Fwd: Brain imaging PhD projects available

FYI ----------------------------------- Three brain imaging PhD projects are available at the Sleep & Cognition group of the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Projects are in collaboration with one or more partners in Freiburg, Basel or Strasbourg. * * *Project 8: Individual differences in the spatiotemporal profile of brain activity during wake and sleep* The project aims to elucidate how spatiotemporal profiles of brain activity develop from wakefulness to deep sleep. Assessments in good and poor sleepers will be done using the EGI MR-compatible 256-channel high density EEG-system in the quietest 3T MRI system presently available, a Toshiba Vantage Titan 3T with the Pianissimo technology. Analyses include graph theoretical and network complexity measures. Assessments will be made in Amsterdam, analyses both in Amsterdam, Freiburg and Basel.* * * * *Project 6: Spatiotemporal patterns of cortical oscillations that determine subjective wake time during sleep* The project aims to elucidate the neural correlates of the loss of consciousness during sleep. Spatiotemporal profiles of brain activity in good and poor sleepers will be obtained using the EGI 256-channel high density EEG-system, both during unperturbed sleep and in response to sensory stimulation. Analyses include graph theoretical and network complexity measures. Assessments will be made in Amsterdam, analyses both in Amsterdam and Freiburg. * * *Project 4: Reward effects of light: phototherapy as a treatment for pathologies with motivational deficits* The project aims to elucidate the involvement of brain regions regulating reward and motivation in the mood-improving effects of bright light. 3T MRI assessments will be done in good and poor sleepers. Assessments of behavior, circadian genes, proteins, neurotransmitters and hormones will be done in transgenic animals. Human studies will be performed in Amsterdam, animal studies in Strasbourg. Projects are open to students with a (pending) master (or equivalent) degree in Physics, Mathematics, Biology, Psychology, Neuroscience or Engineering or comparable. Experience with brain imaging, EEG, or sleep is an advantage for all projects. Experience with animal studies is an advantage for project 4. Especially students with some affinity with and/or background in mathematics and/or scientific programming are also encouraged to apply. A proficient level of familiarity with large datasets and programming is commendable, e.g. using Matlab. Mastery of the English language is essential for writing papers and a thesis; mastery of the local languages will facilitate recordings. If you're interested, please read additional information on http://www.neurotime-erasmus.org/ and contact e.van.someren(a)nin.knaw.nl <mailto:e.van.someren@nin.knaw.nl>. Thank you for your interest! Prof. dr. Eus J.W. Van Someren http://www.nin.knaw.nl/research_groups/van_someren_group/