Senior research assistant in advanced MRI analyses - Befattningen är under tillsättning eller redan tillsatt, och det är inte längre möjligt att lämna in en ansökan

Project description

We are announcing a full time position as Senior research assistant in cognitive neuroscience of aging at the Department of Integrative Medical Biology placed at the Umeå center for Functional Brain Imaging (UFBI, www.ufbi.umu.se) and at Wallenberg Center for Molecular Medicine (WCMM, http://www.wcmm.umu.se/english/). UFBI is an interdisciplinary research center where functional and structural brain imaging is used to address several basic science and clinical research questions. WCMM conducts research in various medical arena including cancer, infectious diseases, and nervous system diseases.

The current position is in Alireza Salami’s research Group. 

It has been suggested that multiband echo planar imaging (EPI) decreases fMRI scanning time while preserving relative signal to noise ratio (SNR). The first aim of this project is to evaluate the slice accelerations using multiband EPI and compare it with standard EPI collected during resting state fMRI.

We, as well as other research teams, have previously established that there isAdditionally, we are interested to explore age-related alteration  age-related differences in functional cross-talk between distal brains regions measured with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) at rest. However, Mmost of the previous studies rest upon cross-sectional data which might be biased in estimating the degree of age-related changes. Moreover, individual differences in resting-state functional connectivity might be due to individual differences in dopaminergic neurotransmission. The initial secondary purpose of the current project is to further investigate age-related changes in functional architecture of resting brain using longitudinal data set and their association with cognitive decline in aging. The secondary third purpose is to determine the contribution of dopaminergic neurotransmission as measured by dopamine D1 receptor binding with positron emission tomography (PET) on resting-state functional connectivity and cognition across the adult lifespan. The work involves analyses of existing unique longitudinal data (BETULA project), but also involves engagement in an ongoing data collection (DYNAMIC project).

Qualifications

To be eligible for the position, the applicant should:

• have a PhD in a relevant subject areaBiomedical engineering
• have hands on experience with the latest MRI techniques for studying brain connectivity. 
• eligible to apply are individuals with a PhD or equivalent scientific skills. 
• be skilled in cognitive neuroscience, statistics, and scientific communication in English, both orally and in writing. 
• experience with PET and/or functional brain imaging, preferably (resting-state) fMRI, and programming skills, are of advantage.

We are looking for a talented and motivated candidate with the ability to work independently as well as part of a team.

It is presupposed that the candidate masters scientific English and have good general communication skills in English (written and verbal). The candidate’s collaborative skills and suitability for the project are especially considered in the assessment of the candidate's qualifications.

Application for the position should include:

1. A brief cover letter (about one page) that describes the applicant’s research experience, research interests, and suitability for the project.

2. Curriculum vitae including information about academic degrees (with verifications), technical expertise, employments, list of publications, and names and contact information for two references.

For more information, contact Dr. Alireza Salami, e-mail: Alireza.salami@umu.se, Department of Integrative Medical Biology, Umeå University.

The position is for 6 months. Start date: upon agreement.

We look forward to receiving your application!