Doctoral (PhD) student position in Cognitive Neuroscience

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

The research group led by Prof. Henrik Ehrsson at the Karolinska Institutet has an open 4-year, fully funded PhD position in cognitive neuroscience. Our research focuses on fundamental questions about bodily awareness, such as how we perceive our body as part of ourselves, why we experience a sense of self-location inside our physical bodies, and how we maintain the experience of our bodily self as a unified whole rather than fragmented parts. To explore these questions, we employ a combination of behavioral and neuroimaging methods. Our laboratory specializes in advanced techniques including, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), psychophysics & computational modeling, virtual reality technology, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), and electroencephalography (EEG). In addition, we have local access to magnetoencephalography (MEG). For more information about our research, please visit www.neuro.ki.se/ehrsson/.

The doctoral student project and the duties of the doctoral student

The candidate will work on a research project investigating the multisensory mechanisms underlying the experience of perceiving an entire body as one's own ('sense of body ownership'), focusing on how various body parts, especially the head, contribute to this fundamental experience. The project employs full-body illusions and advanced functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) analyses to explore the brain mechanisms that support the sense of owning an entire body and the specific role of the head in this process.

The candidate is expected to develop into an independent scientist over the four years of the program. They will be encouraged to formulate their own experimental ideas to further develop this novel research project. This doctoral project will provide opportunities for the candidate to contribute to innovative findings within the field.

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

The candidate must hold a master's degree (or equivalent) in psychology, neuroscience, cognitive science, medicine, or medical engineering. They should demonstrate a strong and documented interest in cognitive neuroscience.

We seek a highly motivated, talented, and creative individual who can actively contribute ideas and engage in critical analyses of scientific projects. Proficiency in both oral and written English is essential, as are adequate interpersonal skills, especially since the experiments involve working with human participants.

The candidate should have a proven track record of successful internship projects; if these have resulted in scientific articles (published or in manuscript), it will be considered an advantage. Proficiency in programming is an advantage, and knowledge of Matlab is particularly beneficial. Additional experience in analyzing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data, body representation research, psychophysics, or computational modeling is also desirable.

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.

https://ki.se/en/research/research-areas-centres-and-networks/research-groups/cognitive-neuroscience-of-bodily-awareness-and-self-cognition-henrik-ehrsson-group

http://www.ehrssonlab.se

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