Postdoc 'Neuroimaging of the Substantia Nigra in Parkinson's disease'

We are looking for an ambitious and creative postdoc to join an international project titled 'Evaluation of neuromelanin-sensitive imaging, quantitative susceptibility mapping, and free-water imaging as biomarkers of nigral dopaminergic dysfunction'. The goal of this project is to develop and validate new MRI-based biomarkers for (prodromal) Parkinson’s disease and compare QSM with other MRI-based outcomes (i.e. neuromelanin-sensitive MRI that is analysed in Paris and free-water MRI that is analysed in Montreal).

This consortium brings together leading institutions across Europe, Canada, and Israel, including Radboud University and Radboudumc (The Netherlands), Sorbonne University (France), McGill University and the University of Montreal (Canada), Macquarie University (Australia), Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center (Israel), and the University of Lübeck (Germany).

You will be embedded at Radboud University/Radboudumc in Nijmegen, working at the intersection of three research groups:

• Systems Neurology (Dr. Rick Helmich) – internationally recognized for innovative neuroimaging and neuromodulation studies in Parkinson’s disease.
• Prevention of Parkinson’s Disease (Dr. Sirwan Darweesh) – with unique expertise on prodromal stages of Parkinson’s disease, e.g. individuals with isolated REM-sleep Behavioural Disorder.
• MR Structural Quantitative Imaging (Dr. José Marques) – a leading team in developing advanced quantitative MRI methods for clinical and population-based applications.

This unique environment offers access to cutting-edge technology, large multi-site MRI datasets (multiple sites, >1,000 patients with early Parkinson, ~100 people with iRBD, with data acquired longitudinally), deep interdisciplinary expertise (data with rich clinical phenotyping), and a collaborative international network with large opportunities for networking. Within this consortium, the Nijmegen team will focus on the analysis of quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) MRI data to measure iron-sensitive (longitudinal) structural changes in the substantia nigra of people with prodromal (iRBD) and symptomatic Parkinson’s disease. To this end, data from all international partners will be used.

Tasks and responsibilities
In this role, you will take a leading part in developing and deploying quantitative MRI biomarkers of nigral degeneration. Your responsibilities include:

• Develop and implement longitudinal QSM analysis methods that fully exploit multi-time-point data.
• Build fast visual quality-control tools using BIDScoin for efficient curation of multi-site datasets.
• Create alternative R2* and QSM-based biomarkers of nigral dysfunction using robust substantia nigra segmentation.
• Develop advanced normative modelling approaches to account for population and inter-site variability.
• Coordinate with other work-package leaders to align biomarker extraction across diffusion, neuromelanin, and QSM imaging and coordinate data transfer between sites.
• Maintain reproducible, open, and FAIR-compliant analysis workflows throughout the project.

We are looking for a highly enthusiastic postdoc to join our team. You have a passion for mechanistic research in clinical populations, working at the interface between neuroscience and clinical neurology. You are a team player who enjoys interacting with multiple parties in a collaborative, international research environment. You are curious, ambitious, and able to work independently.

What you bring:

• A PhD in neuroscience, biomedical engineering, physics, computer science, or a related field.
• Strong experience in MRI data analysis; experience with QSM, diffusion MRI, neuromelanin imaging, longitudinal imaging, or segmentation tools is a plus.
• Strong programming skills (Python, MATLAB, or similar), preferably with experience in neuroimaging pipelines (FSL, SPM, ANTs, SEPIA).
• Interest in working at the interface of imaging methods, computational modelling, and clinical neuroscience.
• A collaborative mindset and excellent communication skills, with the ability to work in an international team.
• You speak English fluently and write at an academic level. Speaking Dutch is not required for this position.

At Radboud university medical center, you build on your future. We are committed to providing the best care, education, and research. And we are true to our word, because we help you develop and seize opportunities and give you the room to grow. As an employer, we believe that employees should feel vital and happy at work in all stages of life. We are also committed to creating a healthy and safe working environment. Our employment conditions contribute to that. What we offer:

• A gross monthly salary between € 3.598 and € 5.669 (scale 10) for full-time employment (36 hours per week). You will also receive an 8% holiday allowance, an 8.3% end-of-year bonus, and, depending on the position, an allowance of 47% to 72% for working irregular hours.
• 176 vacation hours per year based on a 36-hour working week.

The Donders Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging (DCCN) is a top scientific institute that forms an integral part of the broader Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour at Radboud University. The mission of the DCCN is to conduct cutting-edge fundamental research in cognitive neuroscience. Much of the rapid progress in this field is being driven by the development of complex neuroimaging techniques for measuring activity in the human brain – an area in which the DCCN plays a leading role.

In addition to its strong methodological focus, the DCCN fosters close collaboration between researchers from diverse disciplines, including neuroscience, psychology, physics, and computer science. This interdisciplinary environment enables innovative approaches to understanding brain function and supports the development of new analytical tools and experimental paradigms.

The DCCN also aims to establish how the different brain areas coordinate their activity with very high temporal precision to enable human and animal cognition. The DCCN is equipped with 4 MRI scanners (1 × 7T, 2 × 3T), a 275-channel MEG system, an EEG-TMS laboratory, several MR-compatible EEG systems, equipment for transcranial direct/alternating/magnetic stimulation, and high-performance computational facilities. An MRI-compatible system for neuromodulation using transcranial ultrasound stimulation is currently being installed and piloted in collaboration with teams at the Donders Centre for Cognition.

Our internationally renowned centre currently hosts more than 100 PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers from more than 25 countries, offering a stimulating and multidisciplinary research environment.

Radboudumc
Welcome to Radboud university medical center (Radboudumc), where our research groups strive for innovative solutions that make impact on health and healthcare. We challenge the status quo to overcome current and future health challenges. Our goal is to shape the future of healthcare for generations to come. Our focus is on prevention, sustainability, and meaningful care, which we achieve through our in-depth understanding of disease mechanisms, clinical science, public health research, medical technology and data science. Our approach is centered on breakthroughs that can truly enhance personalized healthcare and public health.

At Radboudumc, a comprehensive range of research programs provide the compass for our research efforts. Each program has a clear goal, where collaboration within and outside our organization is highly valued. We integrate care, education and research in partnership with our patients to ensure that our research programs have significant impact on health and healthcare. We invite you to join us in our mission to create a healthy future for all.

Any questions? Or wondering what it is like to work at Radboudumc? Then email to Rick Helmich, Principal Investigator. Use the Apply button to submit your application.