1 PhD Position on Motor Learning in Alzheimer’s Disease in Netherlands | Radboud University

Progressive memory loss is a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most common cause of dementia. While AD is characterized by impaired explicit memory, procedural learning may be relatively intact. Motor learning is a form of procedural learning. Evidence suggests that AD patients are still able to learn new motor skills, but the underlying mechanisms are unknown. This project uses psychophysics and MRI imaging techniques to examine how behavioral mechanisms of motor learning in Alzheimer patients relate to brain integrity and activity indices.

Requirements

You preferably have an MSc in cognitive neuroscience, biomedical science or engineering, movement sciences, or a related field, who are highly motivated to conduct challenging interdisciplinary empirical and model-driven research. Experience with psychophysical and neuroimaging techniques and patient studies are highly desirable, as well as strong programming skills and a demonstrable affinity with quantitative data analysis (e.g. Matlab, SPM). Given the interaction with cognitively impaired patients, you should be able to communicate in Dutch.

Conditions of employment

• you will be appointed as a PhD candidate for an initial period of 18 months, after which your performance will be evaluated. If the evaluation is positive, the contract will be extended by 2.5 years
• you will be classified as a PhD candidate (promovendus) in the Dutch university job-ranking system (UFO).
• starting salary is €2,174 per month and will increase to €2,779 per month in the fourth year (P scale);
• You will be part of the Donders Graduate School for Cognitive Neuroscience.