Postdoctoral position on high-resolution functional MRI and transcranial focused ultrasound at NeuroSpin, France

A postdoctoral position with Qi Zhu (https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=cvBXeIYAAAAJ) is available in the Cognitive Neuroimaging Unit (www.unicog.org) at NeuroSpin. The position will be funded with a grant from the ANR, the French National Research Agency.

The postdoctoral fellow will work on a project with transversal collaboration among ultra-high field MRI, therapeutic ultrasound, and non-human primate (NHP) imaging experts (Benoit Larrat, Alexis Amadon, Nicolas Boulant, Wim Vanduffel). The aim is to use a combination of ultra-high-resolution fMRI (at 3T, 7T, and potentially 11.7T) and focused ultrasound to study the effect of therapeutic ultrasound on primate social behaviour and the neural mechanism behind it. The ultimate goal is to pave the way for improved treatments for social dysfunction.

Candidate profile

Candidates should have a PhD in a relevant field (e.g., Cognitive/Systems Neuroscience, Psychology, Biomedical physics), and ideally prior end-to-end experience with the use of fMRI and non-human primates, good programming, experimental and statistical skills. Prior experience with therapeutic ultrasound and more precisely brain applications of it would be a plus. A good level of English is required. Knowledge of the French language is an asset but not essential.

About NeuroSpin

NeuroSpin is a top-notch brain imaging center — a building entirely dedicated to the understanding of the brain, and the development of neuroscience and neuroimaging technologies. Three research labs currently share their expertise on site and provide a stimulating research environment. The facility is also open to additional external teams. NeuroSpin hosts 8 state-of-the-art neuroimaging systems including three human MRIs (3T, 7T, and soon a world-record 11.7 Tesla), three animal MRIs (7T, 11.7T, and 17.2T), a MEG system, several EEG and a 3-photon imaging system. In addition, mechanical and electronic workshops and staff are ready to support projects as well as a preclinical housing facility with all required equipment.

Practical information

The contract is for 2 years full time. The employment is with the CEA, the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission. Interested candidates should send a curriculum vitae, a motivation letter, and two letters of recommendation (or the appropriate contact information) to Qi Zhu (qi.zhu@cea.fr). Evaluation of candidates will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

References

Zhu, Q., & Vanduffel, W. (2019). Submillimeter fMRI reveals a layout of dorsal visual cortex in macaques, remarkably similar to New World monkeys. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 116(6), 2306–2311. http://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1805561116

Vancraeyenest, P., Arsenault, J. T., Li, X., Zhu, Q., Kobayashi, K., Isa, K., et al. (2020). Selective Mesoaccumbal Pathway Inactivation Affects Motivation but Not Reinforcement-Based Learning in Macaques. Neuron, 108(3), 568–581.e6. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2020.07.013

Kamimura, H. A. S., Flament, J., Valette, J., Cafarelli, A., Badin, R. A., Hantraye, P., & Larrat, B. (2019). Feedback control of microbubble cavitation for ultrasound-mediated blood-brain barrier disruption in non-human primates under magnetic resonance guidance. Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism, 39(7), 1191–1203. http://doi.org/10.1177/0271678X17753514

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