PhD Position: Role of User Feedback and Introspection Mechanisms in the Context of Neurotechnological Systems

1. Introduction

Are you passionate about leveraging machine learning techniques to enhance neurotechnological systems such as brain-computer interfaces? And are you interested in the psychology of learning and self-introspection? If so, join the European Doctoral Network for Neural Prostheses and Brain Research (DONUT) as PhD candidate! 

2. Job description

We are looking for a PhD candidate to set up closed-loop brain-computer interface protocols and to evaluate brain signals and the task performance of users. This position needs to be filled as soon as possible.

Neurotechnological systems such as brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) allow to record and interpret the ongoing brain activity of healthy users or patients. This allows to design closed-loop applications for monitoring, for communication, for the control of devices or to support rehabilitation training. As brain signals are individual, noisy, and high-dimensional, machine learning methods play a crucial role in these systems.

Using a BCI system is not a natural skill. Thus not only the computer, but also the user undergoes a learning phase in order to produce more discriminative brain signals. In the case of BCI-supported rehabilitation training, this may comprise learning how to better use brain networks spared by a stroke, or how to generate specific brain responses that can be recognised by artificial intelligence methods. The PhD project investigates how healthy users and/or patients can be supported in the longitudinal learning of a BCI skill. The focus will be on how both experimental protocol design and machine learning methods can be optimised to provide enriched feedback in order to support the user’s self-introspection.

You will be expected to design and implement experimental protocols in Python to study the introspection ability of BCI users and the role of feedback. In our own labs or in clinics, you will conduct non-invasive EEG studies with healthy participants and patients, and cooperate with our clinical partners. Furthermore, you will train machine learning models to analyse the data and participate in the scientific dissemination of results in high-impact scientific journals, conferences and workshops. In addition we expect an attitude towards open and reproducible science, which includes the publishing of well-documented code and FAIR datasets. An excellent command of English is required, as this is the working language in our international lab.

We offer a full time position for an overall duration of four years. Throughout the project, you will receive guidance from Dr Michael Tangermann and Dr Jordy Thielen and be an integral part of the Data-Driven Neurotechnology Lab. The lab is situated within the AI department of the Donders Institute, offering additional opportunities for collaboration with experts in artificial intelligence, cognitive neuroscience, visual perception, and other relevant fields. You will also benefit from the extensive training programmes offered by the Donders Graduate School and the European doctoral training network DONUT (https://donut-project.eu/). In addition, you will benefit from multi-month research stays at DONUT’s academic and industrial partners' labs, which require mobility.

You must comply with the following mobility rule: you must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the Netherlands for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the recruitment date. You will be part of the Donders Graduate School for Cognitive Neuroscience and the European Doctoral Network for Neural Prostheses and Brain Research.

Your teaching load may be up to 10% of your working time.

3. Profile

• You have obtained a Master's degree in Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, Cognitive Neuroscience or a related discipline.
• You fulfil the mobility rule for European doctoral networks: You have not resided or carried out your main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the Netherlands for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the application deadline.
• You have a strong interest in neurotechnological systems such as brain-computer interfaces.
• You have a strong interest in neuroscience and self-introspection.
• You have a passion for research.
• You have enthusiasm and the ability to work in an international team.
• You have an excellent background in mathematics and machine learning.
• You have strong Python programming skills, and you are familiar with libraries for neuroimaging data as well as for machine learning.
• You know how to collaborate on larger software projects and are familiar with tools and infrastructure such as compute clusters, version control, etc.
• You have experience with dealing with neuroscientific data (e.g. from EEGs).
• You possess excellent written and spoken English language skills.

4. We are

The European Doctoral Network for Neural Prostheses and Brain Research (DONUT) is a 4-year EU-Horizon Europe Marie Sklodowska-Curie Doctoral Network project that is aimed to bring together leading experts from several European universities with the mission to provide a multidisciplinary and intersectoral Doctoral Network for talented young researchers (Doctoral Candidates). The network connects leading scientists and institutions with several industries over different research fields, providing opportunities for young researchers to gain experience in translational research in electroencephalography (EEG)-based measurements and Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) applications, healthcare, and industry. Its 10 doctoral candidates will address and solve deep problems in brain research, development of different BCI applications and systems with the latest technological advancements.

The Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour is a world-class interfaculty research centre that houses more than 700 researchers devoted to understanding the mechanistic underpinnings of the human mind. Research at the Donders Institute is focused around four themes: 1. Language and communication, 2. Perception, action and control, 3. Plasticity and memory, 4. Neural computation and neurotechnology. Excellent, state-of-the-art research facilities are available for the broad range of neuroscience research that is being conducted at the Donders Institute. The Donders Institute has been assessed by an international evaluation committee as 'excellent' and recognised as a 'very stimulating environment for top researchers, as well as for young talent'. The Donders Institute fosters a collaborative, multidisciplinary, supportive research environment with a diverse international staff. English is the lingua franca at the Institute.

The Data-Driven Neurotechnology Lab is embedded in the Donders Institute and in the Department of Artificial Intelligence. The lab's research focuses on data-driven neurotechnology, i.e. domain-specific machine learning methods which allow to decode brain states in a single trial and methods which permit to modulate the ongoing brain state.

5. We offer

• We will give you a temporary employment contract (1.0 FTE) of 1,5 years, after which your performance will be evaluated. If the evaluation is positive, your contract will be extended by 2.5 years (4-year contract).
• You will receive a starting salary of €2,770 gross per month based on a 38-hour working week, which will increase to €3,539 in the fourth year (salary scale P).
• You will receive an 8% holiday allowance and an 8,3% end-of-year bonus. 
• You will be able to use our Dual Career and Family Support Service. The Dual Career Programme assists your partner via support, tools, and resources to improve their chances of independently finding employment in the Netherlands. Our Family Support Service helps you and your partner feel welcome and at home by providing customised assistance in navigating local facilities, schools, and amenities. Also take a look at our support for international staff page to discover all our services for international employees.
• You will receive extra days off. With full-time employment, you can choose between 30 or 41 days of annual leave instead of the statutory 20. 

6. Practical information and applying

You can apply only via the button below. Address your letter of application to Michael Tangermann. In the application form, you will find which documents you need to include with your application.

The first interviews will take place on 30 September. You will preferably start your employment as soon as possible.

We can imagine you're curious about our application procedure. It describes what you can expect during the application procedure and how we handle your personal data and internal and external candidates.