(Ref. BAP-2015-102)
Occupation: Full-time
Period: Fixed-term contract
Place: Leuven
Apply no later than: June 30, 2015
For ExpORL in close collaboration with the Parenting and Special Education research unit of KU Leuven and Icometrix (a company in Leuven), we are looking for an early stage researcher to participate in the ChildBrain (www.childbrain.eu) consortium (“Advancing brain research in children’s developmental neurocognitive disorders”). ChildBrain is part of the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Innovative Training Networks (ITN).
PhD – ITN Childbrain: Structural connectivity (ESR 11)
The main research topics at ExpORL (Dept. Neurosciences, KU Leuven) are:
- Speech and music processing for cochlear implants
- Signal processing for improved speech reception and sound localisation with hearing instruments in adverse and noisy listening environments
- Binaural hearing: signal processing schemes and evaluation procedures for bilateral and bimodal acoustical and/or electrical hearing instruments
- New electrical stimulation for optimal neural excitation in cochlear implants
- Temporal neural processing from periphery to cortex: in dyslexia, in aging
- Cortical auditory processing
- Auditory rehabilitation
- New measurement methods based on auditory brain evoked potentials for improved diagnostics in newborns, children, adults, and for new hearing instruments
The main research topics at Parenting and Special Education Research Group (Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven) are:
- Behavioural phenotypes of genetic disorders associated with specific learning disabilities,
- The neuropsychology and neural basis of specific learning disabilities,
- Development and evaluation of assessment and treatment methods, including remedial teaching and computer assisted assessment and treatment.
Icometrix is an innovative spin-off (universities of Leuven and Antwerp) that offers quantitative analyses of medical images to its customers, whether it is for a single subject (clinical practice) or for large-scale comparative group analysis (research or clinical trials). Icometrix is a confluence of highly experienced scientific researchers and medical software development specialists which brings the cutting edge research into the clinics. The young, dynamic and friendly nature within icometrix allows an individual to be creative and productive. Apart from the research, one also learns how to manage his/her project in an efficient manner. See also http://www.icometrix.com/.
Project
This project focuses on improved modeling of tissue conductivity anisotropy using optimal pre-processing tools (such as non-linear registration and artefact correction) and the application of diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) instead of standard diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). The aim is to adapt the analysis algorithms for DKI to the different size and shape of the young children’s brain before and after school start, including disease patterns. First,population-specific atlases will be constructed to summarize the brain anatomy and structure of children (healthy and pathological). These atlases will then be used to perform population-specific analysis of connectivity (including tractography) in typically developing young children as well as children suffering from dyslexia. The new algorithms will specifically focus on automated intrasubject tractography and the integration with functional connectivity data in children.
Profile
Requirements
- A Master degree in electrical or biomedical engineering, physics or related
- A background in signal processing
- An interest in brain development and neurocognitive disorders
- An inquisitive and creative mind, good problem solving skills
- Very good English proficiency, willingness to learn Dutch
- Knowledge of human neurophysiology is a benefit
- Not have lived in Belgium for more than 12months during the last 3 years; this is due to emphasis on mobility in the ETN projects
Offer
- Exciting auditory and imaging brain research in neurodevelopmental disorders
- A PhD-title after 4 years of research
- A thorough scientific education, the possibility to become a world-class researcher
- Membership of world-renowned labs, as part of a motivated interdisciplinary team
- Membership of KU Leuven, one of the largest research universities of Europe
- A competitive salary and additional resources to take part in international conferences and collaborations
Interested?
For more information please contact Mrs. Maaike Vandermosten, tel.: +32 16 32 62 94, mail:maaike.vandermosten<στο>ppw.kuleuven.be.
You can apply for this job no later than June 30, 2015 via the online application tool