Description:

The Department of Neurology at Jena University Hospital offers a PhD position for a Doctoral Candidate (DC)/MSCA fellow for the project: Development of a regional normative BrainAGE model for morphometric measures . The position is part of the EU-funded Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Network MenoBrain "Brain Health in Menopausal Women” with full-time employment for a duration of 3 years, starting in February 2026.

Objective of the project: BrainAGE is a machine learning-based biomarker that estimates biological brain age using MRI scans. DC1 will extend this framework to regional normative models using Bayesian regression and Generalized Additive Model for Location, Scale and Shape (GAMLSS) to derive age- and region-specific reference distributions (centiles) and individual deviation scores. This combined approach enables the sensitive detection of menopause-related ageing patterns and quantification of intervention effects on brain ageing trajectories. Work includes multi-site morphometry, scanner harmonization, model comparison and external validation.

Requirements for the applicant: We expect a Master´s degree (or equivalent) in Psychology, Mathematics, Computer Science, Neuroscience, Physics or a related field. Candidates should have strong skills in machine learning and statistics and experience with Gaussian process regression and/or probabilistic regression. Experience with normative modelling is an advantage. Programming skills (Python, C/C++) and experience with MRI morphometry are desirable.

Furthermore, the applicant should be able to work both independently and in a team. Very good language skills in English are required.

MSCA eligibility (must-have): At the time of recruitment, candidates must be in the first four years of their research career, must not hold a doctoral degree, and must not have resided in Germany or carried out their main activity (work or study) there for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately prior to the recruitment date.

What we offer: We offer a fully funded MSCA fellowship with network-wide training weeks, summer schools, international conference participation, and interdisciplinary training through secondments (Barcelona, Oslo). The candidate will join a multidisciplinary research team focusing on quantifying brain anatomy and classification of its changes, particularly in normal ageing and the early stages of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease.

Selection process: Send one PDF (motivation letter; CV incl. publications; degree certificates with grades; list of relevant courses; names and e-mail addresses of two referees ) to menobrain@med.uni-jena.de

Applications that do not meet the profile and/or the above criteria cannot be considered. Priority will be given to applications received before 30 November 2025.

For more information about the research project, please contact Prof. Dr. Christian Gaser (email: Christian.Gaser@uni-jena.de ).