PhD on IMPROMYND: Improving Myelin imaging for NeuroDegenerative disorders

In several neurodegenerative disorders, neuronal maturation is affected, which is strongly linked to a disrupted myelin content. Non-invasive quantification of the in vivo myelin content can be achieved using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). We recently improved the quantitative myelin-water imaging (MWI) technique reducing scantime while maintaining high image quality. With this project we will apply our improved MWI technique in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). MS is the most common demyelinating disorder, it has severe physical and mental symptoms, and a dedicated scanning method highly sensitive to myelin could provide new clinical avenues for early diagnosis and disease progression/treatment. Furthermore, in parallel we will further improve and fine-tune our MWI methodology in healthy volunteers.

We invite applications for a PhD position in clinical neuroimaging at the department of Electrical engineering at the Eindhoven University of Technology. The position is embedded in the Neuroplatform, in close collaboration with School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS) of the Maastricht University. As a PhD-student you will be participating in a clinical MRI study with MS patients, which involves subject recruitment, administration of neuropsychological tests, drawing of blood, and planning of follow up assessments, MRI data acquisition, computational modeling, and data analyses. You will be working in a stimulating interdisciplinary biomedical team, including MRI scientists, imaging engineers, physicists, neuroradiologists, neurologists, and representatives of industry.

The PhD candidate has affinity with healthcare and talent for technology, team work, and data analyses. Preferably, you have affinity with scientific research, working in a multidisciplinary setting, like complex problems, and have good skills in English writing. For the communication with patients and hospital employees, an adequate level of the Dutch language is required. A strong M.Sc. degree is required in electrical engineering, physics, biomedical engineering, technical medicine, medicine, or other related fields of study. Experience with MRI, image data analysis, MATLAB/Python programming, and last but not least with patients is a strong advantage.

A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network. You will work on a beautiful, green campus within walking distance of the central train station. In addition, we offer you:

• Full-time employment for four years, with an intermediate evaluation (go/no-go) after nine months. You will spend 10% of your employment on teaching tasks.
• Salary and benefits (such as a pension scheme, paid pregnancy and maternity leave, partially paid parental leave) in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, scale P.
• A year-end bonus of 8.3% and annual vacation pay of 8%.
• High-quality training programs and other support to grow into a self-aware, autonomous scientific researcher. At TU/e we challenge you to take charge of your own learning process.
• An excellent technical infrastructure, on-campus children's day care and sports facilities.
• An allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs.
• A Staff Immigration Team and a tax compensation scheme (the 30% facility) for international candidates.