[EXPIRED] The Capital Region of Copenhagen is looking for a postdoctoral researcher in brain imaging informed transcranial stimulation

4-year postdoctoral research position in brain imaging informed transcranial stimulation at DRCMR

We are currently scaling up our efforts to develop novel circuit-based precision brain stimulation approaches of the human brain.
Our long-term goal is to enhance the efficacy of transcranial stimulation as a treatment of neurological and psychiatric diseases.

We are looking for a postdoctoral researcher who
● is experienced in transcranial brain stimulation,
● enjoys working at the intersection of engineering, neurophysiology, brain mapping, and clinical neuroscience
● is eager to advance state-dependent precision stimulation to modulate brain networks and improve brain network dysfunction.

You will become part of a transdisciplinary team focusing on developing precision brain stimulation therapy by combining transcranial magnetic stimulation with neuroimaging. You will work alongside dedicated researchers at our recently established interventional brain stimulation research facility comprising three state-of-the-art brain stimulation laboratories fully equipped with robotic transcranial brain stimulation, neuronavigation, and EEG.

What we do: We are conducting state-of-the-art neuroimaging-informed brain stimulation therapy in Parkinson’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis, and Major Depressive Disorder. We are a world leading institution in both informing and reading out brain stimulation effects with EEG and fMRI.

Your role: You will spearhead our efforts to develop precision brain stimulation protocols using MRI and EEG read-outs to inform transcranial magnetic stimulation, leveraging newly developed transcranial stimulation technology. You will design and conduct EEG-informed precision stimulation experiments, acquiring and analyzing data, and writing the data up for publication and dissemination.

Essential skills & experience:
• You have extensive experience with transcranial brain stimulation (preferentially transcranial magnetic stimulation)
• You have experience in conducting neurophysiology (EEG) or neuroimaging (MRI) experiments in humans.
• You have strong signal processing and analysis skills in the field of electrophysiology or brain mapping
• You hold a PhD degree in neuroscience, biomedical/electrical engineering, clinical medicine, or related field
• Prior refereed journal publications
• Strong written and interpersonal communication skills

Advantageous skills & experience:
• Prior experience with EEG or MRI applications in patients with brain disorders
• Prior experience with teaching and supervision of students and technicians

Working at DRCMR. You will become a member of the Brain Circuit Modulation & Therapy group, headed by Hartwig Siebner at the DRCMR (www.drcmr.dk) based at Copenhagen University Hospital Hvidovre. You will have the opportunity to collaborate with engineers, neurologists, psychologists, and interact with other groups at DRCMR.

DRCMR is a leading research center for biomedical MRI in Europe. Approximately 75 researchers from a diverse range of disciplines are currently pursuing basic and clinically applied research. The DRCMR is embedded in the Dept. for Radiology and Nuclear Medicine at the Copenhagen University Hospital Hvidovre, Copenhagen, Denmark. DRCMR has a state-of-the-art MR-research infrastructure enabling translational research, which includes a pre-clinical 7T MR scanner, six whole-body MR scanners (one 7T, four 3T and a 1.5T scanner) and a High-Performance Computer cluster. The DRCMR has pre-clinical labs, a neuropsychology laboratory, an EEG laboratory, and five laboratories for precision brain circuit stimulation. It is situated ~25mins cycle ride from central Copenhagen, a city consistently ranked one of the highest in the world for quality of life [link].

Selected Publications

Madsen MAJ, Wiggermann V, Bramow S, Christensen JR, Sellebjerg F, Siebner HR. 2021. Imaging cortical multiple sclerosis lesions with ultra-high field MRI. NeuroImage. Clinical. 32:1-14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nicl.2021.102847

Chow HH, Talbot J, Marstrand L, Lundell H, Roman Siebner H, Bach Søndergaard H, Sellebjerg F. 2021. Smoking, cardiovascular risk factors and LRP2 gene variation: Associations with disease severity, cognitive function and brain structure in primary progressive multiple sclerosis. Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders. 56:1-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msard.2021.103296

