Job ID: 97398

Postdoc (or qualified PhD) in cognitive computational modeling of neuroimaging data in Copenhagen

Position: Post-doctoral Position

Deadline: 13 November 2022

Employment Start Date: 2 January 2023

Contract Length: 2 years

City: Copenhagen

Country: Denmark

Institution: Danish Reserch Centre for Magnetic Resonance

Department:

Description:

Are you interested in how the dopamine system works? Do you like computational modeling? Are you eager to work in a small and dynamic research project on the reward and motor systems in Parkinson’s Disease? And would you like to work on all of this in the most liveable city in the world? If yes, you should send us your application.

Who are we? The research project is part of the Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance (DRCMR) and involves close interaction with collaborators at the department, but also internationally. We are a small research group of 3-6 student helpers, interns and MSc and PhD students, led by Research Fellow David Meder. We emphasize a close and informal working style where we are eager to support each other, benefiting from a diversity in backgrounds and expertise. The project is embedded in our research on cognitive computational and clinical neuroscience, with regular meetings in the “Movement Disorders” and the “Computational Neuroscience of Reward” groups. You will have close interaction with DRCMR-researchers from a great variety of disciplines as well as clinicians. We act in concert, and you are never alone with your tasks. In the project, we also collaborate closely with Prof. Ray Dolan’s research group at the Max Planck UCL Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research.

Who are we looking for? We look for a highly motivated postdoctoral scientist (or highly qualified PhD student) to conduct cutting-edge research at the intersection of cognitive neuroscience, clinical neuroscience, and magnetic resonance imaging. We are looking for a candidate with strong computational modeling skills in the context of MRI of the human brain.

What is the project about? The position is part of a project with the aim to map the dopaminergic system with functional MRI and to measure how it changes in patients with Parkinson’s disease. We will be developing and applying models and computer methods to test the predictions of a novel theory of dopamine signaling in the healthy human brain and in Parkinson’s disease. You will mainly be involved in the data acquisition and data analysis part of the project, further developing and applying a computational technique for topographic mapping in fMRI data.

The Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance (DRCMR) is one of the leading research centers for biomedical MRI in Europe (www.drcmr.dk). MRI is the scientific focus area of the DRCMR. Our mission is to triangulate MR physics, basic physiology, and clinical research. Approximately 70 researchers from a diverse range of disciplines are currently pursuing basic and clinically applied MR, electrophysiology, and brain stimulation research with a focus on structural, functional, and metabolic MRI of the human brain and its disorders.

The DRCMR is part of the Center for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, a large diagnostic imaging department that covers all biomedical imaging modalities at Copenhagen University Hospital Hvidovre. Copenhagen has repeatedly been rated the most liveable city in the world (https://copenhagensciencecity.dk/copenhagen-rated-worlds-most-liveable-city-again/, https://monocle.com/film/edits/copenhagen-the-monocle-travel-guide/).

The position:

You will be employed as a postdoc for a two-year period at the DRCMR with good possibilities of extension. You will join the Movement Disorders group led by Research Fellow David Meder. We will also consider applications from highly qualified applicants interested in a three-year employment as PhD student.

Your daily tasks will vary according to the flow of the projects, but will mainly be centered around:

  • conducting MRI experiments with healthy participants and patients with Parkinson’s disease together with other group members
  • analyzing MRI and behavioral data, including the application of our topographic mapping technique
  • engaging in teaching, knowledge dissemination, and publication of results in international, recognized scientific journals.

The ideal candidate

  • You hold a PhD (or MSc) degree in Neuroscience, Computer Science, Biomedical Engineering or a related field. While a PhD degree is preferred, highly qualified applicants with a MSc degree are strongly encouraged to apply.
  • You are an expert in computational modeling and/or functional MR data analysis
  • You enjoy being part of a multidisciplinary and international research team and integrating technological innovations into your neuroscience research.
  • You have experience in conducting experiments with human subjects—preferably including patients.
  • Additional expertise in Bayesian modeling or Bayesian statistics is a major advantage.
  • You have excellent written and interpersonal communication skills.

The project will be supervised by Research Fellow David Meder in close collaboration with Prof. Hartwig Siebner and Senior Researcher Oliver Hulme.

Starting date: is expected to be January 2023.

Salary and Terms of Employment

You will be employed as a postdoc for a period of 24 months with good possibilities of extension or as a PhD student for a period of 36 months. Salary, pension and terms of employment are in accordance with the agreement between the Danish Regions (Danske Regioner) and the relevant professional organization. The salary depends on background education and seniority. Further, supplements can be negotiated. Note that candidates coming from abroad may be eligible for tax reductions. The position is open for candidates of all nationalities.

We see diversity as strength and encourage all persons regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, disabilities or religion to apply.

Applications should include a cover letter, references, list of publications and CV (optionally narrative CV, see e.g. https://royalsociety.org/topics-policy/projects/research-culture/tools-for-support/resume-for-researchers/). Applications must be submitted on-line through the RegionH job portal. Click HERE.

Application deadline: 13th November 2022 at 23:59 (CET)

For further information regarding the position please contact Research Fellow David Meder
Direct line:  +45 3862 0633; Email: davidm@drcmr.dk