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[EXPIRED] A Postdoc in multimodal MRI of infant brain and motor development

Are you interested in understanding how developing brain structure and connectivity shape motor outcomes in infants and toddlers? Do you enjoy working in collaborative, multidisciplinary teams, that bridge brain mapping, computational modeling, and developmental neuroscience? Then you may be the person we are looking for.

The Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance (DRCMR) at Copenhagen University Hospital Hvidovre (Denmark) is seeking a postdoctoral researcher in infant and early childhood multimodal MRI to join the NIBS-CP project. The NIBS-CP project is an ongoing longitudinal study following ~200 infants aged 3-24 months, including infants at risk for cerebral palsy and typically developing infants. Using advanced multimodal MRI and motor assessments at three time points (3-9, 12, and 24 months), the project aims to characterize early brain development, how brain structure and connectivity relate to developing motor function and improve the prediction of motor outcomes. Participant recruitment is nearing completion, and longitudinal data collection is well underway.

You will join the Brain Maturation research group at DRCMR and the broader NIBS-CP team. The group works closely together across projects, and you will  have ample opportunities to interact with researchers working on related developmental neuroimaging studies. We value openness, knowledge sharing, and a supportive research culture. Our work spans multiple pediatric cohorts, covering both typical and atypical development from birth to early adulthood.

In this position, you will contribute to multimodal MRI analyses, longitudinal modeling of brain development and motor outcomes, scientific publications, and collaborative interdisciplinary research activities within the NIBS-CP project. We expect you to take scientific ownership of parts of the project, while also working closely with other members of the team.

Your profile:

You are a highly motivated and dedicated postdoctoral researcher with the following qualifications:

  • A PhD in Neuroscience, Psychology, Computer Science, Biomedical Engineering, or a related field
  • Strong experience with structural and/or diffusion MRI data analysis and/or computational modeling of multimodal neuroimaging data; network-based analysis experience is an advantage
  • Interest and/or experience in early brain development, brain injury, and motor function
  • Good programming skills (e.g., Python, or similar)
  • Good statistical skills; experience with longitudinal analysis and/or predictive modeling is an advantage
  • Ability to work independently, while contributing actively to a collaborative multidisciplinary and international research environment
  • Strong English communication skills

The project will be carried out at the DRCMR, which is a leading research center for biomedical MRI in Europe. Approx. 75 researchers from more than 20 countries and a diverse range of disciplines are currently pursuing basic and clinically applied MR research and its validation with a focus on structural, functional, and metabolic MRI of the human brain and its disorders. The DRCMR is embedded in the Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, a large diagnostic imaging department that houses all biomedical imaging modalities at the Copenhagen University Hospital - Amager and Hvidovre.

The DRCMR offers a highly collaborative research environment and outstanding research infrastructure for preclinical and human imaging, including six whole-body MR scanners (one 7T, four 3T, and one 1.5T) and a preclinical 7T scanner. The DRCMR also houses a high-performance computer cluster, state-of-the-art electrophysiology and non-invasive brain stimulation laboratories, and dedicated infrastructure for infant MRI studies.

The postdoc project will be supervised by Senior Researcher, Associate Professor Kathrine Skak Madsen, and co-supervised by Associate Professor Melanie Ganz, Department of Computer Science, University of Copenhagen (https://lnn-ucph.github.io/).

Starting date: 1 August 2026, or soon thereafter.

Salary and Terms of Employment

The position is for 2 years with the possibility of extension. Salary, pension, and terms of employment are in accordance with the agreement between the Danish Regions (Danske Regioner) and the relevant professional organization. The salary depends on background education and seniority. Further, supplements can be negotiated. Note that candidates coming from abroad may be eligible for tax reductions. The position is open to applicants of all nationalities. 

We strongly value diversity and aim to create an inclusive and supportive research environment. We therefore encourage all qualified applicants, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, disability, or religion, to apply.

Application deadline: 16 June 2026 at 23:59 (CET)

Job interviews are expected shortly after the deadline.

Further information
If you have questions about the position or the project, you are very welcome to contact Senior Researcher, Associate Professor, Kathrine Skak Madsen via e-mail at , (phone #: +45 3862 3323).

