This hire is part of a larger project awarded to Prof David Feinberg at UC Berkeley to conceptualize and deploy a very high performance 7T scanner with regards to gradient performance, RF transmit and receive chain and coils, sequences and reconstruction. In preparation for this, the post-doc we are seeking will perform ‘predevelopment’ of new ultra-high resolution fMRI sequences and image reconstruction on the Siemens 9.4T scanner at Maastricht University, and apply them to specific studies in layer-resolved imaging.  

The successful candidate will be embedded in the MR Physics group within the Cognitive Neuroscience department and Maastricht Brain Imaging Centre, and work under the joint supervision on Dr Benedikt Poser (UM) and Dr David Feinberg (UCB). Maastricht also offers great opportunity for collaborations with the groups on applied neuroscience research and neuroimaging analysis methods development.  There is also the express desire and opportunity for the Postdoc to come to work at Berkeley on the new scanner once it is available.

Utilizing capabilities of UM’s 9.4T system with high-power head gradients and 16-ch pTX, the developments will focus on sampling-efficient pulse sequences for non-Cartesian EPI (e.g. ‘wave-EPI’) and image reconstruction, as well as methods for zoomed small volume excitation by pTX. This will be applied to BOLD and blood volume weighted fMRI. The fMRI and structural imaging projects will be to characterize the human brain cortex in finer detail. 

The MRI facility ‘SCANNEXUS’ at UM houses a state-of-the-art Siemens 3T Prisma, 7T and 9.4T human MRI systems (VE11 and VB17, respectively). The scanners have 64-channel (3T) and 32-channel (7T, 9.4T) head reception, as well as 2-channel (3T), 8-channel (7T) and 16-channel (9.4T) parallel RF transmit capability for which the Nova (single and pTX) and several custom-built coil arrays are available. Other relevant hardware includes a high-end GPU recon server, two Kineticor optical motion cameras, and a Skope 16-channel field camera for 7T. 7T upgrade to ‘TerraFit’ and 9.4T software upgrade to VE11 are under consideration. 

Preference will be given to candidates with a PhD in MR Physics, Computer Science, Mathematics, or a related field in which the candidate has obtained the required experience with numerical techniques and strong programming skills (Matlab, C++, Python). Previous expertise in image reconstruction and/or pTX, and familiarity with Siemens pulse sequencing, are highly desirable, as is a profound interest in bringing these techniques to cutting edge neuroscience applications. Candidates should be enthusiastic and highly motivated to conduct challenging research, be open to collaborate in the very interdisciplinary environment of our Center, and be willing to travel.

Fixed-term contract: 2 yrs.

The terms of employment of Maastricht University are set out in the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities (CAO). Furthermore, local UM provisions also apply. For more information look at the website http://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl

Maastricht University is renowned for its unique, innovative, problem-based learning system, which is characterized by a small-scale and student-oriented approach. Research at UM is characterized by a multidisciplinary and thematic approach, and is concentrated in research institutes and schools. Maastricht University has around 16,300 students and 4,300 employees. Reflecting the university's strong international profile, a fair amount of both students and staff are from abroad. The university hosts 6 faculties: Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Faculty of Law, School of Business and Economics, Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience.

http://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/

Maastricht Brain Imaging Centre

The Cognitive Neuroscience (CN) department in Maastricht combines research in human perception and cognition with the development of advanced methods in neuroscience. Various brain imaging methods are employed to describe and predict behaviour, such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), electro- and magneto-encephalography (EEG and MEG). Furthermore, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and neurofeedback are being used to manipulate behaviour.

The research is embedded in the Maastricht Brain Imaging Center (M-BIC) and involves international and inter-disciplinary collaborations among psychologists, neuroscientists, bioengineers, IT experts, radiologists and neurologists.

https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/research/maastricht-brain-imaging-centre