About your role
As a PhD student you contribute to the development of a personalized neurostimulation framework for OCD. You work at the intersection of computational neuroscience, neuroimaging and clinical psychiatry, with direct clinical impact.
Your main activities are:
- analyzing and integrating multimodal MRI data for biotype identification;
- applying machine learning and advanced statistical models to predict treatment response;
- optimizing individualized rTMS targeting using neuronavigation and computational modeling;
- designing and conducting n-of-1 trials embedded in routine clinical care;
- disseminating findings through scientific publications and conference presentations.
You also supervise bachelor’s and master’s students and participate in graduate school training.
A four-year, full-time PhD position at Amsterdam UMC, location VUmc, within the Department of Psychiatry and the Amsterdam Neuroscience research institute. You will be supervised by prof. dr. O.A. van den Heuvel (Principle Investigator), prof. dr. Ysbrand van de Werf, dr. Willem Bruin and dr. Sophie Fitszimmons. You will be enrolled in the graduate school for neuroscience (ONWAR), a nationally recognized program providing interdisciplinary neuroscience training and professional development.
About youYou are motivated to translate advanced methodology into meaningful clinical applications. You bring:
- a completed master’s degree in neuroscience, psychology, artificial intelligence, biomedical engineering or a related field;
- strong skills in data analysis, machine learning or computational modeling, preferably applied to neuroimaging data;
- experience with programming and data analysis (e.g. Python, MATLAB, R);
- affinity with neuroimaging research, preferably including MRI data analysis;
- excellent command of English, both spoken and written.
Dutch is helpful for clinical interaction but not mandatory.
Our offer- A flying start to your career in scientific research.
- Plenty of room for your drive to shape tomorrow's healthcare.
- Working on large-scale and in-house research, with motivated colleagues from all over the world.
- You will be employed by Amsterdam UMC Research BV.
- A contract for 12 months, with the intention to extend for a total of 4 years. The Guideline PhD contract applies to this vacancy.
- Salary scale OIO: € 3.108 to € 3.939 gross based on full-time employment (depending on education and experience) and a year-end bonus of 8.3%. Calculate your net salary here.
- Holiday hours: 190.4 per year for fulltime and a possibility to save additional hours.
- Pension accrual with BeFrank, a modern, comprehensible and fairly priced pension.
- For >7 km each way, 100% reimbursement for public transport travel costs and, for private transport, €0.18 per km up to a maximum of 40 km each way.
- Do you prefer walking or cycling? Take advantage of our good bike scheme. Moreover, you will receive a reimbursement of €0.18 per km.
Watch this video with more information about joining Amsterdam UMC Research BV.
