Research position (PhD) within the Collaborative Research Centre 940 "Volition and Cognitive Control: Mechanisms, Modulators, and Dysfunctions" at the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University Hospital C. G. Carus, Dresden University of Technology, Germany

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Job Description: The Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Dresden University of Technology, Germany invites applications for a research position (with the goal to obtain a PhD) in neuroimaging of eating disorders. The new project is part of the aforementioned Collaborative Research Centre (CRC, Steering Committee: Profs. T. Goschke, C. Kirschbaum, M. Smolka, A. Strobel, H.-U. Wittchen and will focus on cognitive control, reward system and the processing of emotions in patients with anorexia nervosa. This is a full time position within the Translational Developmental Neuroscience Group. 

Responsibilities will include the coordination of our ongoing clinical research study and the acquisition and analysis of a range of behavioral and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data. Together with a post-doctoral researcher new fMRI paradigms need to be implemented. Imaging sessions will take place on the Neuroimaging Center's 3T Siemens TIM-Trio scanner and data collected includes high-quality structural, diffusion, and functional MRI data. A variety of additional information will also be collected, including neuropsychological and psychiatric scales, physiological and endocrinological markers. The successful applicant will work in a team of young investigators and also be responsible to supervise interns and medical students working in the project. Thanks to the CRC the applicant will have ample opportunity to work with peers and senior scientists in similar project in the Medical School and the Psychology Department. 

Applicants for the position must have completed (a) a Master or Diploma degree in a relevant field (Psychology, Neurosciences or Medicine; if you have additional qualifications a degree in Biology, Biomedicine, Biophysics, Computer Science or Electrical Engineering may also be sufficient), (b) have had some exposure to cognitive and emotional neurosciences, (c) participated in research activities within the past years (d) possess strong organizational skills and (e) be able to communicate in German with non-scientific staff members. Experience in computer programming (Linux/Unix shell scripting, Python and/or MATLAB), neuroimaging analysis methods (FSL, SPM, FreeSurfer), advanced statistical analyses is of advantage but not a precondition. The successful applicant will join a multidisciplinary team of researchers and clinicians and will receive further training in psychometric and endocrinological techniques and the application of analysis tools for neuroimaging data. Psychologists or physicians who wish to advance in their clinical training may be able to dedicate a small amount of their time to work with patients.

The position is available for a start date as soon as July 17th 2012 (to be confirmed). Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. The position is guaranteed for one year with the possibility of renewal after positive evaluation. The CRC funding has been granted for 4 years. 

Salary will be consistent with levels in accordance with the German Research Foundation (50-65% TV-L: E 13). Compensation includes health insurance, and vacation time. 

To apply you can use our online portal (http://www.uniklinikum-dresden.de/bildung-und-karriere/stellenangebote/wissenschaft/wissenschaftlicher-mitarbeiter-doktorand-1).The application should include a cover letter detailing professional objectives and interests, CV (with grades and language skills), and the names and email addresses of two references. The application can be written in German or English. Applications from many disciplines may be considered. The position is open to qualified international applicants but the knowledge of some German is necessary since the position includes the coordination of an ongoing clinical study. Applicants with a disability will be given preference in the selection process. 

Prof. Dr. med. Stefan Ehrlich
Klinik und Poliklinik für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie und -psychotherapie
Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus Dresden an der TU Dresden
E-Mail: [log in to unmask]


Please refer to our homepage: http://www.kjp-dresden.de/en/Eating-disorders, http://www.kjp-dresden.de/en/Schizophrenia and http://kjp-dresden.de/de/Publikationsliste-Prof-Dr-S-Ehrlich for more detailed information.