[FieldTrip] Phd position in Cognitive Neuroscience in UPF (Barcelona)

[liyy90]

I am interested in this program. How to apply?

At 2017-11-22 17:41:51, "TORRALBA CUELLO, MIREIA" <mireia.torralba at upf.edu> wrote:

Please find attached information about a PhD position in Cognitive Neuroscience at Multisensory Research Group (UPF, Barcelona)

Deadline: Feb 1st, 2018
Start date: May/June 2018
Gross salary: Approx 27.800€/year
Research money (travel etc...): 3.500€/year



Requirements*: Master's degree in the EU or equivalent (to be decided by the host university at application), and have not worked/resided in Spain for more than 12 months (within the last 3y).




Phd position in Cognitive Neuroscience: Neural predictors of Memory Perception and attention (Prof.Salvador Soto-Faraco)




POSITION DESCRIPTION

-Research Project / Research Group Description:

How “...the brain enables the mind...” is one of the core questions in neuroscience. Understanding this relationship will lead to improvements in the mitigation of brain disease. One of the major sources of evidence on how neurophysiological activity relates to mental phenomena comes from the realization that fluctuations in neural activity could be at the heart of cognitive processes. In fact, it is well known that ongoing brain activity itself is highly organized, so that neural communication (local, and long range) seems to capitalize on the fine temporal structure of neural activity. Consequently responses to sensory events depend strongly on the momentary state of the system. The overarching goal of the research project hosting the potential PhD candidate is to capitalize on the relationship between brain oscillations, brain states and cognitive processes to anticipate and be able to modulate the outcome of these processes via real-time neurodevices based on Brain Computer Interfaces.

The research lines hosting the PhD candidate address the link between the pattern of oscillatory brain activity and three sets of concrete cognitive processes. (1) Memory encoding in healthy humans and/or patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment. (2) Attention and perception in real-life scenarios. And, (3) perceptual conflict and awareness. The overarching goal is to be able to find predictors (biomarkers) for these processes and be able to anticipate optimal brain states (windows of opportunity) for the success of these behaviours. To this end, we use psychophysics, human electroencephalography (EEG), and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). Psychophysics is essential to measure the behavioural expression of cognitive processes. EEG is sensitive to post-synaptic potentials of large neuron populations, and is an indirect index of neural activity. In order to infer brain states, we capitalize on a variety of measures from the EEG: spectral power, instantaneous phase, and temporal/spatial coherence of oscillatory activity. Neurostimulation (TMS) is used to probe causality.

The MRG is part of the CBC master, has 3 postdoc researchers (specialized in signal processing, bioengineering, and neuropsychology) 3 Phds, and support staff. Our research is supported by EU and local funding.
 

-Job position description:

Role:

The successful candidate will lead a research line which falls amongst the overall projects of the MRG laboratory (described above). It is expected that the candidate will have a prior motivation for cognitive neuroscience and will contribute in an active way to define the particular project from its inception, formulation of hypotheses, experimental designs, measurement and analysis, and interpretation of the data. In order to accomplish these tasks, the PhD candidate will of course count with the support of the MRG staff and knowledge base, and the guidance of Prof Soto-Faraco as well as senior members of the laboratory.

Dissemination of the research output, and networking with other local, or external experts as well as advanced post-docs and phd students will be encouraged and fostered.

Responsibilities:

The candidate will be mainly responsible for the implementation of the assigned research tasks conducive toward the PhD project, the careful and systematic carrying out of the experimental work.

Other responsibilities will be assigned commensurate with the PhD’s capacity and level of seniority. Amongst them, like other members of the team, the PhD student will contribute to the group activities (e.g., helping organize talks, group meetings, presenting the findings in conferences) , and to the training and support of other junior members of the laboratory (eventual supervision of master or degree students).

Finally, the Phd candidate will also be responsible to provide timely responses to requests from the funding body, including progress reports, as well as to attend the meetings s/he might be called to, from the funding agency.

Skills:

Background in Biology, Bioengineering, Experimental Psychology or other fields related to Cognitive Neuroscience.

Prior experience or background in Brain Computer Interfaces.

Concrete experience with experimental work in the field of the cognitive neurosciences, preferably with psychophysics and/or electrophysiology (EEG, MEG).

Knowledge of signal processing.

Others:

High motivation, proactivity and team work are very desirable.

RELATED LINK TO THE POSITION

http://www.mrg.upf.edu/node/112

 

CENTER

Dept. of Information & Communication Technologies, DTIC-UPF

https://portal.upf.edu/es/web/etic/inicio




CENTER DESCRIPTION

The Department of Information and Communication Technologies (DTIC) of Universitat Pompeu Fabra covers a broad range of research topics: Computation and Intelligent Systems; Multimedia Technologies; Networks and Communications; Computational Biology and Biomedical Systems; and the Center of Brain and Cognition (CBC). This broad spectrum of topics reflects the current interdisciplinary reality of cutting edge research in ICT. The DTIC is now running a Maria de Maeztu Strategic Research Program on data-driven knowledge extraction, boosting synergistic research initiatives across our different research areas.

The DTIC consistently ranks among the top computer science departments in Spain (e.g. the only computer science department from an Spanish university that has even been included in the top 100 of the Shanghai Ranking).

Its PhD program offers advanced training in this interdisciplinary field, becoming an innovative and unique program in Spain. The DTIC PhD program has been growing steadily and currently hosts about 140 PhD students and 40 supervisors. The program received a Mention of Excellence award from the Ministry of Science and Innovation in 2011.

The UPF university was awarded in 2010 the distinction of International Excellence Campus by the Spanish Ministry of Education and it is widely considered to be one of the best universities in Spain (e.g. is the top Spanish university according to 2013 Times Higher Education Ranking).

The UPF is located in Barcelona. Its excellent location on the shores of the Mediterranean, its gentle climate, its open, cosmopolitan character, its gastronomy and architecture make Barcelona an extraordinary place to live. The DTIC is sited in UPF's Communication Campus, which was opened in 2009 and is located within the vibrant 22@ technological district of Barcelona.




Indicators:  

Research incomes: 15.6 M€ / year
67 FP7 projects participated and coordinated by 26 staff members (> 60% UPF EU funds) including 13 prestigious ERC Grants, the Human Brain Project
Leader in Spain with  > 5% of all the competitive funds obtained by Spanish Universities, Maria de Maeztu Strategic Program.
Consolidated scientific productivity ~200 articles/year, > 75% Q1 international journals
50% scientific papers and articles with at least one international collaborator

 

 

ADDRESS

Roc Boronat, 138 - edifici Tànger, 08018 Barcelona, Barcelona

GROUP DISCIPLINES

Life Science Panel

GROUP LEADER

Prof.Salvador Soto-Faraco

salvador.soto at upf.edu

www.mrg.upf.edu


Mireia Torralba Cuello
Multisensory Research Group 
Center for Brain and Cognition, Universitat Pompeu Fabra
Address: Edifici Mercè Rodoreda 24.313
        c\ Ramon Trias Fargas, 25-27
        08005 Barcelona

http://www.mrg.upf.edu
Tel +34 935422745

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