PhD fellowship in Motor Neuroscience / System Neuroscience

The Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports invites applicants for a PhD fellowship investigating Interhemispheric connectivity and bimanual performance. The PhD fellowship is part of the project “Cortical Modulation of Interhemispheric Communication to Improve Bimanual Performance” and financed by the Independnet Research Fund Denmark; Grant Number: 4285-00290B.

Start date is (expected to be) 01.03.2025 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The project

Bimanual coordination is crucial for fine motor control. Previous research has focused on interhemispheric inhibition as a main mechanism for interhemispheric coordination, but interhemispheric facilitation may also be important for bimanual coordination. The PhD project will test interhemispheric communication by using a novel transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) paradigm aimed to assess interhemispheric inhibition and facilitation in the healthy human brain. In addition the project will test if interhemispheric connectivity is altered in professional muscians and if it can be modulated by TMS interventions targeting transcallosal coupling. In general, the project will advance our understanding of the basic mechanisms of motor control and good hand function.

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for candidates within the field(s) of Human Physiology, Neuroscience, Psychology, Biomedical Engineering, Cognitive Science or similar. Applicants can have a background in motor control, neuroscience, human physiology or psychology with a particular interest in brain plasticity, brain connectivity, learning and motor perfomance. It is advantageous if the applicant has experience working with brain stimulation techniques, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) or is familiar with fuctional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).

Our group and research- and what do we offer?

The place of employment is the Motor Control and Plasticity group. The group is a part of the Department of Nutrition, Exercise & Sports, Faculty of SCIENCE, University of Copenhagen. We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in an environment characterized by an interdisciplinary, collaborative and inclusive mindset that supports scientific excellence and curiosity. Our laboratories allow state-of-the-art neuroimaging and neurostimulation (EEG,TMS, TDCS) in combination with physical and cognitive testing. See more: https://nexs.ku.dk/english/research/movement-neuroscience/motor-control-and-neuroplasticity/

Principal supervisor is Dr. Anke Ninija Karabanov, Department of Nutrition, Exercise & Sports, Faculty of SCIENCE, E-mail: [email protected], Direct Phone: +45 35328039.

The PhD programme: A three year full-time study within the framework of the regular PhD programme (5+3 scheme), if you already have an education equivalent to a relevant Danish master’s degree.

Qualifications needed for the regular programme
To be eligible for the regular PhD programme, you must have completed a degree programme, equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (180 ECTS/3 FTE BSc + 120 ECTS/2 FTE MSc) related to the subject area of the project, e.g. Human Physiology, Neuroscience, Psychology, Biomedical Engineering, Cognitive Science or similar. For information of eligibility of completed programmes, see General assessments for specific countries and Assessment database.

Terms of employment in the regular programme
Employment as PhD fellow is full time and for maximum 3 years.

Employment is conditional upon your successful enrolment as a PhD student at the PhD School at the Faculty of SCIENCE, University of Copenhagen. This requires submission and acceptance of an application for the specific project formulated by the applicant.

Terms of appointment and payment accord to the agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State. The position is covered by the Protocol on Job Structure.

Responsibilities and tasks

• Carry through an independent research project under supervision

• Complete PhD courses corresponding to approx. 30 ECTS / ½ FTE
• Participate in active research environments, including a stay at another research institution, preferably abroad
• Teaching and knowledge dissemination activities
• Write scientific papers aimed at high-impact journals
• Write and defend a PhD thesis on the basis of your project

We are looking for the following qualifications:

• A MSc degree in Neuroscience, Human Physiology, Cognitive Science or related fields with excellent results.
• Curious mind-set with a strong interest in motor control, brain plasticity and skill learning
• Self-motivated and highly organized personality with a strong drive
• Prior experience in any of the following areas is an advantage:
  • Conducting human studies and collecting and analyzingbehavioral and neurophysiological measures
  • Previous experience with non-invaisive brain stimulation
  • Previous experience with non-invaisive brain imaging (fMRI/MRI/EEG)
  • Advanced data-analyses and statistical computing
• Excellent communication skills in both spoken and written English.

Application and Assessment Procedure

Your application including all attachments must be in English and submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below.

Please include:

1. Motivated letter of application (max. one page)
2. Curriculum vitae including information about your education, experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position
3. Original diplomas for Bachelor of Science or Master of Science and transcript of records in the original language, including an authorized English translation if issued in another language than English or Danish. If not completed, a certified/signed copy of a recent transcript of records or a written statement from the institution or supervisor is accepted.
4. Publication list (if possible)
5. Reference letters (if available)

Application deadline:

The deadline for applications 22 of January 2025, 23:59 GMT +1.

We reserve the right not to consider material received after the deadline, and not to consider applications that do not live up to the abovementioned requirements.

The further process
After deadline, a number of applicants will be selected for academic assessment by an unbiased expert assessor. You are notified, whether you will be passed for assessment.

The assessor will assess the qualifications and experience of the shortlisted applicants with respect to the above mentioned research area, techniques, skills and other requirements. The assessor will conclude whether each applicant is qualified and, if so, for which of the two models. The assessed applicants will have the opportunity to comment on their assessment. You can read about the recruitment process at http://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/.

Interviews with selected candidates are expected to be held in week 7-8.

Questions
For specific information about the PhD fellowship, please contact the principal supervisor.

General information about PhD study at the Faculty of SCIENCE is available at the PhD School’s website: https://www.science.ku.dk/phd/.

The University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the surrounding community and invites all regardless of personal background to apply for the position.