The Cognitive & Systems Neuroscience group is seeking a highly qualified and motivated candidate for a PhD position in Systems Neuroscience and preclinical research with use of neurotechnology, under the recently acquired NWO Crossover project INTENSE (Innovative NeuroTEchNology for SociEty), which will be coordinated by Prof. Cyriel Pennartz and Dr Umberto Olcese. The INTENSE project is a large collaboration between Dutch research institutions, which aims to develop a new generation of brain-machine interfaces. Their general objective is to develop a new class of interfaces to restore brain function following cortical loss of function. In the current project, they will first develop an animal model of a stroke-induced perceptual deficit, and then combine the use of a brain-machine interface with in vivo electrophysiology, optogenetics and animal behaviour. While the brain-machine interface will be developed in a parallel project, the current project will apply it to define a new therapeutic approach to alleviate consequences of stroke.
You are expected to:
1- develop an animal model of a stroke-induced perceptual deficiency using inactivation and lesioning techniques.
2- perform in vivo multi-area electrophysiological recordings and optogenetic manipulations.
3- apply advanced electrophysiological and behavioural data analysis techniques.
4- apply a brain-machine interface as part of a therapeutic approach alleviating consequences of stroke.
5- take part in the teaching effort of the group, including supervision of bachelor and master students.
6- write scientific manuscripts and a PhD thesis.
Opportunity Focus Areas:
Neuroscience
Neurotechnology
Preclinical Research
Biomedical
