Postdoc - Systems Neuroscience​/Computational Neurology

Researchers at the Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine
- Cognitive Neuroscience (INM-3; headed by Prof. Gereon Fink) – at the Forschungszentrum Jülich investigate the neural mechanisms underlying cognitive (dys-)function in healthy subjects and patients suffering from neurological and psychiatric disorders. Functional imaging (PET, MRI) and electrophysiological methods (EEG, TMS, tDCS) are combined with computational approaches.

The successful candidate will investigate how neural information processing within the human motor system is impaired by (non-)pathological aging under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Silvia Daun.

Compared with sensory, cognitive, or affective-emotional systems, the motor system’s output is directly quantifiable and comparable across species. When studying the neural mechanisms underlying motor control, behavioral readouts across species offer the potential to overcome one grand challenge in neuroscience: bridging the gap between molecular, cellular, and systems levels.

Importantly, the motor system is affected in many, if not all, neurological and psychiatric disorders. Hence, a more comprehensive understanding of the motor system will further our understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying neurological and psychiatric disorders. Likewise, neuropsychiatric diseases allow novel insights into the motor system’s (dys-)function and testing models of motor control.

The successful candidate will be part of a (CRC
1451), located at the University of Cologne, that brings together neuroscientists investigating genetic factors, cellular and synaptic as well as systems/neural network processes underlying motor control in animals and humans, in both health and neuropsychiatric diseases.

The successful candidate will be part of the Project INF of the CRC
1451: . Within this project, they will develop data-driven, cross-species and cross-scales computational models of motor control based on data collected in the individual and central projects of CRC
1451. The rich data collection contains behavioral and kinematic data of humans and mice (locomotion); fMRI, EEG and TMS data from healthy subjects and patients (with stroke, Alzheimers’ or Parkinsons’ disease as well as tic disorders) as well as electrophysiological recordings from mice

Presentation and publication of the results

Interaction with team members and collaborators from Psychology, Medicine, Biology and Computational Neuroscience

Participation in the CRC
1451 events

• Completed study (Master) in Computer Science, Computational Neuroscience, Physics, Mathematics, Biomedical Engineering
• Outstanding doctoral degree in one of the above disciplines
• Significant programming skills (preferably in Matlab or Python)
• Strong, long-standing experience in data-driven computational modeling
• Keen interest in understanding the motor system
• Proven scientific achievements as evidenced by publications in international, peer-reviewed journals
• Interest in combining basic research and translational research on patients
• Good command of English
• High social competence and organizational talent
• High motivation

• Meaningful tasks:
  The position offers a varied and diverse role in an international environment
• Work-life balance:
  Optimal conditions for balancing work and private life, as well as a family-friendly company policy. The option of flexible working (in terms of location) is generally available after consultation and in line with upcoming tasks and (on-site) appointments
• Vacation:
  You will receive 30 days of vacation plus additional days off (e.g. between Christmas and New Year's)
• Flexibility:
  Flexible working time models, , allow you to tailor your…