PhD position on speech prosody (fMRI/TMS) at Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany

[Daniela Sammler <sammler@xxxxxxxxxx>]

The Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences (MPI-CBS) in Leipzig is now offering a 

PhD position for 3 years

in a research project on the temporal network dynamics of prosody perception using TMS and fMRI

During every-day conversations, we produce well-articulated speech and comprehend the meaning of words, sentences and the speaker’s intentions without any effort. What seems so easy is based on highly complex neural processes and temporal dynamics that are still poorly understood. The present project will focus on speech prosody, the vocal tone, and will address the following questions: Which brain areas are causally involved in prosody perception at which point in time? Is there a right-hemispheric dominance of prosody perception, in location, time and in terms of causal involvement? How does the neural network for prosody perception compensate for a focal perturbation of a key region? The PhD project will address these questions with a combination of TMS and fMRI.

Applicants must have a master’s degree (or equivalent) in speech science, psychology, cognitive sciences, neuroscience, linguistics, biology or a related field. Proficiency in oral and written English is mandatory. A solid methods background (statistics and programming) as well as prior experience with either functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and/or transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) are preferable, but not essential. Most importantly, the successful applicant will share our enthusiasm in research questions on the neural bases of speech and prosody.

Preferable starting date is November 2016. Salary is based on the funding guidelines of the Max Planck Society.

The research is conducted at the MPI-CBS in Leipzig, Germany, an internationally leading center for cognitive and imaging neuroscience equipped with a 7T MRI scanner, four 3T MRI scanners, a 306 channels MEG system, several TMS and EEG systems. All facilities are supported by experienced IT and physicist staff. Our institute offers a very international environment, with English being the language spoken in the laboratory. It offers a friendly and generous environment of researchers with diverse backgrounds and with an excellent infrastructure. PhD students will have the opportunity to attend an International Max Planck Research School (IMPRS NeuroCom).

The Max Planck Society is an equal opportunity employer. In order to increase the proportion of female staff members, applications from female scientists are particularly encouraged. Preference will be given to disabled persons with the same qualification.
Applications should be sent to the email below as a single, appropriately named pdf email attachment. It should enclose a cover letter that also specifies your future research interests; a CV; and contact details of two referees. This call closes on August 31, 2016. Interviews will be held in September 2016. The application should be sent directly to personal@xxxxxxxxxx using the code “PhD 3/16” in the subject. 
For further details please contact Dr Daniela Sammler or Dr Gesa Hartwigsen, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany, sammler@xxxxxxxxxx / hartwigsen@xxxxxxxxxx 
	
-- 
Dr. Daniela SAMMLER
Research Group Leader
Otto Hahn Group "Neural Bases of Intonation in Speech and Music"
Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences
Stephanstr. 1a, 04103 Leipzig
phone: +49 341 9940 2679
fax:   +49 341 9940 2204