PhD position at the intersection between social neuroscience and machine learning

"Brain networks of social interaction across connectivity types"

The Human Brain Project leverages authentically interdisciplinary neuroscience. In an innovative approach, we will investigate the neurobiological network architecture underlying the entire spectrum of social-interaction skills, including emotion, perspective-taking, and empathy. We target social processes in the brain because they most clearly set human beings apart from other species (TEDx talk: http://bit.ly/VJES2Q). Given the challenging nature of social cognition, we will capitalize on data-driven methods that learn patterns in four different types of brain connectivity data with a minimum of a-priori assumptions. This goal will necessitate close collaboration between the neuroimaging methods group in Paris, France, and the cognitive neuroscience group in Düsseldorf/Jülich, Germany. Completion of this PhD program allows you to become part of the badly needed, new generation of computationally trained imaging neuroscientists.

What you would work on

- Work on questions that matter with multivariate statistical tools applicable beyond imaging neuroscience, in teams that are knowledgeable, passionate, and fun.

- We aim at the characterization of the neurobiology of social cognition as a whole. This includes both low-level (e.g. face processing) as well as high-level (e.g. Theory of Mind) aspects. We will perform a variety of connectivity and data-mining approaches.

- Aimed at multi-modal connectivity characterization, the project will involve 1) meta-analytic functional connectivity (MACM), 2) resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC), 3) structural covariance (SCOV), and 4) diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).

- All methods are established, making this position an excellent opportunity to learn various approaches for the analysis of structural and functional neuroimaging data

- This will allow for a comprehensive neurobiological model of social interaction processes in healthy humans that is cross-validated across methods

What we expect

- High motivation for inter-disciplinary challenges

- an analytical, problem-solving mindset

- MSc or equivalent in computer science, physics, biomedical engineering, psychology, medicine, biology (technical background is strongly preferred)

- Talent with computers, programming experience (especially in Python) is strongly preferred

- Experience in MRI analysis (SPM, FSL) is preferred

- Fluent in written+oral English language

- Geographic mobility: first part of the PhD will be in Paris, second part will be in Düsseldorf/Jülich

What we provide

We guarantee a three-year PhD position, funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG). The position is available immediately. Applications will be considered until the position is filled. Payment will correspond to salary grade 13/2 of the German Collective Bargaining Agreement for the Civil Services (TVöD).

Application

Send CV, motivation letter, and contact details of two academic referees to

Dr. Danilo Bzdok

danilobzdok@gmail.com

Parietal Group Neurospin Commissariat à l’énergie Atomique et Aux Énergies Alternatives (CEA) à Saclay Paris, France

Brain Network Modelling Group Institute for Neuroscience and Medicine 1 Research Centre Jülich Jülich, Germany

Cognitive Neuroscience Group Institute of Clinical Neuroscience and Medical Psychology Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf Düsseldorf, Germany