Aalto University is where science and art meet technology and business. We shape a sustainable future by making research breakthroughs in and across our disciplines, sparking the game changers of tomorrow and creating novel solutions to major global challenges. Our community is made up of 13 000 students, 400 professors and close to 4 500 other faculty and staff working on our dynamic campus in Espoo, Greater Helsinki, Finland. Diversity is part of who we are, and we actively work to ensure our community’s diversity and inclusiveness. This is why we warmly encourage qualified candidates from all backgrounds to join our community.

The Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering (NBE) aims to understand system-level dynamic functions of the human brain, mind, and body. We develop spearheading technology and computational methods which pave the way for discoveries and breakthroughs that contribute to health and wellbeing. NBE brings together systems and cognitive neuroscience, biophysics, and biomedical engineering. The levels of description in the research and education at the department range from molecular and cellular measures to noninvasive neuroimaging and behavioral measurements. New generations of multidisciplinary scientists and engineers are educated by engaging them with cutting-edge science and technology. 

We are now looking for a

Doctoral Researcher in Individualised Brain Imaging

We are looking for a highly motivated Doctoral researcher (PhD student) to work in exciting projects within the field of human brain mapping and computational modelling of individual characteristics.

A fully-funded full-time Doctoral researcher position is open in the Imaging Language group headed by Prof. Riitta Salmelin at the Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical engineering (https://www.aalto.fi/en/department-of-neuroscience-and-biomedical-engineering/imaging-language).

The group has pioneered the use of MEG in studying language processing in the brain, and today employs multiple brain imaging modalities and analysis methods to gain insight into how language function is neurally organised and how the different imaging methods can be best used to probe that organisation. These studies have repeatedly highlighted the high interindividual variability in neural representation of language. The current projects increasingly exploit advanced machine learning methods to model brain representations and mechanisms. To progress beyond the stage of group-level statistics and explore the full extent of variability, it is necessary to develop methods to model and understand these individual characteristics.

The candidate will work together with Dr. Susanne Merz to model dis/similarities of global brain function among humans. The aim is to uncover components of cortical activity that generalise beyond the training set to reveal individual cortical fingerprints, and enable individual prediction of neural function and behaviour, as well as disease trajectory in neurological patients.

The candidate is expected to take part in all steps of the research, from experimental design and data collection to advanced analysis of the data and interpretation of the findings.

Qualifications

The candidate is expected to have

• a Master’s degree, with a background in computational science, machine learning, biomedical engineering, bioinformatics, or a related field
• a strong interest in cognitive neuroscience
• good command of both written and spoken English

Previous experience in scripting/programming (e.g. Matlab, Python, R) is considered an asset. Finnish language is not required in this position.

What we offer

You will be welcomed as a member of a highly interdisciplinary research group, department and university. You will have access to cutting-edge research infrastructures for human neuroimaging (https://www.aalto.fi/en/aalto-neuroimaging-ani-infrastructure) and scientific computing (https://scicomp.aalto.fi).

Our work is guided by the values of the university: responsibility, courage, and collaboration. It is the people that create Aalto, now and in the future. We want to be an open community where equality and inclusion enable curiosity, innovation, collaboration and wellbeing.

Our vast array of professional development opportunities means you will grow and learn, having the chance to participate actively in staff trainings and development projects based on your interests and needs. There is great freedom in your role, and we have a flexible modern working culture. We value work–life balance and wellbeing in all aspects of life.

We work in a hybrid way, and the primary workplace is Otaniemi, Espoo. The Otaniemi campus is a thriving and connected community of 100 nationalities, 13,000 students and 4,500 employees. Life at the transformed campus is vibrant and filled with amazing architecture, calming nature, and a variety of cafes, restaurants, services and good connections along the metro line and the new light rail line.

Salary and contract terms

Following the standard Aalto´s practice, the Doctoral researcher position contract will be made initially for two years, then extended to another two years after a successful mid-term progress review.

Aalto University follows the salary system of Finnish universities. The starting salary for Doctoral researchers is approximately 2690 € per month (gross), and it will increase with achievements, such as scientific publications. The contract includes Aalto University occupational healthcare.

The annual workload of research and teaching staff at Aalto University is 1612 hours. 

The Doctoral researcher applicants must fulfill the admission requirements for the Aalto Doctoral Programme in Science. Selected candidate is expected to apply for and to be granted a right to pursue doctoral studies at Aalto University. More information on the general requirements and the Doctoral Programme in Science https://www.aalto.fi/en/study-options/aalto-doctoral-programme-in-science-0 Please check the student information, admission criteria and pay attention to the required (English) language proficiency.

Join us!

To apply, please share the following application materials with us preferably as a single PDF file, through our recruitment site ("Apply now!”) at latest 20th November 2023

• Motivation letter (1 page)
• CV
• Transcript of records and diploma certificate
• Contact details of possible referees

We will go through applications, and we may invite suitable candidates to interview already during the application period.

The application materials will not be returned. Aalto University reserves the right for justified reasons to leave the position open, to extend the application period and to consider candidates who have not submitted applications during the application period.

For more information on the position, contact Prof. Riitta Salmelin or Dr. Susanne Merz ([email protected]).

Please note: Aalto University’s employees and visitors should apply for the position via our internal system Workday à Internal Jobs by using their existing Workday user account. 

Check out our new virtual campus experience: https://virtualtour.aalto.fi/

About Finland

Finland is a great place for living with or without family – it is a safe, politically stable and well-organized Nordic society. Finland is consistently ranked high in quality of life and was just listed again as the happiest country in the world (6th year running): https://worldhappiness.report/news/happiest-countries-prove-resilient-despite-overlapping-crises/.

For more information about living in Finland: https://www.aalto.fi/en/careers-at-aalto/living-in-finland & https://www.aalto.fi/en/services/welcome-to-aalto-university-and-finland-info-package.

Hakuilmoitus suomeksi

Hakuilmoitus suomeksi löytyy täältä: https://www.aalto.fi/fi/palvelut/vaitoskirjatutkija-yksilollisen-aivokuvantamisen-tutkimusprojektiin

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