Courses.

ACADEMIC, POSTDOC and POSTGRADUATE POSITIONS

Research studentships and Postdoc positions are rarely advertised as 'psychedelic' opportunities, but work in this field does exist.

When applying for positions it is important to remember that most of the Institutions will not usually be looking for candidates with a strong psychedelic background. How much stress you place on this in any application to a particular institution must be a matter of very careful judgement. More often than not, it is better to keep quiet about your specific interest until you have established a strong reputation.

UNDERGRADUATE and NON-ACCREDITED PROGRAMMES

Our Undergraduate courses feature is in development

Course overview

Course name: PhD Studentship in Advanced modeling of pharmacological and psychiatric imaging data
University/institute:
Location: United Kingdom
Start date: 2009-05-20
Fields of interest: PhD Studentship in Advanced modeling of pharmacological and psychiatric imaging data

Course details & information

The Neuroscience & Psychiatry Unit invites applications for the following three-year PhD project. Applicants must have self-arranged funding as there is no financial support tied to the project. The anticipated composite tuition fee for this project is £5, 125p.a for UK/EU candidates.

The aim of the study is to apply advanced data analysis and modelling techniques to existing functional and structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) data in order to provide a better understanding of psychoactive drug action and psychiatric disorders.

Over several years the imaging projects run within the Neuroscience and Psychiatry Unit (NPU) have amassed a comprehensive amount of functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) data and structural MRI data, including pharmacological data and data collected from various psychiatric/genetic groups. These data have been analysed using standard data analysis protocols, however advanced techniques such as effective and functional connectivity are becoming more commonly reported in the psychiatric literature.

This PhD project will involve identifying advanced analysis and modelling techniques that can be applied to these data sets in order to gain more valuable information from them. There are various possible analysis approaches that could be applied; for example exploring effective and functional connectivity and investigating interactions between structure and function or correlations between tasks. Such techniques will allow us to generate an understanding of how psychiatric disorders and psychoactive drugs modulate the function within distributed brain networks and this would significantly advance knowledge beyond the standard analysis techniques used thus far.

Advanced analysis and modelling techniques are developing all the time and the selected candidate will be expected to keep up to date with developments and investigate any promising new techniques.

The successful applicant will develop research skills in the critical review of literature and independent data analysis techniques as well as giving and receiving support from research collaborators within the research group. Upon completion, the candidate will be ready to work in any area that includes advanced numerical and data analysis techniques so will be highly sought after.

Applications are welcomed from candidates holding, or expecting to obtain, a first or upper second-class honours degree in a relevant quantitative subject such as mathematics, physics or medical physics. A Masters degree in Medical Imaging in addition to experience of functional MRI would be desirable but are not essential.

For further information on the project please contact Dr Shane McKie (shane.mckie@manchester.ac.uk)

http://www.medicine.manchester.ac.uk/psychiatry/research/neuroscience

Interested in this course?

If you're intrested in this course and/or want to find out more, please contact: Formal applications should be submitted in the form of a CV and covering letter outlining suitability for the study to the School of Community Based Medicine Postgraduate Research Director Dr Peter Bower (peter.bower@manchester.ac.uk). Contact details for two academic or professional referees should also be provided. There is no closing date for applications but as this project is due to commence ahead of October 2009 early expression of interest is advised.

Course posted: 2009-05-20 07:25:58
last updated: 2009-05-20 07:25:58

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