The Dutch Brain Interface Initiative (DBI2) aims to advance our understanding of brain function and brain environment interactions by leveraging the development of a new generation of effective and minimally disruptive brain-machine interfaces. One of the neuroscientific applications of DBI2 is to increase our understanding of the common principles of global brain dynamics and feedback interactions between brain areas subserving cognition. The main focus of this PhD project will be on the brain mechanisms of gait impairments in Parkinson's disease and the effects of cueing, i.e. observation of auditory and/or visual (rhythmic) stimuli, as a therapeutic method. Gait impairments are one of the most disabling symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease and may be provoked by turning, passing through narrow passages, but also by emotional distress, cognitive dual tasks and experiencing time pressure.

We are looking for a talented researcher with a passion for studying the function of the brain, cognition and motor control by analysing neurophysiological and behavioural signals recorded from healthy mice and mouse models for Parkinson's disease. You will set up and coordinate experiments performed at the Translational Neuroscience Unit of the Donders Institute in Nijmegen to study fundamental aspects of motor and cognitive behaviour related to Parkinson's disease and the effects of cueing in mice. One of the objectives of the project is to determine which cueing modalities have the best effect in preventing or overcoming gait impairments under specific environmental conditions and/or increased mental load or dual tasking.

• You are an enthusiastic researcher and highly motivated.
• You have a MSc degree in Biomedical Engineering, Technical Medicine, Biomedical Sciences or a related topic, with excellent experimental and theoretical skills, including programming skills for the development of signal analysis algorithms and handling large data sets.
• You have a creative mindset and excellent analytical and communication skills.
• You have good team spirit and like to work in an interdisciplinary environment.
• You are fluent in English.

• As a PhD student at UT, you will be appointed to a full-time position for four years, with a qualifier in the first year, within a very stimulating and exciting scientific environment. Experiments will be performed in the Translational Neuroscience Unit of the Donders Institute in Nijmegen.
• The University offers a dynamic ecosystem with enthusiastic colleagues;
• Your salary and associated conditions are in accordance with the collective labour agreement for Dutch universities (CAO-NU);
• You will receive a gross monthly salary ranging from € 2.541,- (first year) to € 3.247,- (fourth year);
• There are excellent benefits including a holiday allowance of 8% of the gross annual salary, an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%, and a solid pension scheme;
• A minimum of 232 leave hours in case of full-time employment based on a formal workweek of 38 hours. A full-time employment in practice means 40 hours a week, therefore resulting in 96 extra leave hours on an annual basis.
• Free access to sports facilities on campus.
• A family-friendly institution that offers parental leave (both paid and unpaid);
• You will have a training programme as part of the Twente Graduate School where you and your supervisors will determine a plan for a suitable education and supervision;
• We encourage a high degree of responsibility and independence, while collaborating with close colleagues, researchers and other staff.

The group Biomedical Signals & Systems aims to enable improved diagnosis and treatment of patients with motor, sensory and cardiopulmonary dysfunction in clinical and home/self-care setting. Our research is embedded in the multidisciplinary research institute Technical Medicine (TechMed) Centre.

The team working on Central Motor Control, led by Ciska Heida and Richard van Wezel, combines computational modelling and experimental research to study the neuronal mechanisms of movement disorders and to develop new and optimize existing therapeutic neuromodulation strategies such as deep brain stimulation and cueing.