Job ID: 118221

PhD position in Early neurodevelopment of the frontal lobe

Position: Ph.D. Student

Deadline: 30 June 2024

Employment Start Date: 2 September 2024

Contract Length: 3 years

City: Amiens

Country: France

Institution: Université de Picardie

Department: GRAMFC Inserm U 1105

Description:

We are looking for a PhD candidate at Groupe de Recherches sur l’Analyse Multimodale de la Fonction Cérébrale (GRAMFC) in Amiens, France.

The deadline for applications is May 31st, 2024. Applications will be evaluated as they come in, and the position will be open until filled.

About the project: We aim to evaluate the development of the frontal lobe in premature neonates through a multimodal approach combining High Resolution electroencephalography (HR EEG), High Density Near Infrared Spectroscopy (HD NIRS) and neonatal Magnétoencephlography (MEG-OPM). This study includes identification of new neurobiomarkers, Source localization and connectivity analysis within a longitudinal approach of the development from premature neonates of 24 WGA to full terme neonates.

The PhD will be realized in co-direction between Fabrice Wallois (MD PhD, PU) and Laura Routier (MD PhD, MCU-PH).

GRAMFC (Inserm U1105) is an international leader in neonatal care and specifically in pediatric/neonatal Clinical Neurophysiology, HR EEG and HD NIRS (and soon neonatal MEG) engineering in premature neonates. The laboratory has brought together a team of neuroscientists, engineers, neuropsychologists, intensive-care pediatricians, obstetricians, and pediatric neurologists. The lab has developed new tools for signal acquisition and analysis of the cerebral function in children, neonates, and preterm infants.

The team led by Fabrice Wallois at GRAMFC is concentrated on the early neurodevelopment of brain activities with PhD students and post-doctoral researchers working on the project and multiple financial supports and collaborations.

Qualifications:

The PhD will be fully dedicated to extracting the EEG/NIRS/MEG correlates of neurodevelopment in premature newborns, aiming to extract the neural activities (EEG/MEG) and the hemodynamic adaptation to neuronal changes. It will also localize the sources of these activities in both the neuronal and the vascular compartment through a combined multimodal analysis. It will also characterize the dynamic of the development of the connectivity within and in connection with the frontal lobe. He will also study the impact of auditory stimulation on the developing frontal network.

Required: MSc (or equivalent) in neuroscience, biomedical engineering, computer science, or related fields; very strong background in neural signal processing; advanced skills with scripting languages, such as Matlab or Python; research experience in EEG signal processing/modeling; high verbal and written communication skills; French fluency

Preferable: knowledge in the field of neurosciences and signal treatment

How to apply: All applications should include a CV, a cover letter specifying research interests and motivation, and contact details for two referees.

Applications should be sent to Fabrice Wallois, fabrice.wallois@u-picardie.fr.