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Applications are invited for a 3 year postgraduate studentships leading to a PhD degree, beginning October 2005. This studentship will cover fees UK at Home/EU levels and provide a stipend at Research Council UK rates. This is a joint project between St. George's University of London and Royal Holloway University of London. Applicants should have, or expect to be awarded, a First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree or MSc in an appropriate discipline (please see below). * Topic: Understanding information processing in the cortico-cerebellar system: functional neuroimaging and neuroinformatics in the healthy and damaged brain.** *** *Supervisors: Dr. Narender Ramnani (Lead supervisor; Reader in Cogntive Neuroscience at Royal Holloway University of London) Prof. Hugh Markus (Secondary Supervisor; Professor of Neurology, St. Georges Hospital University of London). * *The deadline for applications is 6th July 2005* The purpose of the project will be to investigate the neural correlates of cognition and action in the human brain using functional neuroimaging, as well as cognitive failure in stroke patients. More specifically, the project will focus on the functions of the cortico-cerebellar system. Although this is one of the largest and most prominent systems in the human brain, its functions are controversial and poorly understood. Little is known about how the exchange of information between the human cerebral cortex and cerebellum contributes to higher cognitive function. The project will investigate this issue by using advanced functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) to investigate activity in the healthy brain, and will also study the nature of cognitive impairments in patients with cerebellar stroke. This project offers the opportunity to acquire skills in important new methods in Cognitive Neuroscience and use a range of ‘cutting-edge’ methods involving functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to an advanced level (including event-related fMRI). There will also be opportunities to learn the skills required to interact with patients, evaluate the locations of brain lesions and test their cognitive abilities. The student will be based in Dr. Ramnani’s laboratory in the Psychology Department at Royal Holloway. The department has been consistently ranked as one of the leading psychology departments in the UK. It hosts an on-site, research-dedicated 3 Tesla Siemens Trio MRI scanner. Dr. Ramnani’s new laboratory is now fully equipped for developing functional neuroimaging studies and for conducting transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) studies (please visit www.pc.rhul.ac.uk/nramnani <http://www.pc.rhul.ac.uk/nramnani> for more information). Time will also be spent at St. Georges Hospital Medical School, where Prof. Markus will facilitate access to patients with cerebellar stroke. Successful candidates will have a good first or Masters degree in Psychology, Neuroscience, Cognitive Neuroscience, or similar discipline (although candidates with good degrees Physics, Mathematics or Statistics are also encouraged to apply). Please contact Dr. Ramnani for further information and application details ([log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>; Tel. +44 1784 443519). -- Narender Ramnani Reader in Cognitive Neuroscience Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory Department of Psychology Royal Holloway University of London Egham, Surrey TW20 0EX Tel: 01784 443519 (Direct) Fax: 01784 434347 (Departmental) email: [log in to unmask] or [log in to unmask] www.pc.rhul.ac.uk/nramnani