21 Oct
2012
21 Oct
'12
3:38 p.m.
FYI
----------------------------
The *Translational Neuromodeling Unit (TNU) *headed by Prof. Klaas Enno
Stephan is a newly founded division of the Institute of Biomedical
Engineering at the University of Zurich and the Swiss Federal Institute
of Technology (ETH Zurich). Its mission is to translate advances in
computational neuroscience into clinically useful diagnostic tools. To
this end, the TNU brings together modelers, experimentalists and
clinicians who jointly develop mathematical models of brain
(dys)function and evaluate their diagnostic use for psychiatry and
neurology in patient studies. We have access to a wide range of
experimental facilities -- including fMRI (3T & 7T), EEG, TMS, eye
tracking -- and are presently setting up a research clinic for patient
studies. For more information, see
http://www.biomed.ee.ethz.ch/research/tnu.
The TNU invites applications for a *doctoral student (PhD) position*
(duration 3 years). The topic concerns the development of mathematical
models of behavior in voluntary control of eye movement and/or corollary
discharge for eye movements. In particular, the project focuses on
dynamic systems theory and Bayesian methods for enabling inference on
"hidden" processes from behavioral and eye movement data in healthy
subjects and psychiatric patients. The successful applicant will
primarily develop these models and conduct the eye movement experiments
required to estimate the model parameters. However, there is the
opportunity to study the neurophysiology of the mechanisms described by
the mathematical models using fMRI.
Essential qualifications and interests include
· a mathematical background (e.g., a degree in engineering, physics,
computer science, statistics, mathematical psychology, mathematical
biology),
· strong programming skills (MATLAB in particular),
· a "team player" attitude,
· interest in biomedical questions and real-world applications of
computational models.
Additionally, the ideal applicant
· has a background in dynamic system analysis, Bayesian methods, and/or
machine learning,
· has experience with conducting behavioral and/or eye movement experiments.
· has experience with the analysis of behavioral and/or eye movement data.
· enjoys inter-disciplinary interactions with experimentalists and
clinicians.
The position is available immediately. Interested students should submit
their applications (incl. CV, names of at least two referees, and a
brief letter of motivation outlining their interests and explaining why
they meet the above requirements) to Jakob Heinzle
(tnu-jobs(a)biomed.ee.ethz.ch). Applications will be considered until the
position has been filled.