Doctoral (PhD) student position in sensory neuroscience and neurofeedback engineering - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Do you want to contribute to top quality medical research?

To be a doctoral student means to devote oneself to a research project under supervision of experienced researchers and following an individual study plan. For a doctoral degree, the equivalent of four years of full-time doctoral education is required.

The research group

Research group Pansell belongs to the Division of Eye and Vision and is located at Marianne Bernadotte Centre at St Erik's Eye Hospital. The group consists of researchers and clinicians who work within visual neuroscience. We all have a common interest in understanding the causal mechanisms of eye movements in medical and environmental conditions affecting the visual system. Through a collaboration between clinical and preclinical research groups, our ambition is to better understand how the brain interprets self-motion from gravitational and visual cues, and how we may use technology to influence this process in sickness or extreme environments. The doctoral student will be supervised by Dr. Tobias Wibble (MD, PhD) and Prof. Tony Pansell (PhD), in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA). 

The doctoral position is dependent on ESA's final assessment. This means that we will only be able to employ a doctoral student if the funding is granted and the candidate is approved by the funder. A decision on this will not be possible until this autumn at the earliest.

The doctoral student project and the duties of the doctoral student

The goal of the project is to  minimize spatial disorientation during human spaceflight. The project focuses on altering the human perception of self-motion through the use of galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS), with the aim of constructing a calibration system using eye-tracking and biofeedback protocols. The final device should allow a user to compensate for a head movement by influencing the vestibular signal through galvanic means, as indicated by oculomotor and psychometric parameters. This series of studies will focus heavily on biofeedback principles carried out through a network of embedded systems. In order to understand the effects of artificial input to the vestibular system the project will also involve experimental research using the lamprey animal model and will include microdissections and electrophysiological techniques. The overarching ambition is to facilitate human spaceflight and minimize spatial disorientation in altered states of gravity.

What do we offer?

A creative and inspiring environment full of expertise and curiosity. Karolinska Institutet is one of the world's leading medical universities. Our vision is to pursue the development of knowledge about life and to promote a better health for all. At Karolinska Institutet, we conduct successful medical research and hold the largest range of medical education in Sweden. As a doctoral student you are offered an individual research project, a well-educated supervisor, a vast range of elective courses and the opportunity to work in a leading research group. Karolinska Institutet collaborates with prominent universities from all around the world, which ensures opportunities for international exchanges. You will be employed on a doctoral studentship which means that you receive a contractual salary. Employees also have access to our modern gym for free and receive reimbursements for medical care.

Eligibility requirements for doctoral education

In order to participate in the selection for a doctoral position, you must meet the following general (A) and specific (B) eligibility requirements at latest by the application deadline.

It is your responsibility to certify eligibility by following the instructions on the web page Entry requirements (eligibility) for doctoral education.

A) General eligibility requirement

You meet the general eligibility requirement for doctoral/third-cycle/PhD education if you:

1. have been awarded a second-cycle/advanced/master qualification (i.e. master degree), or
2. have satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the advanced/second-cycle/master level, or
3. have acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.*

Follow the instructions on the web page Entry requirements (eligibility) for doctoral education.

*If you claim equivalent knowledge, follow the instructions on the web page Assessing equivalent knowledge for general eligibility for doctoral education.

B) Specific eligibility requirement

You meet the specific eligibility requirement for doctoral/third-cycle/PhD education if you:

- Show proficiency in English equivalent to the course English B/English 6 at Swedish upper secondary school.

Follow the instructions on the web page English language requirements for doctoral education.

Verification of your documents Karolinska Institutet checks the authenticity of your documents. Karolinska Institutet reserves the right to revoke admission if supporting documents are discovered to be fraudulent. Submission of false documents is a violation of Swedish law and is considered grounds for legal action.

(A) and (B) can only be certified by the documentation requirement for doctoral education.

Skills and personal qualities

It is desirable that the applicant holds an MSc in medical, electrical, or autonomous systems engineering, or an equivalent degree with documented interest and experience related to these fields.

Experience with embedded systems and biofeedback principles is desirable, as the project will require problem solving and method development. In addition, experience in GVS would be favourable. The PhD student must have a solid knowledge of MatLab and Python, or a combination of suitable programming languages. While previous experience with eye-tracking will be a merit, this is not considered obligatory.

Well-documented fluency in English, both written and spoken, will also be required, and scientific publications related to any of the relevant principles of the project will be a highly regarded merit. Great emphasis will also be placed on social and collaborative skills as a substantial part of the project will entail trials with human participants. Personal experience in diving or flying would be advantageous but not mandatory, as would clinical experience with dizzy or vertiginous patients. Finally, the candidate should be interested in surgical procedures and anatomy as the project will involve animal trials and delicate microdissections on live animals.  A successful candidate will therefore be comfortable with carrying out surgical procedures requiring excellent fine motor skills under pressure.

While the main theme of this research is human physiology, the primary focus will be on engineering duties and problem solving, primarily in the fields of medical, electrical, and autonomous systems. It is nevertheless imperative that the candidate has a documented interest in neurophysiology, preferably with a focus on sensory neuroscience, the balance system or aviation medicine.

Terms and conditions

The doctoral student will be employed on a doctoral studentship maximum 4 years full-time.

Application process

Submit your application and supporting documents through the Varbi recruitment system. Use the button in the top right corner and follow the instructions. We prefer that your application is written in English, but you can also apply in Swedish.

Your application must contain the following documents:

- A personal letter and a curriculum vitae
- Degree projects and previous publications, if any
- Any other documentation showing the desirable skills and personal qualities described above
- Documents certifying your general eligibility (see A above)
- Documents certifying your specific eligibility (see B above)

Selection

A selection will be made among eligible applicants on the basis of the ability to benefit from doctoral education. The qualifications of the applicants will be evaluated on an overall basis.

Karolinska Institutet uses the following bases of assessment:

- Documented subject knowledge of relevance to the area of research
- Analytical skill
- Other documented knowledge or experience that may be relevant to doctoral studies in the subject.

All applicants will be informed when the recruitment is completed.

Read more about the Derpartment of Clinical Neuroscience

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