SmartAge ESR project 11
Host: University Hospital Jena, Germany
Secondments: Wageningen University, Netherlands / CROmed Research Center, Hungary
The Department of Neurology (head: Prof. Dr. Otto W. Witte) at the University Hospital Jena offers a PhD position for an early stage researcher (ESR) for the project: Changes in individual BrainAGE score and brain plasticity induced by physical activity. The position is part of the EU-funded Innovative Training Network SmartAge (“Gut-brain-axis: Targets for improvement of cognition in the elderly”) with full-time employment for a duration of 3 years, starting in March 2021.
Objective of the project: BrainAGE is an innovative biomarker of individual brain health, which is derived using high-dimensional MRI data in a machine-learning framework. BrainAGE shows the underlying ‘age’ of the brain, whereby an ‘older’ brain in adults indicates increased risks of cognitive impairments, neurodegenerative diseases and mortality. The project will focus on analyzing the effect of various interventions that be analysed with regards to changes in individual BrainAGE. We expect effects of the gut-microbiome on individual BrainAGE in cross-sectional human studies as well as protective effects of the various interventions on the individual brain aging trajectories.
The PhD student will join a multi-disciplinary research team that focuses on the quantification of anatomical structures in the brain and on the classification of the changes they undergo, especially in the early phases of neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia or Alzheimer’s disease.
Requirements for the applicant: We expect a Master´s degree (or equivalent) in Psychology, Mathematics, Computer Science, Neuroscience, Physics or a related area. Furthermore, the applicant should be able to perform team-oriented as well as independent work. Experience in anatomical MRI (data acquisition, processing, statistics) and programming skills (Matlab, C/C++) are desirable.
Very good language skills in English are required.
Please note the eligibility criteria for researchers: Candidates must be in the first four years of his/her research career, not have a doctoral degree, and not have resided in Germany for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before the recruitment date.
Selection process: Interested candidates please send a motivation letter, a CV including publications (if available), copies of university degrees and courses (including obtained grades), and the names and e-mail addresses of two scientists who can provide references (all summarized in one pdf) to Preferential treatment will be given to applications received before 30 November 2020.
For more information concerning the research project please contact Prof. Dr. Christian Gaser (Tel. +49-3641-9325778, email: or Dr. Katja Franke (Tel: +49-3641-9325771; email: )