EngD in design of an educational functional MRI software platform

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is a technique to visualize and quantify neural activity in the human brain. The analysis of measured fMRI signals is very complex, including many analysis steps encompassing the use of advanced signal and image processing methods.

Education on fMRI is included in several TU/e Electrical Engineering (EE) courses. It typically consists of oral lectures accompanied by short demonstrations of fMRI analysis software. Consequently, students do not gain any practical experience with fMRI.

The EngD trainee will perform a 15-month design project in which he/she will develop a well-documented fMRI educational software platform, that allows students to get hands-on experience with the various complex fMRI processing steps so that they gain in-depth practical knowledge of and experience with this complex medical image technique. This will enable the students to more easily solve various learning challenges that we will assign to them, and will prepare them for the foreseen increased use of fMRI in clinical research and clinical practice.

About the EngD trainee program at TU/e

The EngD trainee program is a 2-year post-master program containing a mix of theory (by following courses) and practice (by means of the above-mentioned 15-month design project). It is a paid position, and no tuition fee is required. It will enable the trainee to gain deep insights into the latest design methods. The program is in English.

More information: https://www.tue.nl/en/education/graduate-school/engd-at-tue

We expect applicants to have the following qualifications:

• A MSc degree in Electrical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Applied Physics or Computer Science
• Preferably basic knowledge of and experience with structural and functional MRI
• Good software programming skills
• Experience with programming in Python
• Excellent communication skills (oral and writing)

A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an international setting with a close relationship to industry. 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 two years.
• 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 TOIO  (€2,715).
• A year-end bonus of 8.3% and annual vacation pay of 8%.
• To support you during your EngD and to prepare you for the rest of your career, you will have free access to a personal development program for EngD trainees.
• 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.