Job ID: 95698

postdoc (3+ years) in cognitive neuroscience of ageing at the University of Innsbruck

Position: Post-doctoral Position

Deadline: 1 November 2022

Employment Start Date: 1 December 2022

Contract Length: 3 years with possible extension

City: Innsbruck

Country: Austria

Institution: University of Innsbruck

Department: Chair for Developmental Psychology

Description:

A 3-year full-time postdoctorate research position with a possibility for extension will be available at the Chair of Developmental Psychology at the Institute of Psychology (www.hammerer-lab.com) of the University of Innsbruck (UIBK), supervised by Prof. Dorothea Hämmerer from 1st of December 2022 or later.

Research at the Chair of Developmental Psychology focuses on understanding why neuromodulatory systems are vulnerable in ageing and dementia. The neuromodulatory nuclei of the brainstem, and in particular the noradrenergic system, are among the epicenters of dementia pathologies in the brain. We use brain imaging methods that allow studying the earliest stages of changes in the noradrenergic system and investigate how their decline affects cognitive and physiological functions in ageing and early Alzheimer’s. In exploring this, we use a variety of cognitive and physiological measures (cognitive tests, eyetracking, drug interventions, blood analyses, functional and structural MRI with a special focus on brainstem imaging).

The candidate’s job will be to carry out research in the context of studies investigating changes in sleep function in ageing using concurrent EEG-MRI as well as links between physiological, MRI and blood markers of a decline in noradrenergic modulation in ageing. The lab has close ties with the German Research Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases in Magdeburg, Germany and the Wellcome Trust Center for Human Neuroimaging at University College London. A participation in these collaborations is expected.

Part of the candidate’s job is also to offer two courses per semester (4 SWS in total), which could be seminars or lectures on the topic of cognitive and or neuroscientific changes across the lifespan.

The candidate will be immersed in a stimulating and growing international research field that investigates the relevance of changes in the noradrenergic system in old age and dementia. The candidate is made familiar with the most important current methods of examining the noradrenergic system in old age and integrated into the international research community on the subject. He/she leaves the postdoc with an arsenal of methods that represents a unique selling point in a rapidly growing area of aging research and with teaching experience that will be relevant for future applications in the academic field.

The ideal candidate will have a PhD in a relevant discipline such as Psychology, Biology, Neuroscience, Computer science, Medicine, Physics, or another relevant subject for neurocognitive aging research. We also welcome applications from candidates which have already completed a postdoc.

The Institute of Psychology at the UIBK offers a stimulating and friendly work environment. As part of its recent expansion, the institute has access to a 3T research scanner which supports the growing emphasis on cognitive neuroscientific research at the institute. The University of Innsbruck and Medical University of Innsbruck offer a stimulating research environment for Cognitive Neuroscientific Ageing research with the new research center ‘Health and prevention across the lifespan’ (https://www.fz-gesundheit.at) as well as local research groups and institutes focusing on neurological, physiological and biochemical ageing.

We encourage submission of applications as soon as possible and no later than the 1st of November 2022. We welcome applications from all sections of the community irrespective of gender, race, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, sexual orientation, disability or age. The successful applicant will be employed as a full-time postdoctorate and paid approximately 4.000€/ month (14 times per year, adjusted per year).

For more information and for how to apply see here: www.hammerer-lab.com

If you have any questions, feel free to email: dorothea.haemmerer@uibk.ac.at.

We are looking forward to your application!!