We would like to invite applications for a Postdoc position within auditory neuroscience. The appointment will be for two years with the possibility of a one-year extension. The project will be conducted in context of the interdisciplinary synergy program UHeal: Uncovering Hidden Hearing Loss funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation. The aim of the UHeal project is to understand the perceptual and physiological consequences of noise-induced cochlear neuropathy, also known as ‘hidden hearing loss’, and to develop diagnostic markers for this disorder in human patients.
The postdoc project will use functional MRI to investigate how auditory processing of noisy signals is affected by cochlear synaptopathy. The project will design and conduct fMRI speech-listening experiments to investigate cortical and/or midbrain processing in patients and normal-hearing controls. The functional imaging project will be conducted on state-of-the-art MRI systems, involving advanced methods for fMRI analysis and computational modeling. In collaboration with DTU, the project will also focus on combining fMRI and EEG measures of speech processing using multivariate analysis techniques and advanced stimulus-response modelling. The functional data will be integrated with measures of synaptopathy collected in other parts of the UHeal project. A central aim is to better understand how central auditory processing adapts to this type of sensory impairment.
The postdoc will be part of the Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance (DRCMR) and refer to Hartwig Siebner who is heading the functional imaging project in UHeal. The project is a synergistic collaboration with research teams at The Technical University of Denmark (DTU) (Torsten Dau, Jens Hjortkjaer) and the Massachusetts Eye and Ear (MEE) at Harvard Medical School (Charles Liberman). The applicant will become a member of this international and highly interdisciplinary team whose goal is to understand the implications of cochlear synaptopathy throughout the auditory system.
- Application deadline: 1st August 2018
- Starting date is expected to be in October 2018
About us:
The Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance (DRCMR) is one of the leading research centers for biomedical MRI in Europe (www.drcmr.dk). Our mission is to triangulate MR physics and basic physiology from preclinical to clinical research. Approximately 75 researchers from a diverse range of disciplines are currently pursuing basic and clinically applied MR research and its validation with a focus on structural, functional, and metabolic MRI of the human brain and its disorders. The DRCMR is embedded in the Center for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, a large diagnostic imaging department including all biomedical imaging modalities at the Copenhagen University Hospital Hvidovre. DRCMR has a state-of-the-art MR-research infrastructure enabling translational research, which includes six whole-body MR scanners (one 7T, three 3T and two 1.5T systems), a pre-clinical 7T MR scanner, and a high-performance computer cluster for neuroimaging. The DRCMR has pre-clinical labs, a neuropsychology laboratory, an EEG laboratory, and four laboratories for non-invasive brain stimulation.
The ideal candidate
Should be an internationally oriented team player with:
- A PhD degree or corresponding qualification in engineering, physics, neuroscience, computer science, or related field, preferably with experience in functional MRI of the auditory system.
- A strong documented background in systems neuroscience and functional magnetic resonance imaging.
- Proficiency in computer programming (e.g. Matlab, Python), statistics, and experimental neuroscience work.
- Knowledge of auditory neuroscience and disorders of the auditory system.
- Interest in multimodal integration of brain imaging methods (e.g. EEG-fMRI)
Your tasks:
- Design and conduct functional brain imaging experiments, data analysis and validation
- To work directly with the UHeal team of researchers and collaborators.
- To be engaged in supervision of BSc, MSc and PhD students, knowledge dissemination and publishing in internationally recognized scientific journals.
Your position:
The candidate will be employed for a postdoc period of 24 months at the Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance with the possibility of a one-year extension. You will be part of the UHeal team in collaboration with partners, in particular at DTU.
Salary and terms of employment
Salary, pension and terms of employment are in accordance with the agreement between the Danish Regions (Danske Regioner) and the relevant professional organization. The salary depends on background education and seniority. Further, supplements can be negotiated. Note that candidates coming from abroad may be eligible for tax reductions. The position is open for candidates of all nationalities.
We see diversity as strength and encourage all persons regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, disabilities or religion to apply.
Applications should include a cover letter, CV and list of publications together with the names of three referees. Applications must be submitted on-line through the RegionH job portal – click here.
For further information regarding the position please contact Head of Department Professor Hartwig Siebner, E-mail: