PhD position (all genders) in Computational Neuroscience - Game-theoretical approaches for understanding interactions of brain regions in brain injury and recovery

The Institute of Computational Neuroscience (ICNS Hamburg) at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE) invites applications for a PhD position in computational and translational network neuroscience.

The project combines game theory, network neuroscience, computational analysis and modelling in clinical stroke research to investigate how brain lesions can reveal the causal contributions of brain regions and their interactions to behaviour, and how these insights may contribute to predicting recovery after stroke and identifying targets for rehabilitation.

The position is embedded in an international research programme involving collaborations with colleagues in Ghent, Paris and Amiens, bringing together expertise in computational network neuroscience, neuroimaging, neuropsychology and experimental brain perturbation.

Research environment:

The Institute of Computational Neuroscience is a small, active and internationally diverse group working at the interface of computational neuroscience, network science, neuro-inspired artificial intelligence and clinical neuroscience. The successful candidate will be supervised by Prof. Claus C. Hilgetag.

About the project:

A central methodological framework will be Multiperturbation Shapley value Analysis (MSA), a game-theoretical approach for estimating the causal functional contributions of individual brain regions, white-matter pathways and interacting groups of neural elements. The doctoral project will combine computational ground-truth models with clinical lesion analysis. The main aims are to:

• develop and validate computational approaches for causal lesion inference and the description of higher-order network interactions;
• investigate how regional and network-level contributions relate to functional impairment and recovery after stroke;
• identify potential targets for rehabilitation and experimental perturbation;
• develop efficient and reproducible Python-based analysis apps, including interfaces suitable for use by clinical researchers, and communicate the research through publications, conferences and open science.

The work will involve close interaction with computational, clinical and experimental collaborators. In particular, the successful candidate will have opportunities to connect computational predictions with complementary information-theoretical approaches and experimental perturbation methods such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). The position provides substantial scope for scientific initiative and intellectual ownership. The successful candidate may also contribute to the development of related research proposals and future funding applications.

The position comprises 65% of the regular weekly working hours, is temporary for three years due to third-party funding and provides the opportunity for obtaining the academic qualification of a PhD.

• Master’s degree or equivalent qualification by the starting date in a relevant field such as computational neuroscience, systems neuroscience, psychology, medicine, computer science, physics, mathematics, biomedical engineering or a related quantitative discipline
• independent scientific thinking and productivity
• strong analytical and computational skills, including proficiency in Python
• the ability and interest to understand complex mathematical or computational concepts
• strong motivation to apply quantitative methods to clinically and translationally meaningful questions
• fluent written and spoken English, enabling full participation in scientific discussions, presentations and academic writing
• prior practical experience in areas directly related to the project is advantageous
• scientific initiative, quantitative aptitude and willingness (Evidence of scientific independence may include an ambitious Master’s project, publications or preprints, conference contributions, contributions to scientific software, open-source work or other substantial independent research activity.)

Your application should include:

• a curriculum vitae, including contact details for two academic referees
• academic degree certificates and transcripts
• a concise motivation letter explaining why this project is scientifically interesting to you
• links or copies of publications, preprints, software repositories, conference contributions or other relevant research outputs, where available

Applicants with publications are encouraged to indicate clearly what their own contribution was, particularly for first-author or otherwise substantial contributions

In addition, please provide a brief description, no more than one page, of one research or technical project in which you played a substantial independent role. Please explain:

• what scientific or technical question you addressed
• what your own contribution was
• what difficulties you encountered and how you dealt with them
• what the project ultimately produced or taught you

This description is intended to help us understand how you approach scientific problems and how much intellectual ownership you have taken in previous work.

• Close interaction with computational, experimental and clinical collaborators
• International collaborations with researchers in Ghent, Paris and Amiens
• Access to high-performance computing infrastructure
• Opportunities to attend conferences, workshops and summer schools
• Substantial scientific independence within a collaborative research environment
• Fair and transparent compensation in accordance with our collective bargaining agreement (TVöD/VKA) (€ 63,600 – € 91,100), taking into account qualifications and professional experience. The salary range applies to a full-time position of 38.5 hours per week. The amounts listed are guidelines and do not constitute a salary guarantee.
• Targeted and individualized professional development at both the technical and project levels is provided, offering long-term prospects in a meaningful work environment
• Comprehensive continuing education and training programs at our UKE Academy for Education and Career
• Opportunities to help shape our “UKE INside” personnel policy through cross-functional and cross-hierarchical projects
• Sustainable commuting: Subsidies for the Deutschlandticket as a job ticket and Dr. Bike bicycle service
• Excellent health, prevention, and sports programs
• Family-friendly work environment: Partnerships for childcare, free vacation care, counseling for employees with family members requiring care
• A secure job, meaningful work, and a supportive team environment
• Structured onboarding and open knowledge sharing within the team
• Our employee restaurant offers a wide variety of culinary options; additional options are available at the “Health Kitchen” cafés and bistros and at a supermarket located directly on the premises

We live diversity and value variety

We offer a work environment that provides equal opportunities regardless of age, gender, sexual identity, disability, ethnic and social origin, or religion. This is confirmed by our accession to the Charter of Diversity. We explicitly aim to increase the proportion of women in management positions, especially among scientific personnel in research and teaching. Women with equal qualifications will be given priority. The same applies in the case of under-representation of one gender in the advertised area. Persons with severe disabilities with equal aptitude, competence, and professional performance will be given priority.

> Learn more about "Diversity at UKE" here.