PhD opportunity at the Department of Systems Neuroscience in Hamburg in “Cognitive modulation of pain”

The Laboratory of Christian Büchel at the Department for Systems Neuroscience Hamburg University is currently screening for a PhD fellowship focused on the cognitive modulation of pain processing using a combination of computational neuroscience and fMRI/EEG. The focus of this positions is on (i) the investigation of the interplay between the ascending and descending nociceptive system, (ii) the interplay of motivational systems and pain in the context of decision making and (iii) , employing state-of-the-art analyses of effective connectivity to investigate aspects of predictive coding in pain processing. For an overview see (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24656247).

Potential applicants will have a master or Diploma in Cognitive Neuroscience, Neurophysiology, Psychology, Computer Science, Physics, Statistics or a related field. Mathematical and programming skills are required. Experience in experimental design, analysis of fMRI data is a plus. Duties will also include manuscript preparation, presentation of findings at conferences and management of student research assistants. Laboratory and Department resources include a research-dedicated 3T MR scanner, concurrent fMRI/EEG setup, small animal 7T MR and an on-site physics group. This PhD position will be part of the Department’s graduate school “neurodapt”. Official lab language is English.

If you are interested, please send a curriculum vitae, a statement describing research interests and relevant background to:

Christian Büchel, MD

Department of Systems Neuroscience, University Medical Center, Hamburg-Eppendorf, buechel@uke.de