ESR position TRANSACT-ITN: MRS as part of a comprehensive neuroimaging assessment

The TRANSACT Initial Training Network investigates theoretical and practical aspects of in vivo Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) and Spectroscopic Imaging (MRSI) with applications in oncology and neurology. The ITN will host 13 Early Stage Researchers, each performing an individual research project on topics ranging from spectral quality assurance criteria to optimal exploitation of complementary multi-modal magnetic resonance imaging modalities. The research training is supervised by a consortium of 10 academic and 4 industrial partners with wide expertise in basic science, clinical research and information technology.

Description

This job opening covers a 3-year research position in the frame of a doctoral program lasting up to 4 years (resulting in a PhD degree awarded by Univ. Manchester). The main part of the research work will be carried out at Univ. Manchester, U.K. (Supervisor: Prof. Stephen Williams), and will include a 6-months research secondment at KU Leuven and icoMetrix, Belgium (Co-supervisor: Prof. U. Himmelreich, Dr. D. Loeckx).

This project will use 3T multi-modal MRS and MRI data acquired as part of ongoing studies into depression, Parkinson’s disease and alcoholism, from control and drug-treated subjects. We will assess reproducibility of spectroscopic quantitation using existing methods and automate extraction of grey matter, white matter and CSF composition. Partial-volume corrected MRS measurements of glutamate and GABA will then be related to clinical markers of disease and to functional correlates (e.g., BOLD activations in response to specific tasks or drugs). Later in the project, signal processing advances made by other partners will be incorporated into the analysis pipeline.

Nr of positions available : 1

Research Fields

Engineering - Biomedical engineering

Career Stage

Early stage researcher or 0-4 yrs (Post graduate)

Research Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)

Benefits

The position will be funded at the applicable Marie Curie rates.

Comment/web site for additional job details

Website: www.transact-itn.eu

Marie Curie ITN Eligibility Conditions:
1) Early-Stage Researchers must, at the time of recruitment by the host organization, be in the first four years (full-time equivalent research experience) of their research careers and have not yet been awarded a doctoral degree.
2) At the time of recruitment by the host organization, researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc) in the country of their host organization for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the reference date.

How to apply: Send CV and motivation letter to steve.williams@manchester.ac.uk

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Requirements

Required Education Level

Degree	Master Degree or equivalent
Degree Field	Medical sciences

Degree	Master Degree or equivalent
Degree Field	Engineering

Required Languages

Language	ENGLISH
Language Level	Excellent