One PhD position (3 years) is available immediately in the group of Dr. Arnaud Norena at the Laboratory of Sensory and Cognitive Neuroscience, CNRS-Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France:
“Investigating the neural mechanisms of tinnitus and Zwicker tone from multi-unit electrophysiology in animals.”
Our group (Neural Dynamics and Audition) is studying the neural correlates of auditory perception, including tinnitus (“ringing in the ears”), and the plasticity of auditory centers due to specific acoustic environment or cochlear hearing loss. We have also a strong interest on computational and theoretical neuroscience (neural coding and system dynamics).
The PhD candidate will be funded by a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action, an Innovative Training Network, from European Commission. The project “Tinnitus: Assessment, Causes, Treatments” (TIN-ACT) aims to bridge the gap between basic fundamental research, applied clinical research and product development. TIN-ACT brings together a large consortium of researchers from different countries and with different backgrounds in the auditory field and beyond.
The present PhD fellowship is specifically devoted to the study of neuronal mechanisms of tinnitus. Tinnitus is a very common and potentially devastating condition. An estimated 50.8 million EU citizens hear tinnitus, of which 5.1 million are severely bothered by it. The neural mechanisms of tinnitus will be apprehended through a phenomenon called Zwicker Tone (ZT). The ZT is a tinnitus-like illusory percept that can be induced by a notched noise presentation. It can last for a few hundreds of msec to several seconds depending on the inducer duration. The ZT can be interpreted as a model of transient tinnitus: both may result from central changes due to sensory input discontinuity over the frequency axis. Assuming that the ZT mimics a tinnitus sub-type resulting from sensory input discontinuities, we will investigate its neural correlates in an animal model.
The ideal candidate will be highly motivated and have a background in Computational Neurosciences and/or NeuroEngineering and/or Animal electrophysiology and/or Auditory Neuroscience. Computer, data analysis and programming skills are mandatory (Python, C/C++, R or Matlab).
The following eligibility rules apply to this grant:
· have already received a Master’s Degree or equivalent
· have no longer than 4 years of research experience following that degree
· do not already hold a PhD degree
· have not worked, studied, or carried out main activity in France for more than 12 months during the previous 36 months (=mobility rule). For refugees there is an exemption of this rule: The refugee procedure will not be counted as a period of residence/activity in the country of the beneficiary. This period will only be counted as of the day that they are recognized as refugees
Please send your application including a CV and motivation letter to Arnaud Noreña: arnaud.norena@xxxxxxxxxxx and Pr. Laurent Pezard laurent.pezard@xxxxxxxxxxx. Also use this email for enquiries of further information to the position.
Website for further information on the laboratory: http://lnsc.fr/