[visionlist] PhD position | Department of Cognitive Neuroscience | Maastricht University

[Jan Kurzawski]

PhD position


Creating a probabilistic retinotopic laminar atlas of the LGN as a target for a visual prosthesis.


Are you interested to investigate the detailed organization of the human lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) using ultra-high field MRI? Do you want to contribute to the creation of a novel visual prosthesis for the late blind? Then join the ZonMw-funded project 'EVISIION' as a PhD student.

While there is progress in developing visual prostheses for the blind in the visual pathways, especially in primary visual cortex, coverage of large parts of the visual field remains a challenge. The ZonMw project "EVISION: Electronic neuroprosthesis for VISION restoration " aims to overcome this issue by targeting the LGN, the deep brain structure that provides input to the visual cortex. The LGN has full coverage of the contralateral hemifield in a small volume (~120 mm3 ), making it a promising target for a visual prosthesis. Before implanting a visual LGN prosthesis in humans, high-resolution LGN data is needed to optimally guide the surgical placement of electrodes. EVISION consists of two parts: 1) the development of a high-resolution laminar retinotopic fMRI atlas of the human LGN headed by Prof. Rainer Goebel, and 2) the development and implantation of the actual prosthesis in animals and later humans headed by Prof. Pieter Roelfsema (Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Amsterdam). The available position is for part 1. Your work in this sub-project involves mapping the laminar and retinotopic organization of the LGN in about 30 people using anatomical and functional 7 Tesla MRI. Your data will be used to create a probabilistic LGN atlas. Besides of its value for the neuroimaging community, the created porbabilistic atlas will serve as guidance for the implantation of a future LGN prosthesis in humans.

More details are available here <https://www.academictransfer.com/en/343314/phd-position-department-of-cognitive-neuroscience/>

Are you interested in this exciting PhD position but still have questions? Feel free to contact Prof. Dr. Rainer Goebel via r.goebel at maastrichtuniversity.nl for more information.


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