PhD scholarship in Neuromusculoskeletal Modelling for Parkinson’s Disease - DTU Electro

Do you have a passion for computational neuroscience, neurorobotics, or bioengineering?

If you are looking to establish your career as a scientist and want to work on cutting-edge biomedical research, this PhD scholarship might be the perfect opportunity for you. We offer a position where you will explore the frontiers of neuromusculoskeletal system modelling in collaboration with KTH Royal Institute of Technology. Your research will focus on the interaction between brain and body in Parkinson’s Disease (PD), with the goal of developing innovative tools for diagnosis and neurorehabilitation.

Responsibilities and qualifications
In this PhD project, you will study the brain-body interaction in PD by combining neural models with a musculoskeletal digital twin of rodent locomotion. You will work with cutting-edge technologies at DTU and KTH, developing computational models of the central nervous system and exploring how neural dynamics translate to motor control in PD.
Your primary tasks will include:

• Developing a musculoskeletal digital twin for rodents and integrating it with brain models.
• Simulating healthy and PD motor control to investigate neural dynamics and dysfunctions.
• Collaborating with both DTU and KTH for joint supervision and coordinated research tasks.
• Conducting a research stay at KTH to test and evaluate techniques in collaboration with KTH’s Computational Brain Science group.
• Publishing research results in high-impact international journals.

Your overall focus will be to strengthen the department’s competencies within machine learning, musculoskeletal modeling and simulation, and computational neuroscience. You will work with a team of researchers and with both academic and industrial partners in Denmark as well as abroad.

Qualifications required:

• You must have a two-year master's degree (120 ECTS points) or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a two-year master's degree.
• You must hold a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Bioengineering, or a similar field.
• Strong background in computational neuroscience, machine learning, musculoskeletal modeling, and robotics.
• Proven experience with data science, machine learning, or computational techniques in a cross-disciplinary environment.
• Excellent written and spoken English skills.
• A strong interest in working in a cross-disciplinary environment and excellent collaboration skills, 
• Experience in the fields of robot programming, computer vision, mathematical modeling, machine learning, data science, and/or computational neuroscience is beneficial.
• The candidate should be prepared for a stay at KTH for several months. 

Approval and Enrolment  
The scholarship for the PhD degree is subject to academic approval, and the candidate will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes at DTU. For information about our enrolment requirements and the general planning of the PhD study programme, please see DTU's rules for the PhD education . 

Assessment
The assessment of applicants will be made by Associate Professor Silvia Tolu (DTU Electro) and Associate Professor Arvind Kumar (KTH).

We offer
DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.

Salary and appointment terms 
The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union. The period of employment is 3 years.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here http://www.dtu.dk/english/about/job-and-career/working-at-dtu/career-paths.

Further information  
For more information, you can contact Associate Professor Silvia Tolu ([email protected]). 

Further details about the department can be found at DTU Electro .

If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark . Furthermore, you have the option of joining our monthly free seminar “PhD relocation to Denmark and startup “Zoom” seminar ” for all questions regarding the practical matters of moving to Denmark and working as a PhD at DTU.

Application procedure 
Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 20 January 2025 (23:59 Danish time) . Interviews will be held on an ongoing basis.

Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply now", fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file . The file must include:

• A letter motivating the application (cover letter)
• Curriculum vitae 
• Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma (in English) including official description of grading scale
• A project proposal for the position (max 2 pages). Proposals can include a research statement, a short plan related to the position, a plan for publications and research risk management. 

Optional: 

• A list of scientific and technical publications, awards, and certifications that are relevant to the vacancy. 
• Up to 3 relevant publications in related scientific fields. 
• Up to 3 reference letters.

You may apply prior to ob­tai­ning your master's degree but cannot begin before having received it. 

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply. As the position involves research in critical technology, which is subject to special rules for security and export control, among other things, open-source background checks will be conducted on qualified candidates for the position.

Technology for people
DTU develops technology for people. With our international elite research and study programmes, we are helping to create a better world and to solve the global challenges formulated in the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU in 1829 with a clear mission to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That mission lives on today. DTU has 13,500 students and 6,000 employees. We work in an international atmosphere and have an inclusive, evolving, and informal working environment. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark