PhD student Rehabilitation Sciences: auditory-motor coupling in multiple sclerosis

OPPORTUNITY DETAILS

Total reward

0 $

State University

Hasselt University

Area

Western Europe

Host Country

Belgium

Deadline

22 Feb 2021

Study level

Doctoral Degree

Opportunity type

PhD

Specialities

Medicine , Biology

Opportunity funding

Not funding

Eligible Countries

This opportunity is destined for all countries

Eligible Region

All Regions

Background
The PhD position is part of a granted FWO project to supervisor prof. dr. Peter Feys belonging to the REVAL Rehabilitation Research group. REVAL is an interdisciplinary and translational research group which performs research in the domains of pediatric, neurologic and musculoskeletal rehabilitation, biomechanics, health psychology, mental health care and rehabilitation of internal diseases. See https://www.uhasselt.be/UH/fac-revalidatiewetenschappen/nl-Faculteiten-Onderzoek/REVAL-rehabilitation-research
The topic is related to neurorehabilitation, specifically auditory-motor coupling during walking in progressive type of multiple sclerosis (MS).
This PhD project will be performed in collaboration with the Institute of psychoacoustics and electronic music - Ghent University, Belgium (prof. dr. Marc Leman); and for part of the project: Neuropsychology department – Maastricht university, the Netherlands (prof. dr. Sonja Kotz). The research will be conducted in the clinical centers in Belgium: Noorderhart Pelt (MS and Rehabilitation Center) and the national MS Center Melsbroek, besides REVAL.

Job content
This is an interdisciplinary project merging the disciplines of neurological rehabilitation sciences, musicology and neurosciences. The PhD will focus on auditory-motor coupling in patients with progressive type of MS. To do so, you will work with the application of auditory-motor paradigms (walking to auditory stimuli) on patients with progressive multiple sclerosis. You will investigate the precision of patients with progressive MS to synchronise their steps to changing beats in music and metronomes compared to healthy controls. You will also investigate how beats are perceived and entrained in the brain using electroencephalography (EEG) during tapping and walking to auditory tasks. In addition, you will investigate if providing music or beat adaptations depending on one’s walking pattern would have positive effects on fatigability and gait dynamics in patients with progressive MS.
You will follow the rules and guidelines of the ‘doctoral school’ of Hasselt University.

Profile

Offer
You will be appointed and paid as PhD student.
Position for 2 years. After positive evaluation one time extendable with 2 years.Positon at Hasselt University.You will be supported by experienced researchers within an expert interdisciplinary network.

Selection procedure
You can only apply online up to and including 22 February 2021.
The selection procedure consists of a preselection based on application file and an interview.
A presentation or assignment is a possibility.

Further information
dr. Lousin MOUMDJIAN, +32-11-269371, lousin.moumdjian@uhasselt.be
Prof. dr. Peter FEYS, +32-11-292123, peter.feys@uhasselt.be

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