PhD in Technical Medicine

Job description We look for a researcher with a passion for studying the function of the brain in motor control by computational modeling and non-invasive brain stimulation. The focus of this project will be on advanced versions of transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS), targeting multiple brain areas in an optimized way. This may includes neural network and neural mass modeling of large-scale brain activity during and after stimulation, and experimental tACS in healthy participants. The successful applicant will join the lab of Bettina Schwab within the Biomedical Signals and Systems group of the department of Electrical Engineering at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science at the University of Twente (UT), Netherlands./nAbout the project Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) is a non-invasive technique to modulate neural activity in the human brain. While its effects on neurophysiology and behavior are typically small in size, the technique has the advantage to be very flexible in terms of application sites and time courses of the applied currents, leading to large parameter spaces for applications. To optimize tACS towards a technique of network stimulation in the human brain, we use computational modeling at the population level (neural mass models) as well as at the neuron level (neural network models) including plasticity. Electric fields will be estimated based on finite-element method models. The project can be partly adapted to your specific interests and your background. This is an M-1 Open Competition Domain Science project funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO). M-grants are intended for innovative, high-quality, fundamental research and/or studies involving matters of scientific urgency./nOur offer We offer an exciting temporary research position in a dynamic and international environment, combining the benefits of academic research with a topic of high industrial relevance. The UT offers excellent working conditions, an exciting scientific environment, and a green and lively campus with lots of sports facilities and an international scientific community. The terms of employment are in accordance with the Dutch Collective Labour Agreement for Universities (CAO) and include: A fulltime PhD position for four years, with a qualifier in the first year.Full status as an employee at the UT, including pension and health care benefits.The salary will range from € ???,- (1st year) to € ???,- (4th year) gross per month, plus a holiday allowance of 8% and a year-end bonus of 8.3%;A solid pension scheme;a minimum of 29 leave days in case of fulltime employment based on a formal workweek of 38 hours. A fulltime employment in practice means 40 hours a week, therefore resulting in 96 extra leave hours on an annual basis;For candidates from abroad, the 30% ruling might be applicable, which can result in up to a maximum of 30% of the gross salary as a tax-free cost allowance.Excellent facilities for professional and personal development.Funding for conference travel.