PhD Candidate Closed-loop stimulation for human behavior: from brain reading to brain writing.

Updated: 11 months ago
Deadline: 23 Apr 2023

PhD Candidate Closed-loop stimulation for human behavior: from brain reading to brain writing.
PhD Candidate Closed-loop stimulation for human behavior: from brain reading to brain writing.
Published Deadline Location
6 Apr 23 Apr Maastricht

We are looking for a PhD student for a 4-year project aimed at identifying brain signals in the subthalamic nucleus in relation to non-motor processes and influencing them through closed-loop Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS).
Job description

In Deep Brain Stimulation, a constant stimulation is applied to a specific brain region to improve clinical symptoms of a variety of brain diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor or OCD. This stimulation could also be modulated to directly react to measured brain activity to
alter human behavior. This exciting line of research could pave the way to future neuroprostheses that can also write to the brain.

In the proposed project, we plan not only to measure brain signals (brain reading), but to extend this by actively manipulating the signal in the basal ganglia via stimulation in a so-called closed-loop system (brain writing). Instead of simply measuring neural activity during various behaviors, we plan to stimulate the brain to influence behavior.

In this project, we will include patients undergoing DBS surgery. Patients undergoing DBS implantation receive an internal pulse generator that can not only stimulate, but also record LFP activity. During this procedure or during battery replacement, the DBS electrodes can be connected to an external recording/stimulation device.

We will record LFP’s during the presentation of stimuli during several simple tasks. By applying advanced signal processing and machine learning to the measured neural activity associated with stimuli, we will identify underlying patterns of neural. In the next step of the experiment, stimuli are presented and the previously recorded patterns are stimulated in the STN. These patterns can include simple band-power increases, complex waveforms or even phase-amplitude coupled oscillations. By stimulating the pattern of different conditions, we will change the perception of the stimuli to influence participants' behavior. This will require to analyze and decode the neural data in real-time and control the experimental design accordingly.


Specifications
  • max. 38 hours per week
  • €2540—€3247 per month
  • Maastricht View on Google Maps

Maastricht University (UM)


Requirements

As a prior education for this position, a (Research) Master is a requirement, preferably in (cognitive) neuroscience, artificial intelligence, computer science or other technical discipline with interests in neuroscience. Strong analytical skills and programming experience (ideally in Python) are necessary. Above all, you are flexible, curious and creative. Preferably, you also have a demonstrable affinity with analysis of electrophysiological signals. English is a requirement, Dutch a strong advantage.

  • Experiment design
  • Patient recruitment and interaction
  • Implementation of closed-loop pipeline
  • Recording of high-fidelity neural data directly in the brain
  • Data analysis
  • Describing the findings in reports and (inter)national scientific articles, ultimately resulting in an English-language dissertation
  • Presenting research results at national and international conferences
  • Teaching and supervising Bachelor and Master students

Conditions of employment

Fixed-term contract: 1 + 3 years.

Remuneration will be according to standard salary levels for PhD students starting with a salary of € 2.541 with a yearly growth to € 3.247 gross a month (based on a full-time appointment). Each year the standard salary is supplemented with a holiday allowance of 8% and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3% of the yearly gross income.

The terms of employment of Maastricht University are set out in the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities (CAO). Furthermore, local UM provisions also apply. For more information look at the website www.maastrichtuniversity.nl  > About UM > Working at UM .


Employer
Maastricht University

Maastricht University is renowned for its unique, innovative, problem-based learning system, which is characterized by a small-scale and student-oriented approach. Research at UM is characterized by a multidisciplinary and thematic approach, and is concentrated in research institutes and schools. Maastricht University has around 22,000 students and about 5,000 employees. Reflecting the university's strong international profile, a fair amount of both students and staff are from abroad. The university hosts 6 faculties: Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Faculty of Law, School of Business and Economics, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience. 
For more information, visit www.maastrichtuniversity.nl .


Department
Department of Neurosurgery

You will be embedded both in the Department of Neurosurgery (within the Neural Interfacing Lab) and the Department of Clinical Neurophysiology and will have excellent supervision in terms
of data analysis, brain-computer interfacing, electrophysiology and clinical aspects of brain reading and writing. The PIs have a strong scientific background and are well connected in their respective communities.


Additional information

For more information you can contact dr. Mark Janssen [email protected]  or dr. Christian Herff [email protected]


Working at Maastricht University

Maastricht University distinguishes itself with its innovative education model, international character and multidisciplinary approach to research and education.


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Apply via postal mail
Apply via postal mail

[email protected]

Don't forget to mention AcademicTransfer and the job number: AT2023.159 in your letter.


Back to the vacancy
Application procedure

Interested candidates should send:

  • A letter of motivation
  • A detailed CV

Send your application, stating the vacancy number AT2023.159, by email to:
[email protected]

Maastricht University is committed to promoting and nurturing a diverse and inclusive community. We believe that diversity in our staff and student population contributes to the quality of research and education at UM, and strive to enable this through inclusive policies and innovative projects led by teams of staff and students. We encourage you to apply for this position.

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