Postdoctoral position; PI: Pr Philippe DOMENECH; Available starting Dec 2024 for 18 months (extension possible up to 3 years).
Applications are invited for a postdoctoral position to develop and implement machine learning augmented fast scan voltammetric recordings in neuropsychiatric clinical populations at the Neuromodulation Institute. This innovative technique uses electrochemical recordings and machine learning algorithms to decipher neurotransmitter concentrations in biological tissues and their changes over time. It can be used in a wide array of cognitive contexts, such as decision-making, learning or exploration. The application of this technique to humans is still rare, as it is only used in a few centers worldwide, with which our team has already established collaborations.
Initially, the candidate will test in vitro the feasibility of these recordings with different kinds of electrodes used in different clinical contexts: optimization of stimulation patterns, optimization of machine learning algorithms used for decoding… In a second phase, the candidate will contribute to the transfer of this technology for application in a clinical environment, on human patients. This phase will cover some hardware development, data acquisition and application of the analysis pipelines previously established. Finally, candidates with a strong background in computational neurosciences interested in studying the relationship between monoamine and cognitive function will be invited to develop a project in line with Pr Domenech’s research program, which focuses on decision-making, learning, strategic inference and exploration…. Because the project is multicentric and takes place in several Paris area’s clinical departments, in contact with care teams and patients, good communication skills and some flexibility in terms of schedule and traveling is a must. The project will be carried out in close collaboration with the Institute’s technicians, engineers and researchers, as well as with international teams involved in the development of human voltammetry.
Training requirement : PhD and/or postdoc in computational/cognitive neuroscience. A prior experience with monkey electrophysiology and/or direct human brain recordings is a plus. The candidate must also have working knowledge of neurophysiology, experimental psychology, statistics and ML, signal processing, excellent programming skills (e.g. Python, Matlab, R, Julia …) and a practical experience of setting up electrophysiology experiments.
Salary will be commensurate with experience and qualifications according to INSERM scales.
The Computational Brain Team, led by Dr Florent Meyniel, lies at the interface between basic research in computational decision-making neuroscience and clinical research in neuropsychiatry (“Cognitive Neuroscience Lab” UNICOG; INSERM-CEA; led by Pr S. Dehaene). The team is part of the Neuromodulation Institute (GHU Paris, Psychiatrie et Neurosciences; Université Paris Cité; led by Pr P. Domenech), which is located at the heart of the Hôpital Saint-Anne in the center of Paris. Its overall goal is to develop and propose innovative treatments such as new neuromodulation techniques for psychiatric disorders that are resistant to conventional treatments. This dual affiliation gives us access to numerous research platforms such as high-field MRIs, EEG/MEG or human intracranial recordings, to different models of brain dysfunction in psychiatric pathologies, and to causal interventions such as neuromodulation techniques (TMS, TUS, DBS, VNS…).
Contact : Application should include a motivation letter (mandatory), a CV and recommendation letters.
Application can be sent to :
philippe[dot]domenech[AT]ghu-paris[dot]fr
anne[dot]buot[AT]ghu-paris[dot]fr