Connectionists: LAST DAYS : 3 open positions: 2 PhD and 1 post-doc in Paris to begin in September 2022, submission deadline January the 31th, about the cognitive investigation of idiopathic environmental intolerance

[Victor Pitron]

The Research Project:
Symptoms that patients attribute to the environment while medical 
examination shows no bodily malfunction are labeled as “idiopathic 
environmental intolerance” (IEI). People suffering from IEI single out 
several agents from the environment, including chemical substances and 
electromagnetic fields, which they blame for a wide range of chronic and 
unspecific symptoms such as diffuse pain, fatigue, dizziness, dyspnea, 
or palpitations. IEI is an emerging health issue and specific diagnostic 
tools as well as evidence-based treatment programs are still lacking.

In the last years, several works suggested that cognitive biases 
contribute to IEI. In this research project funded by the French 
Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale and the Agence Nationale de 
Sécurité Sanitaire, we will test the relevance of a cognitive model 
based on the assumption that symptoms of IEI result from impairments in 
interoceptive awareness. The project will combine behavioral 
experiments, computational modeling of behavior and beliefs, and the 
development and testing of a dedicated treatment program with Cognitive 
Behavioral Therapy (CBT).

Three Positions available:
Two PhD students and one post-doc fellow will be recruited in September 
2022 for 3 years. Ideal candidates are highly motivated to work on this 
project, good team players open to an interdisciplinary approach between 
medicine, cognitive science, and computational approaches, and speak and 
write English fluently. Three complementary profiles are proposed:
- One candidate with a good knowledge of scientific methods and 
statistics for behavioral experiments in cognitive science, psychology, 
or a related field. Experience with psychometric testing of patients, 
data analysis, and programming in Matlab or similar software is 
advantageous. The candidate’s main missions will be to program, run and 
analyze behavioral tests with patients suffering from IEI, involving 
interoceptive tasks and tests of cognitive biases.
- One candidate with previous experience in data analysis, programming 
in Matlab or Python, and experience in developing computational models 
of psychopathological conditions (computational psychiatry) and in the 
model-based analysis of behavioral data, using methods such as Bayesian 
inference, reinforcement learning, and deep learning. The candidate’s 
main missions will be to build, simulate, fit and test computational 
models of human behavior for patients with IEI.
- One candidate needs to be a French speaking CBT-trained psychologist 
with great clinical experience and a strong interest in innovative CBT 
programs about environmental issues. Experience in qualitative analysis 
is a plus. The candidate’s main missions will be to build, run and test 
the CBT treatment program with patients suffering from IEI.
A high level of proactive involvement will be expected from all members 
of the team, which will be expected to be physically present for the 
term of the project. The postdoc position moreover offers the 
opportunity to train in soft skills, crucial for becoming a PI, since 
the postdoctoral candidate is expected to contribute to lead the 
core-team composed by her/him and the two PhD candidates, together with 
our supervising team.

The supervising team:
An international medical and scientific supervision is organized with 
complementary skills for this interdisciplinary project that targets an 
emerging field of medicine. The main medical and scientific supervisor 
is Pr Cédric Lemogne, assisted by Dr Victor Pitron (both psychiatrists, 
MD, PhD, Hôtel-Dieu, Paris). Dr Liane Schmidt and Dr Leonie Koban (both 
PI researchers at the Control-Interoception-Attention team at the Paris 
Brain Institute, Pitié-Salpêtrière hospital, Paris) will provide 
additional scientific supervision for computational modelling. Pr Damien 
Léger, and Dr Lynda Bensefa-Colas (both Occupational and Environmental 
physicians, MD, PhD, Hôtel-Dieu, Paris) will provide additional medical 
supervision about IEI. Three senior European researchers will offer 
monthly supervision: Pr Omer Van den Bergh (Leuven) and Pr Michael 
Witthöft (Mainz) for the work on the behavioral testing and the 
treatment program, Pr Giovanni Pezzulo (Rome) for the work on 
computational modelling.

The work environment:
The research team will be based at the VIFASOM lab of the Hôtel-Dieu, a 
beautiful hospital in the heart of ancient neighborhoods of Paris, where 
patients will come for testing and treatment. The lab currently houses 3 
PI and > 10 PhD students and engineers working on various fields of 
cognitive science. This will offer the opportunity for fruitful 
discussions and collaborations and a stimulating workplace. Nearby, the 
Paris Brain Institute (Pitié-Salpêtrière hospital, Paris) and the Ecole 
Normale Supérieure also offer many opportunities for exciting scientific 
training and conferences in cognitive science. The PhD students will 
have courses and scientific supervision at the Doctorate School Bio SPC 
of Paris.
All supervisors endorse values of equity and diversity, and are 
committed to ensuring a safe, welcoming, and inclusive workplace. 
Everyone is therefore strongly encouraged to apply.

Application : CV, motivational and recommandation letters should be sent 
to Dr Victor Pitron : victor.pitron at aphp.fr. Applications are reviewed 
on a rolling basis and all candidates will receive full consideration. 
Deadline for application is January the 31th 2022.