The DZNE in Bonn is looking for a PhD Student (f/m) Epidemiology for the area of “Gait and movement disorders across adult life span”.

Population Health Sciences at the DZNE aims to study determinants of normal and pathological mental and physical function over the adult life course, with a special emphasis on neurodegenerative diseases. To this end, we have established the Rhineland Study, a prospective population-based cohort study that will include up to 30,000 people aged 30 years and over and is designed to run for decades. Study facilities currently encompass two examination centres equipped with state-of-the-art apparatuses, including automatic gait and movement analysis, 3T MRI scanners, advanced biobanking facilities and large data storage and computational resources.

An important research topic within the Rhineland Study is the identification of risk factors for gait and movement disorders as well as the elucidation of their neuroanatomical and functional basis.

Your tasks

The main aim of this PhD project is to identify risk factors associated with the development of disorders of gait and movement during aging. To this end, various quantitative measures of gait and movement performance in participants from the Rhineland Study will be obtained and linked to clinical, imaging, biochemical and genetic outcomes, including cognition, brain structure and connectivity as well as genomic polymorphisms and gene expression profiles.

The scientific work will include the supervision of the gait and movement data collection within the Rhineland Study, data analysis, oral presentation of the results as well as preparation of manuscripts for publication in international scientific journals.

We are looking for a highly talented, motivated, enthusiastic and ambitious researcher with good social skills. Successful candidates hold a degree in Epidemiology, Neuroscience, Medicine or another relevant discipline. Demonstrable interest in quantitative research, strong analytical skills, ability for independent and critical thinking, and excellent communication and writing skills in the English language are a prerequisite.

• Interesting and challenging work in a research centre that works on the forefront of health research
• Working in a team to help direct the efforts of the Rhineland Study to address pressing health issues related to aging 
• The position is initially limited to two years with the possibility of extension 
• Job location is Bonn, Germany. Common languages at work are English and German 
• Employment, payment and social benefits are consistent with those at other research institutes

German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE)

The German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) is a unique non-university research center which is dedicated to the subject dementia and all its areas, as well as other neurodegenerative diseases. The center compasses the full spectrum of fundamental research through population sciences to health care research. The DZNE stands for excellence in research and science management, translation of scientific results into practice, interdisciplinarity and internationalization. It is a research center within the Helmholtz Organization of German research centers. With over 1,000 employees from 55 nations, spread over 10 sites, the DZNE is one of the national and international leading research centers in its research field.