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Phd Studentship: The importance of neural plasticity in ageing

Employer
Global Academy Jobs
Location
United Kingdom
Closing date
Feb 27, 2017

Job Details

As we age the body changes and so the motor system must compensate for these alterations in biomechanics. Problems with this compensation process affects the ability of older adults to do everyday tasks which in turn has an impact on quality of life. To understand this we need to combine studies of motor plasticity in humans with brain imaging methods and in a model animal system.

This PhD project brings together the combined expertise of neuroscientists and psychologists with a track record in motor systems research to use complementary neuroimaging (fMRI functional brain imaging in healthy people), in vivo electrophysiological (multiple brain site recording methods in rats) and human experimental psychology to characterise motor plasticity at multiple levels of description and how they change with age.

The project will address the following interrelated questions:

1) How does motor plasticity change across the lifespan in heathy ageing and how does this relate to broader motor ability and quality of life?

2) In human subjects, what are the fMRI signatures of motor plasticity and how do these change in healthy ageing?

3) In rats what are the corresponding neural signatures of motor plasticity in large scale brain networks?

The project is suitable for a student interested in receiving a unique combination of training spanning the fields of neuroscience and psychology. This will include: 1) state-of-the-art in vivo research techniques, including advanced electrophysiological recording and associated analytical methods. There is a world-wide shortage of scientists with these specialist skills so expertise in this area will aid their future career. And 2) Human experimental psychology including the measurement of movement kinematics. Because of the societal need, the study of ageing in humans is a growth research area in which there is a shortage of trained scientist and the student will receive unique training in this field of research.

Overall, this project should provide fundamental new insights into how neural circuits within the brain give rise to our ability to modify our actions to achieve a goal. While providing an explanation for the changes in motor ability that occur with ageing.

Please see http://www.swbio.ac.uk/joint-bbsrc-esrc-studentships-available/ for further details

Funding Notes

As part of your application, you need to choose: Faculty of Biomedical Sciences under the ‘Faculty’ section, and South West Biosciences Doctoral Training Partnership (PhD) under the ‘programme choice’ section. Additionally under the ‘Research Details’ section, please indicate that you are applying for a BBSRC/ESRC SWBio DTP project and give the project title and names of supervisors.

Deadline: Midnight 27 February 2017

Supervisors: Dr Apps and Prof Gilchrist

Company

Global Academy Jobs works with over 250 universities worldwide to promote academic mobility and international research collaboration. Global problems need international solutions. Our jobs board and emails reach the academics and researchers who can help.

"The globalisation of higher education continues apace, driving in turn the ongoing development of the global knowledge economy, striving for solutions to the world’s problems and educating a next generation of leaders and contributors."

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