Vacancy: PhD position (BCI + Virtual Reality)

Thanks to all the candidates that showed interest for this vacancy. This position is no longer available. I will post new adds when new vacancies are available.

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PhD student position available for the FP7 Marie Curie grant Neuroscience Based Interactive Systems for Motor Rehabilitation.

Job Reference: MC-CIG RehabNet

Keywords: Brain Computer Interface, Limb Orthosis, Serious Games, Neuroscience, Stroke

Job summary: 

The Madeira Interactive Technologies Institute (M-ITI) is a not-for-profit Innovation Institute of the University of Madeira, Madeira, Portugal. Studying at M-ITI brings you into an international research environment in a wonderful place in Europe (http://www.m-iti.org/). Our institute in Madeira is one of the top-level institutes in Europe in the areas of HCI, Computer Science, and Entertainment Technology. Your study in either of these areas will give you the opportunity to gain experience in a research-driven organisation with many ongoing research projects that enjoy both national and international collaboration.

A call is now open for 1 PhD student financed by the EC (303891 RehabNet FP7-PEOPLE-2011-CIG) under FP7 - Marie Curie. This project is an interdisciplinary collaboration between industry (MYOMO Inc.), university (Universidade da Madeira) and the Madeiran public health system (SESARAM) to exploit state-of-the-art ICT technologies and a neuroscience based rational to provide with novel, more effective, and personalized rehabilitation training systems to fight the sequels and the psycho-social and economical impact of Stroke.

As part of the PhD project, the candidate is expected to spend some time in the US working together with our collaborators MYOMO Inc. (Boston) and at Carnegie Mellon's Quality of Life Technologies center (Pittsburgh).

This project addresses several research areas including: A) clinical research; B) robotics, C) Human Computer Interaction (HCI); and D) neurofeedback and neuroscience. It is focused on the exploitation of biological signals of humans such as cerebral and muscle activity to enable Stroke patients to have access to novel rehabilitation technologies using serious games and robotic limb orthoses. The candidate will join the team and will conduct his PhD focusing in exploiting the synergies between brain computer interfaces (EEG-based non invasive measurement of brain potentials) and virtual reality based interactive systems for motor rehabilitation.

Requirements:

The work will be conducted at the Madeira-Interactive Technologies Institute under the supervision of Prof. Sergi Bermúdez i Badia (http://neurorehabilitation.m-iti.org) in close collaboration with clinicians and patients. The main task for the accepted candidate will be to conduct research towards his/her PhD. The candidate is expected to complete the degree within 4 years.

The ideal candidate would be a computer scientist, electric, electronic or tele-communications engineer or a closely related discipline with background in any of the following fields: brain-computer interfaces, signal processing or machine learning.

Applicants should fulfill the following requirements:

- MSc degree or equivalent in computer science, electric, electronic or tele-communications engineering or other relevant disciplines for research PhD project.

- Strong oral and written English communication skills, people skills, the ability to work independently as well as a team member and taking the initiative and being proactive.

The grant will have a duration of 4 years, with an initial evaluation period. The student will receive a stipend between 980-1300€/month depending on his/her qualifications. Voluntary Social Security (SSV) and accidents insurance are included.

Applications are accepted until the position is filled. The outcome of the selection process will be notified to the applicants via email. Applications should be sent via email to sergi.bermudez@m-iti.org and should include:

-       Motivation letter

-       Full CV

-       Copy of degree certificates

-       Copy of ID card or passport
-       Recommendation Letters (facultative)