Are you intrigued by the interplay between feedforward and feedback models in motor control? And are you curious about the role of expectation, attention, and emotion? Then join the interdisciplinary and intersectoral training network TReND as a PhD candidate!

We offer a position for a PhD candidate/EU MSCA Fellow for the EU-funded Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Network ’Translational Research Network in Motor Disorder Rehabilitation: Advancing understanding of variability in motor control and learning, to enhance clinical practice (TReND)’ commencing on 1 September 2024. We are offering a fixed-term full-time position for 4 years until 31 August 2027. More Information about the project can be found here. For this position, we will focus on the mechanisms underlying functional neurological movements disorders. Functional neurological movement disorders are common and disabling, and thought to result from dysfunction in the sensorimotor control circuitry comparing feedforward and feedback models. It is hypothesised that feedforward signals in planning and preparation of movement are overweighed under the influence of previous expectation, attention and emotion. Feedback signals are subsequently insufficiently used to update the feedforward model using a prediction error, resulting in neurological symptoms and signs. Here, we aim to assess this hypothesis by applying ambulatory EEG in various tasks, including walking.

You will be focusing on motor control in individuals with functional neurological disorders. Collaborating closely with your supervisors, you will be responsible for designing the study protocol. This entails recruiting participants, conducting measurements, analyzing data, and drafting scientific papers. Additionally, you will be tasked with communicating and disseminating research findings to various audiences and sectors, including research, clinical practice, and industry. Your work will involve publishing research results in esteemed international journals and presenting them at recognized international conferences. Furthermore, you will engage in collaboration with an international consortium as part of the externally funded MSCA doctoral network TReND. Participation in the network's comprehensive training program is also expected, which includes attendance at both in-person events, such as summer schools, and online events like lecture series and colloquia. Ultimately, this position encompasses working towards a doctorate.

• A graduate degree (Master’s degree) in Neuroscience, Biomedical Engineering, Medical Biology, Human Movement Science, Cognitive Science or a related discipline is required, and thereby solid knowledge of human movement analysis (e.g. motion tracking) and neuroscience methods (e.g. EEG).
• You have previous experience working with human subjects and patients.
• You are team-oriented but can also work independently, and you have excellent communication and organisational skills.
• The MSCA mobility rule applies: researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the Netherlands for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before their date of recruitment (1 September 2024). You do not yet hold a doctoral degree.
• You have good knowledge of statistical methods. You have a good command of written and spoken English and Dutch (or are willing to learn Dutch).
• You must be willing to visit network partners Westphalische Wilhelm University (Muenster, Germany) and Aix-Marseille Université (Marseille, France) for a maximum duration of three months per visit.
• You must be willing to travel to different international network events.

Fixed-term contract: We will give you a temporary employment contract (1.0 FTE) of 1,5 years, after which your performance will be evaluated. If the evaluation is positive, your contract will be extended by 2.5 years (4-year contract).

• We will give you a temporary employment contract (1.0 FTE) of 1,5 years, after which your performance will be evaluated. If the evaluation is positive, your contract will be extended by 2.5 years (4-year contract).
• You will receive a starting salary of €2,770 gross per month based on a 38-hour working week, which will increase to €3,539 in the fourth year (salary scale P).
• Please check here what the financial aspects of a Marie Skłodowska-Curie fellowship in the Netherlands are.
• You will receive an 8% holiday allowance and an 8,3% end-of-year bonus.
• You will be able to use our Dual Career and Family Support Service. The Dual Career Programme assists your partner via support, tools, and resources to improve their chances of independently finding employment in the Netherlands. Our Family Support Service helps you and your partner feel welcome and at home by providing customised assistance in navigating local facilities, schools, and amenities. Also take a look at our support for international staff page to discover all our services for international employees.
• You will receive extra days off. With full-time employment, you can choose between 30 or 41 days of annual leave instead of the statutory 20.

Work and science require good employment practices. This is reflected in Radboud University's primary and secondary employment conditions. You can make arrangements for the best possible work-life balance with flexible working hours, various leave arrangements and working from home. You are also able to compose part of your employment conditions yourself, for example, exchange income for extra leave days and receive a reimbursement for your sports subscription. And of course, we offer a good pension plan. You are given plenty of room and responsibility to develop your talents and realise your ambitions. Therefore, we provide various training and development schemes.

At the Donders Centre for Neuroscience (DCN), we aim to understand the complex neural networks underlying perceptual, motor and cognitive brain functions. We study these networks by employing experimental as well as computational approaches. DCN is a part of the world-renowned Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour and research institute of the Faculty of Science of Radboud University.

By joining the EU-funded Doctoral Network TReND, you will join an interdisciplinary and intersectoral training network involving six beneficiaries, two employing associated partners and several other associated partners. The network will provide online and in-person training to support the fellows in obtaining their doctoral degree including two secondments to consortium partners.