 

Recent Publications

Beha GH, Stemmerik MG, Boer VO, van der Ploeg AT, van der Beek NAME, Andersen H, Marsman A, Jacobsen LN, Theunissen MTM, Petersen ET, Vissing J. 2025. Quantification of muscle glycogen distribution in Pompe disease using 7 Tesla 13C NMR spectroscopy. JNNP. Accepted.

Güler S, Zivkovic I, Boer VO, Zhurbenko V, Petersen ET. 2025. The mode of operation of high-impedance coils and shielded coaxial cable coils: A comparative study. NMR Biomed. 38(8): e70071. https://doi.org/10.1002/nbm.70071

London A, Schaufuss A, Povazan M, Dichman M-L, Merhout J, Dirksen C, Madsbad S, Siebner HR, Lundsgaard A, Fritzen AM, Kiens B, Bojsen-Møller KN. 2025. Effects of acute iso- and hypocaloric carbohydrate restriction on liver fat and glucose and lipid metabolism. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. dgaf382, https://doi.org/10.1210/clinem/dgaf382

Güler S, Povazan M, Zhurbenko V, Zivkovic I. 2025. An 8Tx/32Rx head-neck coil at 7T by combining 2Tx/32Rx Noval coil with 6TRx shielded coaxial cable elements. Magn Reson Med. 93(2): 864-872. https://doi.org/10.1002/mrm.30297

Madelung CF, Løkkegaard A, Fuglsang SA, Marques MM, Boer VO, Madsen KH, Hejl A-M, Meder D, Siebner HR. 2025. High-resolution mapping of substantia nigra in Parkinson’s disease using 7 tesla magnetic resonance imaging. Npj Parkinsons Dis. 11(113). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41531-025-00972-7

London A, Richter MM, Sjøberg KA, Wewer Albrechtsen NJ, Povazan M, Drici L, Schaufuss A, Madsen L, Øyen J, Madsbad S, Juul Holst J, van Hall G, Siebner HR, Richter EA, Kiens B, Lundsgaard A, Bojsen-Møller KN. 2024. The impact of short-term eucaloric low- and high-carbohydrate diets on liver triacylglycersol content in males with overweight and obesity: a randomized crossover study. Am J Clin Nutrition. 120(2): 283-293. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajcnut.2024.06.006

Madsen MAJ, Povazan M, Wiggermann V, Lundell H, Blinkenberg M, Romme Christensen J, Sellebjerg F, Siebner HR. 2024. Association of cortical lesions with regional glutamate, GABA, N-Acetylaspartate, and Myoinositol levels in patients with multiple sclerosis. Neurology. 103(1): e209543. https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000209543

Stærkind H, Jensen K, Müller JH, Boer VO, Polzik ES, Petersen ET. 2024. High-field optical cesium magnetometer for magnetic resonance imaging. PRX Quantum. 5(2): 020320. https://doi.org/10.1103/PRXQuantum.5.020320

Stærkind H, Jensen K, Müller JH, Boer VO, Petersen ET, Polzik ES. 2023. Precision measurement of the excited state Landé g-factor and diamagnetic shift of the Cesium D2 line. Phys Rev X. 13(2): 021036. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevX.13.021036

Boer VO, Pedersen JO, Arango N, Kuang I, Stockmann J, Petersen ET. 2022. Improving brain B0 shimming using an easy and accessible multi-coil shim array at ultra-high field. MAGMA. 35(6): 943-951. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10334-022-01014-6

Andersen M, Laustsen M, Boer V. Accuracy investigations for volumetric head-motion navigators with and without EPI at 7 T. 2022. Magn Reson Med. 88(3): 1198-1211. https://doi.org/10.1002/mrm.29296

Madsen MAJ, Wiggermann V, Marques MFM, Lundell H, Cerri S, Puonti O, Blinkenberg M, Romme Christensen J, Sellebjerg F, Siebner HR. 2022. Linking lesions in sensorimotor cortex to contralateral hand function in multiple sclerosis: a 7 T MRI study. Brain. 145(10): 3522-3535. https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awac203

