WE OFFER:
A predoctoral position to join the Neuroimaging Research Group (Research Program in Neurosciences) at the Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM) to develop the doctoral thesis in the project “Molecular and neuronal markers as prognostic tools for the evolution of first episode psychosis and the modulating effects of cannabis. ". Principal investigators: Dr. Daniel Bergé and Dr. Patricia Robledo.
Requirements for candidates:
• Preferably in possession of a Master's Degree in Neuroscience, Computer Science, Biotechnology or related fields.
• Enrolled or pre-registered in a doctoral program,
• Programming skills in Matlab environment.
• Knowledge in SPM and FSL.
• Basic skills in statistics, test processors and graphics.
• High level of English.
The incorporation of the candidate will be subject to his presentation to the call for grant Contracts PFIS "Predoctoral Contracts of Training in Health Research" and to the success of the application.
Project summary: Schizophrenia onset is usually mediated by a first-episode psychosis and usually involves a loss of functionality and a progression towards chronicity. Cannabis use is a well known risk factor for schizophrenia and other psychoses, but the relationship between cannabis and psychosis is complex and still far from being fully understood. Cannabis use and schizophrenia share some functional and structural brain alterations, but the effect of the interaction between cannabis and psychosis on these alterations remains unclear. Progress in the understanding of the neurobiological basis of the relationship between cannabis and psychosis will imply an advance in the design of new strategies for the prevention and treatment of the disease.
The candidate will participate in research projects throughout several studies that combine clinical parameters, neuroimaging data and molecular data. His/her work will be focused (though not exclusively) on the acquisition, processing and analysis of functional and diffusion images (DTI) of three groups of patients: control subjects, patients with a first-episode psychosis and patients with schizophrenia, the three groups will be subsequently categorized to cannabis users and non-users Differences between groups will be sought in terms of connectivity and these parameters will be correlated with clinical and molecular parameters.
The candidate will have the opportunity to be involved in translational research projects where clinical research groups, neuroimaging and basic research collaborate and will be able to develop the doctoral thesis project in the field of neuroimaging and schizophrenia.
For more information and presentation of curriculum vitae, contact Eva Mª Vitas ([log in to unmask]). Please send CV and copy of the academic record.
Deadline for submission of CV: January 29, 2019 (extendable according to call).
|