Connectionists: PhD position at the Donders Institute, Nijmegen

Thu Dec 8 04:13:28 EST 2011

Dear colleagues,
If you know of potential PhD candidates please forward them the job 
listing below.
All the best,
Ole Jensen

-- 
Ole Jensen
http://www.neuosc.com

  -------

  PhD position on 'Bridging the Gap between Neuronal Activity and
  Neuroimaging' (1,0 fte)

*Donders Institute, Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging*
*Maximum salary: EUR 2,612 gross/month*
*Vacancy number: 30.08.11*
*Closing date: 1 January 2012*

*Responsibilities*
The Neuronal Oscillation group and the MR Techniques in Brain Function 
group at the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, 
Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, have funding available for a PhD 
position, aimed at quantitative evaluation of neuroimaging signal 
characteristics resulting from activity of neurons in the working human 
brain.
The human brain is composed of multiple regions that are flexibly 
engaged and disengaged depending on the cognitive task performed. Each 
of these regions comprises large numbers of neurons that interact 
non-linearly. A fundamental question in cognitive neuroscience is how 
the connections and interactions of the neurons shape the functional 
architecture of the working brain. At the Donders Institute this 
question is addressed experimentally by measuring cognitive signals by 
means of magneto-encephalography (MEG), electro-encephalography (EEG) 
and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). You will work on this 
project from a complementary perspective, using computer simulation to 
investigate which plausible networks of neurons can explain measured 
signals. You will use and extend numerical software developed at the 
institute and elsewhere. Your results will improve the interpretation of 
measured cognitive signals. You will focus on positive and negative 
spatial and temporal correlations between various signals obtained in 
cognitive experiments.

*Work environment*
The Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour consists of the 
Centre for Cognition, the Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging and the 
Centre for Neuroscience.

The mission of the Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging is to conduct 
cutting-edge fundamental research in cognitive neuroscience. Much of the 
rapid progress in this field is being driven by the development of 
complex neuroimaging techniques for measuring activity in the human 
working brain - an area in which the Centre plays a leading role. The 
research themes cover central cognitive functions such as perception, 
action, control, decision making, attention, memory, language, learning 
and plasticity. The Centre also aims to establish how the different 
brain areas coordinate their activity with very high temporal precision 
to enable human and animal cognition. This internationally renowned 
centre currently employs more than 100 PhD students and post-doctoral 
researchers of more than 20 different nationalities, offering a 
stimulating and multidisciplinary research environment. The centre is 
equipped with three MRI scanners (7T, 3T, 1.5T), a 275-channel MEG 
system, an EEG-TMS laboratory, several (MR-compatible) EEG systems, and 
high-performance computational facilities. English is the lingua franca 
at the centre. You will work within a joint project of the Neuronal 
Oscillations group and the MR Methods for Cognitive Neuroscience group 
at the Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, and the Neuroinformatics 
department at the Centre for Neuroscience.

*What we expect from you*
You should have a Master's degree (or equivalent). Applicants with a 
background in neuroscience should be willing to acquire the mathematical 
and numerical skills required to simulate complex systems. Applicants 
with a background in mathematics, physics or computer science should be 
willing to develop in-depth knowledge of cognitive neuroscience and 
physiology.
You are enthusiastic to understand the dynamic properties of the human 
brain and to probe the interaction between different regions, all on the 
basis of what is known of the physiology of the brain. Furthermore, you 
are prepared to take courses and workshops offered at the Donders 
Graduate School for Cognitive Neuroscience to bring your knowledge of 
cognitive neuroscience up to the standard required.
You should be willing to work in a multidisciplinary environment in 
which the results and methods from various disciplines, ranging from 
natural to behavioural sciences, are integrated. And you are eager to 
work with us at the cutting edge of science, where your personal 
commitment and skills are both essential and appreciated. Proficiency in 
oral and written English is essential. You are expected to work in a 
team, sharing technical know-how and ideas.

*What we have to offer*
We offer you:
- employment: 1,0 fte;
- a maximum gross monthly salary of EUR 2,612 based on a 38-hour working 
week;
- in addition to the salary: an 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% 
end-of-year bonus;
- The starting salary is EUR2,042 per month and will increase to 
EUR2,612 per month in the fourth year;
- duration of the contract: 4 years.

Are you interested in our excellent employment conditions 
<http://www.ru.nl/english/arbeidsvoorwaarden>?

*Other Information*
This vacancy was advertised earlier this year in July/August. If you 
applied for this position at the time and were rejected, please do not 
apply again.

*Would you like to know more?*
Further information on: DCCN <http://www.ru.nl/donders>

Prof. dr. Jan van der Eerden, project leader
Telephone:+31 24 3614602
E-mail: j.vandereerden at donders.ru.nl <mailto:j.vandereerden at donders.ru.nl>

Dr. Ole Jensen, PI Neuronal Oscillation group
Telephone:+31 24 3610884
E-mail: ole.jensen at donders.ru.nl <mailto:ole.jensen at donders.ru.nl>

*
*

*Applications*

Are you interested?

Please submit an application letter, a CV, and the names of two persons 
who can provide references. Please explain your interest in neuroscience 
and the above mentioned scientific approaches in your application letter.

It is Radboud University Nijmegen's policy to only accept applications 
by e-mail. Please send your application, /stating vacancy number 
30.08.11/, to vacatures at dpo.ru.nl <mailto:vacatures at dpo.ru.nl>, for the 
attention of Prof. dr. Jan van der Eerden, before 1 January 2012.

For more information on the application procedure:+ 31 24 3611173

-- 
Ole Jensen
http://www.neuosc.com

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: https://mailman.srv.cs.cmu.edu/mailman/private/connectionists/attachments/20111208/bd094d7f/attachment-0001.html