FYI
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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.