All vacancies within Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences

There are currently 3 vacancies within Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences:

Title	Closes	Salary
Postdoctoral Researcher in Computational Neuroscience	Oct. 22, 2020, noon	Grade 7: £32,817 - £40,322 per annum
Clinical Research Fellow in Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders	Oct. 30, 2020, noon	Grade E65: £33,221 - £57,522 p.a.
Postdoctoral Research Assistant in Biomarkers for Parkinson's Disease	Nov. 18, 2020, noon	not specified

Postdoctoral Researcher in Computational Neuroscience

Closes: Oct. 22, 2020, noon; salary: Grade 7: £32,817 - £40,322 per annum

<div> We have an exciting opportunity for a Postdoctoral Researcher in Computational Neuroscience to join the MRC Brain Network Dynamics Unit within the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences. The postdoctoral researcher will work within an interdisciplinary team investigating how the neural circuits in the brain represent, use and learn the information about the costs and benefits of alternative choices during decision making. The post holder will develop computational models of learning and decision making in neural circuits that will provide a framework to generate precise predictions and interpret experimental data. They will work on a project aiming to uncover the function of important neural pathways, known as the direct and indirect pathways of the basal ganglia. The post-holder will closely work with another postdoctoral researcher, who performs experiments using techniques such as in vivo photometry during sophisticated behavioural tasks. It is essential that the post-holder hold, or be nearing completion of, a PhD or equivalent qualification in a relevant area and have expertise in mathematical modelling and data analysis. They also need to have proficiency in programming and a demonstrable record of originality, creativity and productivity in research, including first-author publications. It would be beneficial if they also have experience in computation models of reinforcement learning or decision making. The post is full-time for a fixed-term until 31st December 2022 in the first instance. Only applications received before 12.00 midday on 22nd October 2020 will be considered. Interviews will be held as soon as possible thereafter. </div>

Clinical Research Fellow in Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders

Closes: Oct. 30, 2020, noon; salary: Grade E65: £33,221 - £57,522 p.a.

<div> Starting January 2021, this post is based at the Oxford Parkinson's Disease Centre (OPDC: https://opdc.medsci.ox.ac.uk/home) and Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences (NDCN), Oxford University. The primary research focus will be on the longitudinal assessment - clinical, digital, cognitive and brain imaging - of REM sleep behaviour disorder (RBD) subjects at high risk of developing future Parkinson's disease (PD). The aim is to develop polymodal biomarkers predicting future PD onset. The OPDC exemplifies multi-disciplinary translational neuroscience in Oxford at its best, representing a close and interactive collaboration between research laboratories in the basic sciences with clinicians from the NDCN. The Fellow will work in this exciting research environment with the OPDC clinical team to collect biosamples (blood, skin biopsy, CSF) and assess patients with a variety of motor and non-motor rating scales alongside digital markers of motor function (OPDC smartphone app) and sleep (in-hospital and home-based polysomnography (PSG). Funding opportunities are available for the Fellow to continue their work beyond the initial period, facilitating registration for a DPhil degree undertaking integrated research in a chosen area of predictive biomarkers for this important prodromal risk group. Successful candidates must hold a medical degree and full GMC registration and have clinical neurology experience in PD and related movement disorders. It is also essential that they are highly motivated and have the ability to work effectively as part of a team. It would be beneficial if they also held MRCP or an equivalent qualification and experience in Neurology. Informal enquiries should be made to Professor Michele Hu (email: michele.hu@ndcn.ox.ac.uk). The post is full-time for a fixed term until 31st March 2022 in the first instance. Only applications received before 12:00 midday on 30th October 2020 will be considered. Interviews will be held as soon as possible thereafter. </div>

Postdoctoral Research Assistant in Biomarkers for Parkinson's Disease

Closes: Nov. 18, 2020, noon; salary: not specified

<div> We are looking for a Postdoctoral Researcher to join Prof Chrystalina Antoniade’s group investigating quantitative neurophysiological and neuropsychological biomarkers for Parkinson’s Disease. You will be heavily involved in testing patients with Parkinson’s disease as part of a research trial. You may provide guidance to less experienced members of the research group, including PhD and project students. The post provides a unique opportunity to be part of the OxQUIP (Oxford Quantification in Parkinsonism) study. The aim of the OxQUIP study is the identification and validation of novel neurophysiological and cognitive biomarkers for parkinsonian disorders that have the potential to provide quantitative measures of disease state, supplanting the present means of clinical evaluation using rating scales. The successful candidate will be involved with the development of techniques to analyse wearable multi-sensor, multi-axis accelerometer and gyroscope data for accurate diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease and longitudinal tracking of its progression. They will also be responsible for maintaining, managing and databasing patient data and they will prepare data and manuscripts for publication. It is essential that the postholder hold a relevant PhD/Dphil, and/or medical degree along with relevant experience. They must also possess sufficient specialist knowledge in the discipline to work within the established research programme as well as the ability to manage own research and administrative activities. It would be beneficial if they have experience of wearable sensor technology and of analysis of large datasets.   The post is full-time for a fixed term of 12 months in the first instance, renewable for a further 12 months. Only applications received before 12.00 midday on 18th November 2020 will be considered. Interviews will be held as soon as possible thereafter. </div>