Job ID: 122287

17 PhD positions – Marie Sklodowska-Curie Doctoral Candidates within the ‘FRESCO4NoPain, Frontier Research Competences for Neuro-modulation and Oscillations in Pain’ Doctoral Network

Position: Ph.D. Student

Deadline: 7 April 2025

City: Various cities

Country: Denmark

Institution: Aalborg University

Department: The FRESCO4NoPain consortium

Description:

FRESCO4NoPain, Frontier Research Competences for Neuro-modulation and Oscillations in Pain is a Marie Sklodowska-Curie Action (MSCA) Doctoral Network (DN) that will provide world-class interdisciplinary training to 17 Doctoral Candidates (DCs) in the area of non-pharmacological chronic pain treatment based on the pain-related brain oscillations and neuromodulation. The FRESCO4NoPain consortium, led by Aalborg University, gathers 7 beneficiaries from 5 European countries (DK, FR, BE, DE, and UK) with 11 associated partners, comprising a good balance between academic and non-academic institutions while offering a complete set of interdisciplinary skills. The starting date of the project was 1stof February 2025.

About the research and training programme

The DCs will be integrated in a one-of-a-kind network-wide training infrastructure conducting frontline research on non-invasive brain stimulation that targets persistent pain based on i) preclinical studies of the relevant brain circuitries, ii) human studies of the involved mechanisms, and iii) clinical studies. Through FRESCO4NoPain, DCs will access a unique set of basic, experimental, and clinical disciplines in both academic and non-academic settings, tied together by synergistic collaborations across the network. An application-based and patient-oriented mindset will permeate the consortium via the active involvement of cutting-edge MedTech companies, knowledge actors and end-users. Such a truly interdisciplinary and intersectoral approach provide the necessary ecosystem to go beyond the state-of-the-art, promote disruptive thinking while developing new methods that overcome current technological barriers in the complex field of interdisciplinary pain neuroscience.

FRESCO4NoPain will deliver on urgently needed non-pharmacological therapeutic concepts for chronic pain and build on fundamental scientific insights regarding the role of neuronal oscillations in the brain processing of pain, thereby potentially helping millions of people with chronic pain.

For further details about the overall research project please visit www.fresco4nopain.com

Why apply?

Being a PhD student in a doctoral network offers numerous benefits designed to enhance your academic and professional journey. You will have the opportunity to participate in specially developed courses including training on advanced techniques and academic soft skills. These courses are designed to provide you with the tools needed for both research excellence and broader career success.

Additionally, you will begin building your professional network early in your career. The PhD projects are embedded within an extensive academic and industry network, offering opportunities to collaborate with other DCs and researchers. You may also gain valuable experience through the two planned secondments at non-academic and other partner organizations, further enriching your exposure and connections.

Moreover, you will be guided by leading experts in pain neuroscience who are highly regarded for their expertise in research and training.

All DCs recruited will be expected to carry out the following tasks:

  • To manage and carry out their research projects within 36 months and to write a PhD dissertation.
  • To participate in research and training activities within the FRESCO4NoPain network (at least three training schools and additional virtual events).
  • To write papers for scientific peer reviewed journals and to disseminate their research in the scientific community (international conferences) and non-scientific community, by outreach and public engagement.
  • To liaise with the other DCs, research staff and students working in broad areas of relevance to the research project and partner institutions.
  • To work 100% of their time for the research activities specified in their individual DC research project.

Eligibility criteria

DC applicants need to fully comply with the following essential eligibility criteria:

  • Academic Qualification: The applicant must hold a relevant master’s degree or equivalent and must have obtained the degree or equivalent by the DC start date of September 1, 2025.
  • Doctoral Candidates: In order to be recruited to the network as a doctoral candidate, applicants must not already be in possession of a doctoral degree (i.e. a Ph.D. degree) at the time of the call deadline.
  • Conditions of international mobility of researchers: At the time of appointment by the host organization, researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of their recruiting organization for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to their recruitment.
Salary

FRESCO4NoPain offer an attractive salary in accordance with the MSCA regulations for Doctoral Researchers. The exact (net) salary will be confirmed upon appointment and is dependent on local tax regulations and on the country correction factor i.e. to allow for the difference in cost-of-living indifferent EU Member States. The salary includes a living allowance, a mobility allowance, and a family allowance (if applicable).

