Applications are invited for a PhD studentship in the Functional and
Molecular Neuroimaging Laboratory of the Queensland Brain Institute to
work on a collaborative project to understand the glymphatic
dysfunction in dementia.

The Role
The glymphatic system is a waste clearance pathway that removes
molecules and toxins, such as amyloid-beta, from the brain. Its
dysfunction has been shown to play a critical role in the pathogenesis
of dementia. However, the mechanisms that lead to glymphatic
dysfunction in dementia is unclear. We are combining cutting-edge
multimodality imaging (MRI, optical imaging and electrophysiology)
with genetic tools (optogenetics and chemogenetics) in transgenic
mouse models to understand the glymphatic regulation for maintaining
brain health. Understanding of specific regulators of the glymphatic
system would lead to better intervention for improving brain health
and treating disorders, such as dementia.
The PhD studentship aims to understand the mechanisms of glymphatic
impairment in dementia and how that impacts the brain network
function. In the thesis project, the successful student will learn a
range of methods including functional MRI, functional brain mapping,
calcium imaging, genetics and analytical tools to study glymphatic
function and neuronal activity and connectivity.

The Institute
Established in 2003, Queensland Brain Institute
(http://www.qbi.uq.edu.au/) is housed on the St Lucia campus of
University of Queensland, Australia. It is home to more than 400
staff, including 41 group leaders, working across a range of
disciplines, focussed on discovering the fundamental mechanisms that
regulate brain development and function in health and disease. QBI has
state-of-the-art core facilities for super resolution microscopy, flow
cytometry, molecular genetics, histochemistry and cognitive testing.
Access is also available to an advanced imaging facility, including
16.4T MRI, 9.4T MRI (with cryoprobe), 7T MR-PET and microPET/CT for
animal imaging, and 7T, 3T and PET/CT for human imaging, housed in the
Centre for Advanced Imaging.
Over the past decade QBI has positioned itself as one of the world's
leading neuroscience research institutes. It played a key role in
contributing to UQ attaining the highest possible score of 5 for
neuroscience, in both the 2010 and 2012 Excellence in Research for
Australia (ERA) reviews, one of only two universities in Australia to
achieve this.

The Person
Expressions of Interest are invited from outstanding and enthusiastic,
international and Australian, science graduates ideally with a
background in biology, neuroscience, biophysics, engineering or other
relevant scientific discipline. Candidates will have a First Class
Honours degree or equivalent and should be eligible for UQ scholarship
consideration.  Experience with quantitative methods, as well as
familiarity with MATLAB or other programming languages are preferable.
Background in neuroscience and fMRI would be an advantage.
Applicants must fulfil the PhD admission criteria for the University
of Queensland, including meeting English language requirements, and
demonstrating excellent capacity and potential for research.
Demonstration of research ability through publication output in peer
reviewed international journals is desirable. For further information
on entry requirements, please visit
http://www.uq.edu.au/grad-school/our-research-degrees.

Enquiries
Further information regarding the project can be obtained by
contacting A/Professor Kai-Hsiang Chuang ([log in to unmask]).