Applications are invited for a funded PhD position to work on the neurobiology of defensive emotions, in a Comparative Emotion Research group led by Dominik R Bach (www.bachlab.org), University of Zurich, Switzerland.
The successful candidate will work on the human branch of a cross-species approach to anxiety. The aim of this project is to characterise/formalise a human analogue of the anxiety behaviour often reported in rodents, and to investigate its neurobiology and relation to human experience of anxiety. The project will involve psychological experimentation, functional magnetic resonance imaging, and EEG. A collaborating animal facility will develop corresponding animal models. The wider goal of the research group is to investigate the neurobiology of human defensive emotions (panic, fear, anxiety) using neuroimaging techniques (fMRI, EEG), formalise models of such emotions with respect to general neurobiological principles, and apply these models to psychiatric syndromes involving pathological emotions. The laboratory offers a friendly and collaborative research environment, close supervision, a research-dedicated 3T MRI scanner, a fully equipped psychological/psychophysiological testing facility, and EEG facilities. The candidate will participate in the local neuroscience PhD training.
We are looking for a person with an interest in theoretical neuroscience as well as hands-on experimentation. Applicants should have an MSc or equivalent in psychology, biology, neuroscience, or a related science/engineering discipline. Prior experience is required in either cognitive neuroscience, theoretical neuroscience, or animal models of anxiety. Familarity with EEG acquisition and analysis, and Matlab programming would be useful. Fluent English is mandatory, German is not required.
Starting date is summer/autumn 2013. Applications are considered until the position is filled. Applicants should send, within ONE SINGLE PDF file, a CV, publication list, letter of intent with a statement of research interest, and the name and contact of two references to:
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Informal enquiry by email is welcome.
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