Fwd: PhD position in neurobiology of human anxiety at University of Zurich, starting date negotiable

FYI ------------- Applications are invited for a funded PhD position to work on defensive emotions and their pathology, in a translational psychiatry research group led by Dominik R Bach (www.bachlab.org), Department of Psychiatry, University of Zurich, Switzerland. The successful candidate will work on the human branch of a cross-species approach to anxiety. The aim of this project is to characterise a human analogue of the anxiety behaviour often reported in rodents, and to investigate its neurobiology and relation to human experience of anxiety/clinical anxiety. The project will involve psychological experimentation, functional magnetic resonance imaging, and EEG. A collaborating animal facility will develop corresponding animal models. The wider goal of the research group is to investigate the neurobiology of human defensive emotions (panic, fear, anxiety) using neuroimaging techniques (fMRI, EEG), formalise models of such emotions with respect to general neurobiological principles, and apply these models to psychiatric syndromes involving pathological emotions (e. g. phobias, generalised anxiety disorder, depression). The laboratory offers a friendly and collaborative research environment, close supervision, a research-dedicated 3T MRI scanner, a fully equipped psychological/psychophysiological testing facility, and access to EEG facilities. We are looking for a person with an interest in theoretical neuroscience as well as hands-on experimentation. Applicants should have an MSc or equivalent in psychology or neuroscience, or in a related science/engineering discipline with some experience in cognitive neuroscience. Fluent English is mandatory, German is not required. Prior experience with fMRI, EEG, psychological experimentation, and Matlab programming would be useful. Starting date is early spring 2013 and negotiable. Applications are considered until the position is filled. Applicants should send, within one pdf file, a CV, publication list, letter of intent with a statement of research interest, and the name and contact of two references to d.bach(a)ucl.ac.uk Informal enquiry by email is welcome.