Ruiu E, Dubbioso R, Madsen KH, Svolgaard O, Raffin E, Andersen KW, Karabanov AN, Siebner HR. 2020. Probing Context-Dependent Modulations of Ipsilateral Premotor-Motor Connectivity in Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis. Frontiers in Neurology. 11:1-10. Available from: 10.3389/fneur.2020.00193

Bauer C, Dyrby TB, Sellebjerg F, Madsen KS, Svolgaard O, Blinkenberg M, Siebner HR, Andersen KW. 2020. Motor fatigue is associated with asymmetric connectivity properties of the corticospinal tract in multiple sclerosis. NeuroImage. Clinical. 28:1-12. Available from: 10.1016/j.nicl.2020.102393

Lundell, H., Svolgaard, O., Dogonowski, A-M., Romme Christensen, J., Selleberg, F., Soelberg Sørensen, P., Blinkenberg, M., Siebner, H. R. & Garde, E.
Spinal cord atrophy in anterior-posterior direction reflects impairment in multiple sclerosis.
Acta Neurologica Scandinavica. 136, 4, p. 330-337, 2017.

Schreiber K, Magyari M, Sellebjerg F, Iversen P, Garde E, Gøbel Madsen C, Börnsen L, Christensen JR, Ratzer R, Siebner HR, Laursen B, Soelberg Sorensen P. High-dose erythropoietin in patients with progressive multiple sclerosis: a randomized, placebo controlled, phase 2 trial. Mult Scler 2016: Epub ahead of print.

Dogonowski AM, Blinkenberg M, Paulson OB, Sellebjerg F, Soelberg Sørensen P, Siebner HR, Madsen KH. Recovery from an acute relapse is associated with changes in motor resting-state connectivity in multiple sclerosis. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2016;87:912-914.

Ratzer R, Iversen P, Börnsen L, Dyrby T, Romme Christensen J, Ammitzbøll C, Madsen C, Garde E, Lyksborg M, Andersen B, Hyldstrup L, Soelberg Sørensen P, Siebner HR, Sellebjerg F. Monthly oral methylprednisolone pulse treatment in progressive multiple sclerosis. Mult Scler 2016;22:926-934.

Voldsgaard A, Bager P, Garde E, Åkeson P, Leffers AM, Kapel C, Roepstorff A, Thamsborg SM, Melbye M, Siebner H, Søndergaard HB, Sellebjerg F, Soelberg Sørensen P. Trichuris suis ova therapy in relapsing multiple sclerosis is safe but without signals of beneficial effect. Mult Scler 2015;21:1723-1729.

Weier K, Banwell B, Cerasa A, Collins DL, Dogonowski AM, Lassmann H, Quattrone A, Sahraian MA, Siebner HR, Sprenger T. The role of the cerebellum in multiple sclerosis. Cerebellum 2015;14:364-374.

Christensen JR, Ratzer R, Börnsen L, Lyksborg M, Garde E, Dyrby TB, Siebner HR, Sorensen PS, Sellebjerg F. Natalizumab in progressive MS: Results of an open-label, phase 2A, proof-of-concept trial. Neurology 2014;82:1499-1507.

Lyksborg M, Siebner HR, Sørensen PS, Blinkenberg M, Parker GJM, Dogonowski A, Garde E, Larsen R, Dyrby TB. Secondary progressive and relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis leads to motor-related decreased anatomical connectivity. PLOS ONE 2014;9, e95540.

Christensen JR, Ratzer R, Börnsen L, Lyksborg M, Garde E, Dyrby TB, Siebner HR, Sørensen PS, Sellebjerg F. Natalizumab in progressive MS – results of an open-label phase 2A proof-of- concept trial. Neurology 2014;82:1499-1507.

Dogonowski, A.-M., Andersen, K. W., Madsen, K. H., Sørensen, P. S., Paulson, O. B., Blinkenberg, M., & Siebner, H. R. Multiple sclerosis impairs regional functional connectivity in the cerebellum. NeuroImage: Clinical, 2014, 4:130–138.