The PhD candidate will work on the 'Roads to Recovery' project which is supported by an NWO Vidi grant awarded to Dr. Vivian Weerdesteyn.

Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability. Balance and gait problems are very important aspects of stroke-related disability, yet the underlying control mechanisms are poorly understood. In this project, we aim to elucidate the interplay between residual primary and compensatory neural pathways for balance and gait control following supratentorial stroke. In addition, we will investigate whether new technology-based training interventions have the potential to impact on these control mechanisms. For addressing these aims, we will use an innovative integrated approach, including a complementary set of EMG as well as EEG assessments and analyses during balance and walking tasks. The PhD candidate will closely collaborate with a post-doctoral researcher (who will lead the EEG data analyses) and a research assistant (who will provide organizational support).

As a PhD candidate, you will

• Plan, organize and perform assessments and training sessions in healthy participants and people with stroke;
• Analyze the data, with a key focus on sophisticated EMG analyses;
• Present the results in scientific papers (resulting in a PhD thesis) and on (inter)national scientific meetings.

Eligible candidates should:

• Hold a Master's Degree in Biomedical Technology, Human Movement Science, Biomedical Science or related disciplines;
• Be ambitious, creative and well-organized;
• Have a keen interest in movement analysis and rehabilitation;
• Have excellent programming skills in Matlab;
• Be proficient in English (in oral and written communication);
• Be able to communicate with participants in Dutch;
• Have excellent communicative and social skills.

Upon commencement of employment we require a certificate of conduct (Verklaring Omtrent het Gedrag, VOG) and there will be a screening based on the provided CV. Radboud university medical center's HR Department will apply for this certificate on your behalf.

Read more about the Radboudumc employment conditions and what our International Office can do for you when moving to the Netherlands.

Radboudumc

The department of Rehabilitation provides an (inter)national and stimulating working environment for about 70 clinicians (physicians as well as physical, occupational, and speech-language therapist) and researchers and is an exciting place to perform both translational and applied research in the area of neurorehabilitation. The department is specialized in (1) balance and gait problems in chronic neurological patients, (2) rehabilitation of patients with neuromuscular (mainly muscular dystrophies) and neurodegenerative (e.g. Parkinson, HSP) diseases, and (3) rehabilitation after major trauma (mainly acute phase of spinal cord injury, traumatic amputations, and severe hand injury).

The department is well embedded within the university hospital (RadboudUMC) and research institutes and has intensive collaborations particularly with the departments of Neurology, Pediatrics, General / Orthopedic and Neurosurgery. It also works closely together with the rehabilitation centres of the St. Maartenskliniek (Nijmegen), Tolbrug (Den Bosch), and Groot Klimmendaal (Arnhem).

Radboudumc
Radboudumc strives to be a leading developer of sustainable, innovative and affordable healthcare to improve the health and wellbeing of people and society in the Netherlands and beyond. This is the core of our mission: To have a significant impact on healthcare. To get a better picture of what this entails, check out our strategy.

Read more about what it means to work at Radboudumc and how you can do your part.