PhD student Human brain imaging to evaluate the effect of exercise on brain structure and function

Background
Within the context of the expansion of the research of the REVAL Rehabilitation Research group of Hasselt University, the faculty of Rehabilitation sciences wishes to inform about a vacant PhD position (100%) in Neuroscience concerning underlying mechanisms, brain perfusion, metabolism and health. REVAL is an interdisciplinary and translational research group which performs research in the domains of pediatric, neurologic and musculoskeletal rehabilitation, biomechanics, health psychology, mental health care and rehabilitation of internal diseases. This PhD will be performed in collaboration with the research group of translational MRI of the KU Leuven (in collaboration with prof. dr. Stefan Sunaert) and with the Arterial Spin Labeling team at Ghent University Hospital (in collaboration with dr. Patricia Clement).

Job content
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is a well-known risk factor for cardiovascular complications, but T2DM patients are also prone to severe cerebral (brain) complications and have an increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other related dementias. Exercise intervention is a cornerstone in the treatment of T2DM as it leads to enhanced glycaemic and cardiovascular risk factor control and prevention of complications. However, it remains to be established which type of exercise (high- vs. low-intensity endurance exercise) can reverse unfavourable changes in the brain of T2DM and can reverse cerebral pathological processes associated with the risk of AD, by using and validating (blood) biomarkers as proxies for these processes. Within this research project you will use state-of-the-art medical imaging on a 3T MRI scanner located a UZ Leuven. Your main duty will be to collect, analyze and report about these data. Furthermore, in the data collection phase (~18 months) you will be responsible for coaching of T2DM patients that will exercise at our facilities on a daily base (5 pm -9 pm). The main work packages of this PhD will thus consist of (1) data collection of MRI images, (2) advanced data analysis using processing pipelines and statistical packages, and (3) writing scientific papers. You will also be involved in collecting blood samples for blood biomarker analysis. Since data collection and training of patients will happen at different sites (60 km apart) you will regularly need to travel between both research sites during the data collection phase.
Besides research, you will also be involved in teaching (30-50 hours per year). The content of the courses will be related to research and/or neuroscience and will be agreed upon at the start of the contract.
We aim at contributing to the fundamental neuroscience and to a body of knowledge that may inspire future training programs and lifestyle advice that alleviate or counteract functional decline with advancing age, diabetes and even other pathologies. You will follow the rules and guidelines of the ‘doctoral school’ of Hasselt University.
 

Profile

• You have a Master in Rehabilitation Sciences, human movement sciences, biomedical sciences, psychology, medicine, engineering, computer sciences (or equivalent)
  Final-year students are (likewise) encouraged to apply.
• You have excellent academic grades.
• You are willing to contribute to external funding applications.
• A strong interest/affinity with medical imaging is necessary. Experience with tools such as SPM, FSL... is a plus.
• A strong interest/experience with computer programming (such as MATLAB, Python, etc.) is recommended.
• You have good to excellent knowledge of statistics, including modelling.
• You have knowledge on the design, execution and analysis of experimental research.
• You have strong problem-solving skills, flexibility, organizational capacity and stress resistance.
• You have excellent communication skills in English, both oral and written.
• You can speak Dutch or you are willing to learn it (important for communication with participants and patients).
• You are willing to contribute to a positive working atmosphere and are able to connect with the different domains and collaborators (practical assistants, PhD students, postdoctoral students and professors).

Offer
You will be appointed and paid as PhD student.
Position for 2 years. After positive evaluation one time extendable with 2 years. Position at Hasselt University.

Selection procedure
You can only apply online up to and including 31 May 2024.
The selection procedure consists of a preselection based on application file and an interview.
A presentation or assignment may complement the selection procedure.

Further information
Prof. dr. Koen CUYPERS, +32-11-269316, koen.cuypers@uhasselt.be
Prof. dr. Raf MEESEN, +32-11-292124, raf.meesen@uhasselt.be

For questions about the selection procedure, please email jobs@uhasselt.be.