Post-doc position in Developmental Clinical Neuroscience / Computational Psychiatry of ADHD

The Neuroscience in Developmental Psychiatry Lab at the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University Hospital Würzburg

invites applications for a

Postdoctoral Fellow E13 TV-L 100% (f/m/d), 3 years

The candidate will work in the developmental computational psychiatry project ‘Neurocomputational reinforcement learning models of reward learning and cognition in childhood ADHD: effects of methylphenidate treatment and relation to treatment response’ (funded by the German Research Foundation, DFG), as part of the Neuroscience in Developmental Psychiatry Lab, University Hospital Würzburg (PI: Prof. Lorenz Deserno). The candidate will work in Würzburg under the direct supervision of Lorenz Deserno.

Methylphenidate (MPH) is the first-line pharmacological treatment in childhood Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). However, 20-30% of the patients do not respond to MPH treatment and 30-50% experience only partial remission. Delineating the neurobehavioral correlates of MPH treatment, and their relation to the variability in treatment response, may both further our understanding of the broad neurobehavioral aberrations present in ADHD and facilitate treatment outcome prediction in the future.

The neurocomputational framework of reinforcement learning advanced insight to how monoaminergic drugs, including MPH, shape neurocognitive functioning in healthy individuals. Despite the availability of such computational probes, investigations on MPH treatment effects in childhood ADHD have not yet made use of these methodological advancements.

The present project aims to address how MPH treatment in childhood ADHD impacts the interplay of reward learning and cognitive performance and whether this relates to differences in MPH treatment response. Experiments will be conducted during functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) and Electroencephalography (EEG) and will be analyzed with computational models of reinforcement learning.

This post-doc position is ideal for candidates with a strong interest in clinical applications of Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience and enthusiasm for interdisciplinary clinical research (“Computational Psychiatry”). The project is funded by a grant from the German Research Foundation (DFG) to Lorenz Deserno. The candidate will be based in Würzburg.

Your Tasks:

• Preparing and conducting behavioural experiments in children, adolescents and adults and in children and adolescents with ADHD
• Analysing experimental behavioural data with a variety of methods including a focus on computational models of reinforcement learning
• Analysing neural data, fMRI and/or EEG, based on reinforcement learning models
• Preparing manuscripts and presenting results at conferences
• Exchange within a collaborative and interdisciplinary team including clinicians at our local clinical services to facilitate patient recruitment. Prof. Deserno has the clinical lead of the ADHD outpatient service

Your profile:

• PhD in Psychology, Neuroscience, Cognitive Science, Computer Science, Medicine, or related disciplines (or shortly before completion)
• Experience with task-based functional MRI or EEG; ideally in model-based or computational neuroimaging
• Experience in conducting and analysing behavioural experimental data (e.g. mixed effects models)
• Keen interest to learn (or ideally existing experience with) computational modelling of behavioural data (e.g. reinforcement learning) data analysis
• Existing programming skills in Matlab, R or Python etc.
• Keen interest in experimental approaches to study complex human behaviour
• Interest to achieve clinical insight with cognitive neuroscience / computational psychiatry methods
• An additional background in clinical psychology, psychotherapy or psychiatry is not required but could be plus

We offer you:

• Working in a friendly and interdisciplinary team (psychologists, neuroscientist, medical doctors) who use computational psychiatry approaches to understand clinical phenomena with regard to the development of mental health problems.
• Close scientific supervision by an enthusiastic project leader
• Arranging for flexible working hours to find a balance between work as well as private or family life

Disabled people are explicitly encouraged to apply.

The successful candidate will be part of a dynamic research team that values curiosity and team spirit. Our research group has access to an excellent research infrastructure (behavioural and online testing, EEG, MRI, computing resources) and is well integrated into the local, national and international research community. We value diversity in terms of ethnicity, gender identity or expression, disability, internationality, and other characteristics. Our goal is to optimally promote the professional development of all members.

We kindly ask you to apply until July 29, 2024 via https://karriere.ukw.de/en/jobs/10557/post-doctoral-research-fellow-job-... and look forward to receiving your complete application including a cover letter with a brief summary of research interests and motivation, full CV, and the names of two persons who would be willing to provide references.

Planned starting date is October 1st 2024.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to Lorenz Deserno (deserno_l@ukw.de) with questions!