Sandström KO, Baltzersen OB, Marsman A, Lemvigh CK, Boer VO, Bojesen KB, Nielsen MØ, Lundell H, Sulaiman DK, Sørensen ME, Fagerlund B, Lahti AC, Syeda WT, Pantelis C, Petersen ET, Glenthøj BY, Siebner HR, Ebdrup BH. 2022. Add-on memantine to dopamine antagonism to improve negative symptoms at first psychosis – the AMEND trial protocol. Front Psychiatry. 13: 889572. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.889572

Madelung CF, Meder D, Fuglsang SA, Marques MM, Boer VO, Madsen KH, Petersen ET, Hejl A-M, Løkkegaard A, Siebner HR. 2022. Locus coeruleus shows a spatial pattern of structural disintegration in Parkinson’s disease. Movement Disord. 37(3): 479-489. https://doi.org/10.1002/mds.28945

 

Selected Recent Conference Abstracts

Engel K, Wiggermann V, Ronen I, Lundell H. Correction of phase fluctuations in diffusion-weighted MRS at high b-values with external phantom reference. ISMRM annual meeting. 05/2025,

Madsen MAJ, Christiansen L, Povazan M, Wiggermann V, Siebner HR. Regional glutamate but not GABA concentration scales with TMS-based measures of cortical excitability – a combined 7T MR spectroscopy and TMS study of the human primary motor hand area. Brain Stimulation, Kyoto, Japan, 02/2025 [Brain Stimulation 18(1) 576, 2025]

Madsen MAJ, Wiggermann V, Lundell H, Christiansen L, Romme Christensen J, Blinkenberg M, Sellebjerg F, Siebner HR. The impact of pathway-specific cortical and white matter pathology on trans-callosal conduction and inhibition in multiple sclerosis, ECTRIMS, Copemhagen, Denmark, 09/2024

Madsen MAJ, Wiggermann V, Christiansen L, Povazan M, Lundell H, Puonti O, Romme Christensen J, Sellebjerg F, Siebner HR. The ipsilateral silent period and its link to cortical lesions in multiple sclerosis, Brain Stimulation, Lisbon, Portugal, 02/2023, [Brain Stimulation 14(6) 1628, 2023]

Stemmerik M, Beha G, Boer V, Marsman A, Jacobsen L, Petersen E, Vissing J. 2022. Using high-field magnetic resonance spectroscopy to measure muscle glycogen in patients with McArdle disease. Neuromuscular Disorders. 32. S73-S74.

Beha G, Stemmerik M, Boer V, Marsman A, Jacobsen L, Petersen E, Vissing J. 2022. Quantification of glycogen distribution in late-onset Pompe patients using 7 Tesla C13 NMR spectroscopy. Neuromuscular Disorders. 32. S73.

Madsen MAJ, Wiggermann V, Povazan M, Lundell H, Boer VO, Marsman A, Blinkenberg MB, Romme Christensen J, Sellebjerg FT, Siebner HR. 2022. Linking cortical demyelination to changes in brain metabolism in multiple sclerosis: a 7T MR spectroscopy study. ECTRIMS annual (virtual) meeting.

Güler S, Costa G, Boer V, Paulides M, Baltus P, Petersen E, Zivkovic I. 2022. Shielded coaxial cable coils: the array configuration for maximized central SNR at 7T MRI. Joint Annual Meeting ISMRM-ESMRMB, 31st annual ISMRM meeting.

Güler S, Zhurbenko V, Zivkovic I, Boer V, Petersen ET. 2022. Second resonance mode ensure intrinsic low coupling between elements on shielded-coaxial-cable coil designs. Joint Annual Meeting ISMRM-ESMRMB, 31st annual ISMRM meeting.

Group Members

Vanessa Wiggermann

Group Leader

Henrik Lundell

Group Leader

Lars G. Hanson

Sara Godfrey

Daban K. A. Sulaiman

Sebastian Ladegaard Storm

Show all group members (22)

External Collaborators

Jeroen Hendrikse

Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands


Dennis Klomp

Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands


Andrew Webb

Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands


Matthias van Osch

Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands


Itamar Ronen

Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands


Karin Markenroth Bloch

Swedish National 7T facility, Lund, Sweden


Gunther Helms

Swedish National 7T MRI Facility, Medical Radiation Physics, Lund, Sweden


Kirsten Borup Bojesen

Center for Neuropsychiatric Schizophrenia Research, Mental Health Services, Capital Region of Denmark, Denmark