PhD Studentship: Cross-sectional and longitudinal patterns of cerebral perfusion and iron pathology across cohorts of neurodegenerative diseases

Project Description:

In vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques provide high spatial resolution and anatomical granularity with advanced acquisition protocols and analysis methodologies offering non-invasive neuroimaging tools to explore markers of disease such as cerebral perfusion and iron deposition in neurodegenerative diseases.The non-invasive nature of select MRI markers enables repeated measures to be obtained, capturing the whole disease course starting from preclinical stages, with the potential for these MRI tools to be translated into clinical practice.

The appointed PhD student will investigate the role of cerebral blood flow (CBF), in disease aetiology, pathophysiology and the ability to explore the relationship of these in vivo markers with symptomatology and clinical progression. The hypothesis is that distinct patterns of cerebral perfusion and iron accumulation will be observed, with unique progression trajectories, offering insights into mechanistic neurodegenerative changes identifies using translational MRI markers. The student will be based in the London Office of the Neurodegeneration Imaging Group and receive a comprehensive suite of training and have access to data servers and computer platforms with specialised analysis software for neuroimaging data.

For further enquiries, please contact Dr Heather Wilson at [email protected] .

Entry requirements:

Applicants should have obtained, or be about to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class UK Honours degree, or the equivalent qualifications gained outside the UK, in an appropriate area of science or technology.  Applicants with a Lower Second Class degree will be considered if they also have Masters degree or have significant relevant non-academic experience.

To support accessibility to PhD training opportunities, these studentships are only available to applicants that have not previously obtained or about to obtain a PhD degree (or equivalent).

If English is not your first language you will need to have achieved at least 6.5 in IELTS and no less than 6.5 in any section by the start of the project.  Further information about these English requirements, please visit the following link https://www.exeter.ac.uk/study/englishlanguagerequirements/

The closing date for applications is midnight on Friday 31st March 2023.  Interviews are likely to take place w/c 10 April 2023.