PhD Position in Neuroimaging, LLM, Genetics and Cross-species comparison

How does the organization of the human brain vary across species, and how has this diversity emerged over the course of evolution?

Do you enjoy working with complex neuroimaging data, large datasets and computational methods? Do you want to work at the intersection of genetics, neuroimaging, neuroscience, neurodiversity and cross-species analyses? We are looking for a highly motivated PhD candidate for the PhD Position in Neuroimaging, LLM, Genetics and Cross-species comparison to join the Connectome Lab at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.

• Location: Amsterdam
• Onderzoeksgebouw VU

Your function

The Connectome Lab at the Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research (CNCR), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, is seeking a PhD candidate in Neuroimaging, Genetics and Cross-species comparison.

The project aims to understand how variation in brain anatomy and connectivity contributes to the remarkable diversity of the human brain, and how these features relate to principles of brain evolution. We will combine large-scale human neuroimaging datasets with comparative datasets across species to investigate variation in brain structure, connectivity and functional organization.

A central goal is to understand which aspects of brain organization are highly conserved, which show substantial variation between individuals, and which features may have emerged or expanded during human brain evolution. The project therefore brings together neuroimaging, connectomics, neurodiversity, comparative neuroscience and computational neuroscience.

You will work with large structural MRI, diffusion MRI and resting-state fMRI datasets and develop and apply computational approaches to quantify variation in brain organization across individuals, populations and species. There is particularly attention for the use of LLM in data mining.

You will be part of the computational neuroimaging Lab led by Prof. Martijn van den Heuvel and work in an interdisciplinary environment with researchers from neuroimaging, computational neuroscience, genetics, psychology, psychiatry and artificial intelligence.

Your duties

• analyse large-scale structural MRI, diffusion MRI and resting-state fMRI datasets
• develop and apply pipelines for cortical reconstruction, tractography, functional connectivity and connectome analysis
• investigate individual variation and neurodiversity in brain structure and connectivity
• integrate genetics with neuroimaging
• perform comparative analyses of human and non-human brain organization in the context of brain evolution
• integrate findings across different neuroimaging datasets and imaging modalities
• develop and apply computational and statistical approaches for analysing brain networks
• contribute to reproducible and open neuroimaging workflows
• collaborate with researchers within the Connectome Lab, CNCR and international research networks
• present your findings at national and international scientific meetings
• write scientific manuscripts
• contribute to teaching activities where appropriate

Your profile

MSc degree in neuroscience, neuroimaging, genetics, biomedical engineering, physics, computer science, artificial intelligence, mathematics, psychology, biology, or a related quantitative discipline.

Hands-on experience with computational analysis is important. Ideally, you have experience with several of the following:

• structural MRI and cortical reconstruction, including FreeSurfer
• Genetics (GWAS)
• diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI), tractography and structural connectivity
• resting-state fMRI and functional connectivity analysis
• FSL and other commonly used neuroimaging software packages
• Experience with AI / LLM
• processing and quality control of neuroimaging datasets
• connectome and network neuroscience analyses

Strong interest in and experience with scientific programming is essential. You should have experience with Python, MATLAB, R, Bash and/or comparable languages, and be comfortable working with computational analysis pipelines. Experience with one or more of the following would be an advantage:

• large-scale neuroimaging datasets such as UK Biobank, HCP or comparable resources
• comparative or cross-species neuroimaging
• brain atlases, surface-based analysis and registration
• machine learning or multivariate statistics
• high-performance computing
• version control and reproducible research workflows
• network science and computational modelling

We are particularly interested in candidates who enjoy working with complex data, think critically about methodology, and are motivated to develop strong computational and neuroimaging expertise. You should also:

• have a strong interest in neurodiversity and/or evolution
• be able to work independently while enjoying collaboration within a multidisciplinary team
• have good analytical and problem-solving skills
• have a good command of written and spoken English
• be motivated to learn new neuroimaging and computational techniques
• support open and reproducible science and be willing to share tools and data with the wider scientific community

What do we offer?

A challenging position in a socially engaged organisation. At VU Amsterdam, you contribute to education, research and service for a better world. And that is valuable. So in return for your efforts, we offer you:

• a salary of minimum € 3.204,00 (PhD year 1) and maximum € 4.051 (PhD year 4) gross per month, on a full-time basis. This is based on UFO profile PhD candidate.
• a 4-year PhD position (initial 1-year contract, extended by 3 years following positive evaluation).

We also offer you attractive fringe benefits and regulations. Some examples:

• a full-time 38-hour working week comes with a holiday leave entitlement of 232 hours per year. If you choose to work 40 hours, you have 96 extra holiday leave hours on an annual basis. For part-timers, this is calculated pro rata.
• 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus
• solid pension scheme (ABP)
• contribution to commuting expenses
• optional model for designing a personalized benefits package

About us

Research environment
You will join the Connectome Lab of prof Van den Heuvel at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Our research focuses on understanding the architecture of the human brain and how its network organization relates to cognition, individual variation, brain disorders and evolution. You will work in a multidisciplinary team of PhD candidates, postdoctoral researchers and students with backgrounds spanning neuroimaging, network neuroscience, genetics, artificial intelligence, computational neuroscience and psychology. The project is embedded within the Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research (CNCR), providing a highly interdisciplinary research environment and opportunities for collaboration within VU Amsterdam and with national and international research groups.

Faculty of Science
Working at the Faculty of Science means collaborating with students, lecturers and researchers who are focused on their field, yet have a broad view of the world. We are proud of a positive and inclusive workplace culture within the faculty, where we work together with great energy and a pragmatic attitude to tackle social challenges. At the Faculty of Science, scientists and students work on fundamental and complex societal issues for a sustainable, healthy and just future.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Together we create a safe and respectful working and study climate, and an inspiring environment for education and research.