[Comp-neuro] Centre for Doctoral Training in Neurotechnology at Imperial College London

[Simon Schultz]

*EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Neurotechnology for Life and Health*

**

Ten fully funded PhD studentships are currently available for the 4-year 
postgraduate research training programme in Neurotechnology at Imperial 
College London.

Neurotechnology is the use of insights and tools from engineering, 
mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology to investigate neural 
function and treat dysfunction.  Brain-related illnesses affect more 
than two billion people worldwide, and the numbers are growing. Reducing 
this burden is a major challenge for society. The Centre will train a 
new generation of multidisciplinary researchers at the interface of 
neuroscience and engineering, to address this challenge.

The Centre spans the Faculties of Engineering, Natural Sciences and 
Medicine at Imperial, with investigators from the Departments of 
Bioengineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical and Electronic 
Engineering, Computing, Chemistry, Physics, Life Sciences, and the 
Division of Brain Sciences. Directed by Dr Simon Schultz, Prof Bill 
Wisden and Prof Paul Matthews, it intends to admit approximately 14 
students per year. All research projects will involve a team of 
supervisors, each of whom will bring complementary expertise to the 
project. In addition to researchers from across Imperial College, the 
Centre involves twenty industry and charity partners, as well as 
satellite research groups at the Crick Institute and the University of 
Oxford.

Studentships will begin with an MRes in Neurotechnology, which forms an 
integral part of the four year training programme. During this year, 
student will take 3 months of taught courses specially developed for the 
CDT, followed by laboratory rotations as part of a single research 
training project. At the end of the first year, students enter the PhD 
phase having developed the interdisciplinary and technical skills to 
thrive in a cutting edge research environment, and make the most impact 
with their PhD.

In the current round, funding is available for the following ten projects:

 1. *Wearable wireless sensor arrays to detect the progression of
    amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)*. Prof Martyn Boutelle, Dr E M
    Drakakis and Prof Chris Shaw.
 2. *High-resolution mapping of age-related functional changes in
    cortical connectivity*. Dr Stephen Brickley, Dr Paul Chadderton and
    Prof William Wisden.
 3. *Development of a bedside 'hand-and-brain training' rehabilitation
    aid for stroke patients*. Prof Etienne Burdet, Dr Paul Bentley, Dr
    David Soto and Dr Caroline Alexander.
 4. *Experimental and computational study of auditory receptive field
    properties and connectivity*. Dr Claudia Clopath, Dr Paul Chadderton.
 5. *High-throughput Visualization and Computational Consequences of
    Increased Synaptic Plasticity and Axon Regeneration in the Living
    Aged Brain*. Dr Vincenzo De Paola, Dr Claudia Clopath, Dr Anil Bharath.
 6. *Hilbert-Huang Transform (HHT)-based Automated Neonatal EEG Early
    Warning System*. Dr E M Drakakis, Prof D Azzopardi, Dr E Eftekhar.
 7. *Machine learning and human adaptability: towards a hierarchical
    model of executive cognition and brain function*. Dr Aldo Faisal, Dr
    Adam Hampshire.
 8. *Designing novel imaging probes for targeting inflammatory lesions
    in brain disorders*. Prof Nicholas Long, Dr Felicity Gavins.
 9. *Investigating Sports Related Concussion with a Wearable In-Ear
    System for Continuous Monitoring of Brain and Body Functions*. Prof
    D Mandic, Prof D Sharp.
10. *Optical decoding of peripheral nerve signals*. Dr Simon Schultz,
    Prof Mark Neil, Prof Thomas Knöpfel.

Further information on these projects is available from 
http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/neurotechnology/cdt/projects

*Who should apply*

**

Applicants should be seeking to undertake a /multidisciplinary /4-year 
research training programme at the interface between neuroscience and 
engineering. Applicants should have or expect to obtain a first or upper 
second class degree in an engineering or physical sciences discipline. 
Students with a biological or medical sciences background will be 
considered in exceptional circumstances, provided they can demonstrate 
substantial quantitative skills. Applicants would normally need to meet 
EPSRC eligibility criteria 
<http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/skills/students/help/Pages/eligibility.aspx>, 
however a small number of fully funded places may be open to EU students 
who do not satisfy these criteria.

**

*Funding*

Studentships will cover tuition fees and a tax free stipend of 
approximately £16,000 per year. A generous annual allowance will be 
provided for research consumables and for conference attendance.

**

*How to Apply*

**

To be considered for this round, you must apply via the CDT website by 
5pm, Monday 24^th Feb. For more information on the programme, for 
details on the projects available, and how to apply, please visit: 
http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/neurotechnology/cdt

We urge prospective applicants to contact project supervisors as soon as 
possible. Early application is encouraged and a number of early offers 
may be made.




-- 

Simon R Schultz
Royal Society Industry Fellow
Director, Centre for Neurotechnology
Institute of Biomedical Engineering & Department of Bioengineering
Imperial College London
Lab website: http://www.schultzlab.org
Centre: http://www.imperial.ac.uk/neurotechnology
EU ITN: http://www.neural-engineering.eu


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