How to do a PhD at the DRMCR

As a graduate student the opportunities for how to continue with your career are both overwhelmingly comprehensive and frighteningly unspecific, leaving most students slightly left alone once they have to choose the next step. This is why the DRCMR might be the perfect place for you to start, if you decide to continue your journey in research. The DRCMR offers a very broad spectrum of research topics, ranging from basic understanding of control of action to longitudinal studies about aging of the healthy brain to therapeutic interventions and hardware development. The methods applied are equally broad, dealing not only with neuroimaging techniques like fMRI, but also neurophysiological measurements like EEG and neuromodulatory techniques like non-invasive brain stimulation, giving you the opportunity to exploit your interests in many different directions.

To start with, simply learn more about the different research groups at our institute on our homepage, and once you find an area or even a specific topic that catches your scientific interest, do not hesitate to contact directly one of the group leaders and express your interest in contributing to their work. The DRCMR is a very open-minded institution in which demonstrating interest and motivation will always be appreciated and you will have the chance to introduce yourself and your application.

Here, a PhD student usually does not start right away but begins with a period of being a Research Assistant, giving you not only the chance to take care of administrative issues without “wasting” your valuable time as an enrolled student, but also the opportunity to define a project that suits your interests, personality and future plans rather than just being assigned to a fixed study. This period might shed more light on the jungle of opportunities you have and might help you in finding your specific PhD project, with which you will be a motivated, happy and successful student at the DRCMR.

My Experience

Hans Stærkind, PhD student, PhD title: "Optical Magnetometry for Magnetic Resonance Imaging".

During my PhD at the Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance (DRCMR), I had a great learning experience. Coming from a physics background, I initially knew little about MRI or neuroscience. However, with the help of my supervisor and the internal courses, I quickly got up to speed.

The interdisciplinary nature of the research at DRCMR made the work both interesting and motivating. The supportive and collaborative atmosphere among colleagues made a significant difference. From day one, I felt included and valued, thanks to the center's excellent organization.

DRCMR's international connections also played a crucial role in my development. Regular visits and talks from researchers worldwide provided fresh insights and collaboration opportunities, broadening my perspective.

After completing my PhD, I was excited to stay on as a postdoctoral researcher. The supportive environment at DRCMR has been instrumental in shaping my academic journey, and I am grateful for the opportunities it has provided.