Cheng is reading for a DPhil in Engineering Science
Supervision: Prof Jeroen Bergmann
DPhil Student
Position open for 2023 with a focus on NIL's research areas
Current students working on MEng projects
Previous Group Members
2023
4 new students starting for 2022/2023
Bart Van Pee was a DPhil candidate
Previous Group Members
2022
4 Meng students started for 2021/2022
Victoria Walls was a research intern
Benjamin Duvieusart was a research intern
Dr Jhonatan Lopes was a postdoctoral researcher
Oliver Lorton was a Senior Software Engineer
Previous Group Members
2021
5 Meng students started for 2020/2021
Henry Mingay was a research intern
Runbei Cheng was a research intern
Dr Emily (Man Ting) Kwong was a postdoctoral researcher
Previous Group Members
2020
Dr Azad Hussain was a Postdoctoral Researcher for Regulatory Science in the group
John Saunders was MEng student in the group
Benedict Aldous was MEng student in the group
Theodore Beever was MEng student in the group
Jona Boender was MEng student in the group
Patrick Osborne was MEng student in the group
Alexandra Drewe was MEng student in the group
Zijun Li was MEng student in the group
Henry Mingay was MEng student in the group and currently staff member of NIL
Nobel Basser was MEng student in the group
Thomas Stannett was EPSRC funded MEng student in the group
Dr Laura Diment was DPhil student (co-supervised with Prof Mark Thompson) in the group and is now at University of Southampton
2019
Matthew Wilson was MEng student in the group
Tim Riley was MEng student in the group and is now student at the London Business School.
William Milnthorpe was MEng student in the group and is now Research Assistant at the University of Oxford.
Robert Menzies-Wilson was MEng student in the group.
Joseph Russell was MEng student in the group and is now a DPhil student at the University of Oxford.
2018
William Davies was MEng student in the group and is now a web developer.
Helen Bridgman was MEng student in the group and is now at the RMAS.
2017
Dr Rainer Manuel Schaich was a Postdoctoral Research Assistant working on the BBSRC funded project for developing digital tools for sports injury prevention. He is now a Vehicle Dynamicist at Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Limited.
Ivo Radice was MEng student in the group and is now working at Oxford Fiber Ltd.
James Russell was MEng student in the group and is now working at IBM.
PUBLISHED WORK
EVENTS
Events & Workshops
Bi-monthly
Oxford Medical CE marking Forum aims to to serve as a knowledge exchange portal for interested academic and industry partners within Oxford.
The CE mark signifies the products sold in the European Economic Area have been assessed to meet high safety, health, and environmental protection requirements. The mark is the medical device manufacturer's claim that a product meets the essential requirements of all relevant European Medical Device Directives.
THE LATEST NEWS
Lab Opportunity
The Natural Interactions Lab provides an exciting, intellectually stimulating and friendly work environment. Please contact us if you are a driven individual with the an academic background to explore PhD/DPhil opportunities.
In the news
The expertise of the NIL has been mentioned in an article from Wired called "The UK needs more ventilators and fast. But the maths doesn’t add up". Check it out here.
A digital tool to make it easier to understand how medical device regulations apply to your product, called Reg Metrics, has been published. This tool has been made available so that innovators can easily navigate the EU medical device regulations. You should expect to see new features and improvements as we continue with the ongoing development of this site.
In the news
The expertise of the NIL has been mentioned in an article from Aljazeera in a piece on "Could coronavirus reshape British manufacturing?". Check it out here
The need-led Innovation programme has been running for many successful years at the University of Oxford. Please see OxHealthTechLabs for more information.
In the news
The expertise on prosthetic technology has been mentioned in an article from The Engineer called "Oxford team develops breath-powered hand prosthesis". Check it out here.
OUTREACH
THE NATURAL INTERACTION LAB IS FUNDED BY