Postdoc Parkinson’s disease: ‘developing new fMRI-based biomarkers of brain compensation’ – Radboudumc – Nijmegen

As a postdoc in Rick Helmich’s research group, you will use cutting-edge neuroimaging and neuromodulation techniques to investigate how the clinical phenotype of Parkinson’s disease (PD) is shaped by longitudinal changes in compensatory brain mechanisms. This position aimsto develop new biomarkers of brain compensation based on resting-state functional MRI.

On this topic, we currently offer two postdoctoral researcher positions. This vacancy is for position 1. Position 2 aims to alleviate PD symptoms by enhancing brain compensation using modern non-invasive neuromodulation technology (low-intensity transcranial ultrasound sonification [TUS]). You are welcome to apply for both positions. In that case, it is sufficient to apply for 1 vacancy and clearly indicate in your letter that you are applying for both vacancies.

Background
PD is a common, debilitating neurodegenerative condition characterized by motor and non-motor symptoms that worsen over time. The pathological hallmark of PD, progressive cell loss in the nigro-striatal dopaminergic system, cannot fully account for this worsening, suggesting that the clinical course of PD must be determined by additional brain mechanisms. In support of this, we recently demonstrated that the clinical phenotype of PD depends on the integrity of compensatory mechanisms located in parietal and premotor areas of the cerebral cortex.

This raises exciting questions about how cortical compensation changes over time, how these changes influence the progression of symptoms, and whether they can be targeted to manipulate the clinical course of PD. The aim of this project is to better understand the role that compensatory mechanisms play in shaping the clinical progression of PD. In pursuit of this aim, we offer two postdoctoral researcher positions that focus on different aspects of compensation: quantification and manipulation.

Position
This position is funded by the EU Joint Programme – Neurodegenerative Disease Research and focuses on improving the quantification of compensation in clinically feasible environments. To achieve this, you will translate previously developed indices of brain compensation, acquired using task-based functional MRI, into the domain of resting-state functional MRI, where they can be validated against measurements of compensation derived from MEG and PET data in independent cohorts.

In Nijmegen, you will be embedded in the research group of Dr. Rick Helmich at the Donders Institute, Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging. In addition, you will take part in a collaboration between 4 countries (Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Czech Republic). Your project will rely on an existing, unique longitudinal PD cohort (Personalized Parkinson Project, PPP) that is being followed in Nijmegen since 2018.

The PPP is a single-center longitudinal observational study in 520 early PD patients (0-5 years disease duration, 2-year observation period, yearly clinical evaluations). All patients undergo clinical assessments at Radboudumc in Nijmegen and all of them are scanned twice (baseline and after 2 years) with the same 3T MRI scanner at the Donders Institute.

Tasks

• Use dynamic causal modelling (DCM) to derive neurophysiologically plausible indices of cortical compensation from task-based functional MRI.
• Adapt the DCM approach to resting-state functional MRI.
• Implement the resting-state based DCM approach in independent cohorts within the consortium and validate it against MEG and PET markers of compensation.
• Coordinate knowledge transfer within the international consortium.

You are a highly enthusiastic postdoctoral researcher with a passion for mechanistic research in a clinical population (i.e., at the border between neuroscience and clinical neurology). More specifically, you are interested in understanding the role that compensatory mechanisms play in shaping the clinical phenotype of PD.

You are a team player who enjoys interacting with multiple parties in a collaborative research environment. You are curious, ambitious, and can work independently. You have strong communication and coordination skills, speak English fluently and write at an academic level. Speaking Dutch is not required.

You also meet the following requirements:

• You hold or have finished (and nearly obtained) a PhD degree in the field of Neuroscience, Psychology, Medicine, or a related field.
• A strong background in neuroimaging (functional and structural MRI), neurostimulation techniques, and/or computational modelling.
• Experience with analyzing complex data sets, such as MRI data in combination with behavioral measurements, and are able to write code (e.g., in Matlab, Python, R).

The research group of Dr. Rick Helmich (Systems Neurology) is housed at the Donders Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging in Nijmegen, the Netherlands. 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. 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 x 7T, 3 x 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.

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 € 3.493 and € 5.504 (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.

Any questions? Or wondering what it is like to work at Radboudumc? Then send an email to Rick Helmich, Principal Investigator. Use the Apply button to submit your application. You are welcome to apply for both positions. In that case, it is sufficient to apply for 1 vacancy and clearly indicate in your letter that you are applying for both vacancies.