Postdoctoral Research Associate - Liverpool, United Kingdom - University of Liverpool

University of Liverpool

Verified Company

Liverpool, United Kingdom

2 weeks ago

Posted by:

Tom O´Connor

beBee Recruiter

Description

We are looking to recruit an individual to join a multidisciplinary team working to improve outcomes for non-invasive brain stimulation in the treatment of chronic pain.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation of the human motor cortex can improve treatment resistant pain but the effects show considerable inter-individual variation.

A major reason for this variability is likely to be differences in brain anatomy and connectivity which results in generic rather than individualised identification and modulation of relevant brain areas.

This exciting project aims to improve targeting and modulating relevant brain areas by developing a real-time closed-loop system based on EEG-transcranial magnetic stimulation feedback.

This will also be supplemented by advanced MR imaging.

You will be a member of a collaborative research group at the University of Liverpool in the Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences (Dr Andrew Marshall), Engineering (Dr Heba Lakany), Psychology (Dr Nick Fallon) as well as at The Walton Centre (Dr Bernhard Frank, Pain Medicine; Dr Andrew Marshall, Clinical Neurophysiology).

There will also be opportunity to collaborate with researchers in the US working on pre-clinical animal studies with Prof Oleg Favorov (UNC) as well as industrial partners.

You should have a PhD in neuroscience or biomedical engineering or area relevant area. You must also have experience relevant to this project.

Experience with neural signal processing is essential and experience with EEG and/or MRI and/or Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation is highly desirable.

You must have demonstrated leading prior research outputs. Evidence of previously managing research projects would be an advantage. Key responsibilities include

Acquire and analyse MR imaging data to provide high resolution structural and functional MRI to guide modulation targeting; perform simultaneous MR informed TMS and EEG; develop real-time potentially closed-loop algorithms to inform TMS targeting for pain relief; administer rTMS using the developed paradigms to determine the effects on pain relief in an experimental human pain model and explore applicability in patients already receiving rTMS for pain relief.

Collaborate with colleagues in Life Course and Medical Sciences, Engineering, Psychology and Pain Medicine. The post will involve close collaboration between The University of Liverpool and The Walton Centre.

Act as key contact and liaison between clinical and academic teams.

Contribute ideas for new research projects, test hypotheses and analyse scientific data and refine working hypotheses as appropriate
Collaborate and take a lead role in the preparation of scientific reports and journal articles. Represent the research group at external meetings/seminars.

The post is available from 1 June 2023 until 30 November 2024.

The selection process will include a panel interview and presentation.

Any applicants who are still awaiting their PhD to be awarded should be aware that if successful, they will be appointed at grade 6, spine point 30.

Upon written confirmation that they have been successful in being awarded their PhD, they will be moved onto grade 7, spine point 31 from the date of their award.