The two PhD positions are part of an ERC consolidator grant awarded to dr. F. De Martino. The grant focuses on understanding predictive human hearing. Using a combination of high resolution (laminar) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), magnetoencephalography (MEG) and computational modeling, the research in the grant will investigate the role of subcortical and cortical areas in processing the context in which sounds are heard. Through a series of studies, the grant aims at understanding how hierarchical interactions in the brain underlie our ability of predicting which sounds will come next. The MEG studies will be performed in collaboration with Prof. de Lange at the Donders institute for brain, cognition and behavior in Nijmegen. The PhD students may focus on one or both the imaging modalities. The PhD students will be integrated in the research that takes place at the Department for Cognitive Neuroscience and the Maastricht Brain Imaging Center at Maastricht University, which has access to an MR-lab with 3 Tesla, 7 Tesla and 9.4 Tesla human MRI systems (www.scannexus.nl). The students will be embedded in the group led by dr. De Martino. This group currently consists of a PhD student and a postdoctoral researcher, and will be complemented by an additional postdoctoral researcher to be hired within the following 12 months.

The primary tasks and responsibilities of the PhD students will be: 1) to actively participate in the development of the experimental design, acquisition, and analysis of 7 Tesla functional MRI and/or MEG data; 2) to collaborate with the other members of the research group, and 3) to write and publish research articles.

Preferred starting date: September 2021, and not later than October 2021.

Candidates should have a (research) master degree in one of the following or related disciplines:

(Biomedical) Engineering, Computer Science or Mathematics, (Cognitive) Neuroscience.

In addition to these requirements, candidates should preferably have a theoretical interest in the area of (auditory) perception. Proficiency in scientific programming (Matlab, Python or any other language) is highly desired as well as knowledge of statistics. Research experience (during the master thesis or research internships) in one or more of the following topics/techniques will be strongly valued: functional MRI and or MEG acquisition/analysis, machine learning, multivariate pattern recognition.

Fixed-term contract: 4 years.

Temporary employment for 4 years. The first year will be a probation period, after a positive assessment the position will be extended for another 3 years, which happens in the vast majority of cases.
Your salary would be € 2.395,- gross per month in the first year up to € 3.061,- gross per month in the fourth year according to the PhD-candidate salary scale. Each year an evaluation will take place.

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 www.maastrichtuniversity.nl > Support > UM employees.

Maastricht University

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 20,000 students and 4,700 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 Science and Engineering, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience.
For more information, please visit www.maastrichtuniversity.nl.

Department of Cognitive Neuroscience

Mastricht Brain Imaging Centre
The Maastricht Brain Imaging Centre (M-BIC) is a research center founded by the Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience of Maastricht University. It offers research facilities that were newly established within the Brains Unlimited project, including high (3 Tesla) and ultra-high (7 and 9.4 Tesla) magnetic fields MR scanners. The research core of M-BIC is formed by the Cognitive Neuroscience field, one of the four departments through which the Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience conducts its research

Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology & Neuroscience, Maastricht University, The Netherlands

Auditory perception and cognition group, Maastricht Brain Imaging Centre (MBIC).