Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford

Grade 7: £29,837 - £36,661 p.a.

We are looking for a talented researcher to contribute to a research programme aiming at developing computational models of neural circuits affected by Parkinson’s disease, and using computer simulations of these models to predict the optimal settings of closed loop deep brain stimulation (DBS). The postholder is expected to have substantial experience in computational neuroscience, allowing independent work and interactions with collaborating experimental neuroscientists.

The work will involve development of the computational models of the cortico-basal-ganglia-thalamic circuit responsible for the generation of abnormal beta oscillations in Parkinson’s disease. The work will also include the analysis of experimental data recorded from closed-loop DBS in order to constrain the computational models. The postholder is expected to describe their results in scientific publications and present them at scientific meetings. The postholder is also expected to contribute to seminars and to “intellectual life” of the computational neuroscience community in Oxford.

It is essential for the applicant to have excellent analytical and research skills, strong background in mathematical techniques related to dynamical systems theory, and very good Matlab programming skills. The applicants need to have a PhD in Computational Neuroscience or related discipline and excellent scientific communication skills.

The closing date for applications is 12.00 midday on Thursday 13 March 2014. Interviews will be held as soon as possible thereafter.