Positions

Please go to www.fresco4nopain.com to apply for the open positions and see a more detailed description of the DC position.

The deadline for all positions is 7thof April 2025.

  • DC1: ‘Identifying imaging signature and neurotransmitter dynamics of neuromodulatory interventions’, Institute of Cellular and Integrative Neuroscience, the National Centre for Scientific Research, France
  • DC2: ‘Closed-loop stimulation using a multiregional brain-machine interface for pain treatment’, Institute of Cellular and Integrative Neuroscience, the National Centre for Scientific Research, France
  • DC3: ‘Exploiting insular cortical circuitry for pain relief using neurostimulation and elucidating underlying mechanisms’, Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Germany
  • DC4: ‘Reverse translating rTMS in mice with neuropathic pain to unravel mechanisms leading to pain relief’, Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Germany
  • DC5: ‘Bridging the gap between preclinical studies and non-invasive neuromodulation in humans using intracerebral EEG and intracerebral periodic stimulation’, Institute of Neuroscience, UCLouvain – University of Louvain, Belgium
  • DC6: ‘Assessing effect of alternating current stimulation of the brain and spinal cord on the function of dorsal horn nociceptive circuits and its susceptibility to sensitise’, Institute of Neuroscience, UCLouvain – University of Louvain, Belgium
  • DC7: ‘Personalise by synchronisation: Analgesic effects of neuromodulation-driven entrainment of pain-related cortical oscillatory activity’, Center for Neuroplasticity and Pain, Aalborg University, Denmark.
  • DC8: ‘Close-loop, EEG-triggered, non-invasive spinal cord neuromodulation and its efficacy to modulate pain mechanisms and experimental pain models’, Center for Neuroplasticity and Pain, Aalborg University, Denmark.
  • DC9: ‘Using somatosensory entrainment to modulate neuronal oscillations and the experience of pain’, PainLabMunich, The Technical University of Munich, Germany
  • DC10: ‘Using tRNS to modulate cortical excitability and the experience of pain’, PainLabMunich, The Technical University of Munich, Germany
  • DC11: ‘Assessing clinical and electrophysiological predictive factors of long-term analgesic effects of rTMS in patients with chronic neuropathic pain’, Ambroise Pare Hospital, National Institute of Health and Medical Research, France
  • DC12: ‘Prediction of response to analgesic rTMS by pre-treatment clinical and cortical oscillatory patterns in people with fibromyalgia pain’, Ambroise Pare Hospital, National Institute of Health and Medical Research, France
  • DC13: ‘Close-loop, non-invasive motor cortex neuromodulation and its analgesic efficacy in people with chronic pain’, Center for Neuroplasticity and Pain, Center for Neuroplasticity and Pain, Aalborg University, Denmark.
  • DC14: ‘Temporal interference stimulation to modulate ongoing oscillatory activity in deep brain structures in humans’, Institute of Neuroscience, UCLouvain – University of Louvain, Belgium
  • DC15: ‘Neuromodulation-driven entrainment of pain and mood-related cortical oscillatory activity’, Center for Neuroplasticity and Pain, Aalborg University, Denmark
  • DC16: ‘Changing the way we think about pain: Strategies for selective cortical engagement of noradrenergic descending pain control’, School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, United Kingdom
  • DC17: ‘Identifying neuromodulator mechanisms for analgesic effects of transcutaneous spinal stimulation’, School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience University of Bristol, United Kingdom

For details relating to the recruitment process, please refer to the ‘Guide for applicants’ document where you will find information about recruitment procedures and principles, the selection process and the evaluation criteria.

For formal enquiries, please contact fresco4nopain@hst.aau.dk where the Project Management Team will assist you.

We look forward to receiving your application.

Please apply here