This is to let you know of a newly available postdoctoral position at the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) in Magdeburg.
In this unique project, we seek to develop a quantitative understanding of navigational deficits in old age by combining computational modelling of neural circuits with experimental neuroscience. The project is a collaboration between the Aging and Cognition Research Group in Magdeburg (www.wolberslab.net) and the Computational Modelling Group of Prof. Ila Fiete at the University of Texas at Austin (http://clm.utexas.edu/fietelab). The work will include spatial navigation studies with older adults, using cutting edge virtual reality setups and ultra-high field (7T) neuroimaging. In developing and analysingyour experiments, you will closely collaborate with members of the Fiete lab, which will include research stays in Austin.
A strong interest in spatial navigation is essential, and excellent statistical skills are a plus. Furthermore, you will have, or be in the final stages of, a PhD in cognitive neuroscience, neuroimaging methods or applied statistics. You should also be familiar with (f)MRI, possess excellent computer programming skills (e.g. in Matlab), and it would be desirable for you to have experience with machine learning approaches. You will be thorough, efficient, a good communicator, and enjoy working as part of a diverse and energetic, interdisciplinary team. Candidates should be willing to learn new research methods and to have a strong interest in pursuing a research career.
The project is funded by a joint grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) in the US and the German Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). The lab in Magdeburg provides cutting-edge interactive virtual reality systems, which allows for actual navigation in large-scale environments, and we have access to research dedicated MEG/EEG, TMS and MRI facilities, which includes a 7T human scanner. In addition, the lab entertains multiple national and international collaborations, and Magdeburg offers a unique environment as spatial navigation is a core theme investigated across several animal and human research groups.
Please go to www.wolberslab.net/join-us.html to see the full advert, and please feel free to get in touch (thomas.wolbers@dzne.de mailto:thomas.wolbers@dzne.de) if you feel that I can help with more information.
Best wishes,
Thomas