PhD in Neuropsychology and Virtual Reality (deadline for applications: 25 Sept 2019)
Professors Martin Edwards and Thierry Lejeune of the Université catholique de Louvain seek a PhD student to work in an innovative collaborative project that aims to develop a home-based virtual reality serious game treatment for people with Stroke / AVC. This ground-breaking project will not only improve the lives of people with Stroke / AVC, but the research will add to our understanding of how to promote and predict home-based motor and attention relearning. The project is funded by the Wallonie Region of Belgium and made in collaboration with the company Axinesis (https://www.axinesis.com). The project involves a programmer and two PhD students, one specialising in physical medicine and one specialising in neuropsychology. The call here is for the PhD in neuropsychology.
The PhD will be co-promoted by Professors Martin Edwards and Thierry Lejeune, and include at least one other member in the PhD support committee. The project is fully funded for three years, with the candidate receiving a competitive full-time salary (at the level of research assistant). The candidate will also receive support funds for the running of the project and for attendance to international conferences for research presentations.
The candidate will receive research-specific and transferable skill training, including research management, advanced statistics, presentation and academic writing skills. There will also be an opportunity to learn Unity programming for virtual reality serious game development and / or to develop skills in predictive brain imaging analyses.
The research environment at the Université catholique de Louvain is excellent. In the Psychology Faculty, there are over 100 PhD students, many of which are based in the cognitive neuroscience domain. There are multiple group meetings each week where you can share your ideas and receive support. The candidate will receive a shared office (with the other Psy-NAPS group PhD students), a permanent desk and storage spaces, a computer, telephone etc., and access to shared laboratory facilities.
The candidate must have a bachelor’s and master’s degree, with the master’s in Neuropsychology, Cognitive Neuroscience or Research. The candidate must also be able to communicate in French and in English. Experience related to the project will be an advantage. This is an open call (with no pre-selected or preferred candidate).
To apply, send a covering letter explaining your motivation for the PhD (2 pages max), your CV (3 pages max), the names of two contacts that I can contact to provide a letter of reference and a PDF copy of your academic transcripts / grades. Send these documents to Martin Edwards (martin.edwards@uclouvain.be) for the deadline of 25th September 2019 (17.00 / 5pm). We will hold first interviews within the week (either by teleconference or physical presence), and we aim to start the position in mid-October 2019. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to email me; Martin Edwards (martin.edwards@uclouvain.be).
The PhD will be co-promoted by Professors Martin Edwards and Thierry Lejeune, and include at least one other member in the PhD support committee. The project is fully funded for three years, with the candidate receiving a competitive full-time salary (at the level of research assistant). The candidate will also receive support funds for the running of the project and for attendance to international conferences for research presentations.
The candidate will receive research-specific and transferable skill training, including research management, advanced statistics, presentation and academic writing skills. There will also be an opportunity to learn Unity programming for virtual reality serious game development and / or to develop skills in predictive brain imaging analyses.
The research environment at the Université catholique de Louvain is excellent. In the Psychology Faculty, there are over 100 PhD students, many of which are based in the cognitive neuroscience domain. There are multiple group meetings each week where you can share your ideas and receive support. The candidate will receive a shared office (with the other Psy-NAPS group PhD students), a permanent desk and storage spaces, a computer, telephone etc., and access to shared laboratory facilities.
The candidate must have a bachelor’s and master’s degree, with the master’s in Neuropsychology, Cognitive Neuroscience or Research. The candidate must also be able to communicate in French and in English. Experience related to the project will be an advantage. This is an open call (with no pre-selected or preferred candidate).
To apply, send a covering letter explaining your motivation for the PhD (2 pages max), your CV (3 pages max), the names of two contacts that I can contact to provide a letter of reference and a PDF copy of your academic transcripts / grades. Send these documents to Martin Edwards (martin.edwards@uclouvain.be) for the deadline of 25th September 2019 (17.00 / 5pm). We will hold first interviews within the week (either by teleconference or physical presence), and we aim to start the position in mid-October 2019. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to email me; Martin Edwards (martin.edwards@uclouvain.be).
PhD and Fellowship opportunities at the Université catholique de Louvain
In Belgium, funding for PhD and Postdoctoral Research Fellowships can be made directly to the candidate. These positions are well funded (between €1500 and €2100 a month after tax) and usually come with a generous support package (e.g., for the purchase of small equipment, participant payment or funding conference expenses; usually around €1500 each year). The usual length for funding is 4 years for PhD, and 1-3 years for research fellowships.
If you are interested in experimental cognitive psychology, neuropsychology, perception and action, or imagery and observation, and you would like to join the Psy-NAPS group at the Université catholique de Louvain, please send an email to Martin Edwards (Martin.Edwards@UCLouvain.be).
In your email, describe what research you would like to do, and why working in the Psy-NAPS lab would help you to achieve your aims. Please also include a CV. Please note that there is much competition for funding. For PhD funding, you must have a 120 credit masters degree in a relevant subject, and with the classification of 'grande distinction' (or equivalent). For research fellow funding, you must have submitted your PhD thesis in a relevant subject, and you must have published at least one paper in an international peer-reviewed scientific journal. Please note that if you want to do research in neuropsychology, you must be able to speak in French. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email me. Many thanks for your interest. Martin Edwards.
If you are interested in experimental cognitive psychology, neuropsychology, perception and action, or imagery and observation, and you would like to join the Psy-NAPS group at the Université catholique de Louvain, please send an email to Martin Edwards (Martin.Edwards@UCLouvain.be).
In your email, describe what research you would like to do, and why working in the Psy-NAPS lab would help you to achieve your aims. Please also include a CV. Please note that there is much competition for funding. For PhD funding, you must have a 120 credit masters degree in a relevant subject, and with the classification of 'grande distinction' (or equivalent). For research fellow funding, you must have submitted your PhD thesis in a relevant subject, and you must have published at least one paper in an international peer-reviewed scientific journal. Please note that if you want to do research in neuropsychology, you must be able to speak in French. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email me. Many thanks for your interest. Martin Edwards.
The Université catholique de Louvain
The Université catholique de Louvain was founded in 1425. In 1968, the university split in two, forming the Dutch-language "Katholieke Universiteit Leuven" (KULeuven) which stayed in Leuven, and the French-language "Université catholique de Louvain" (UCLouvain), which moved to what is now known as Louvain-la-Neuve (New Leuven). The two universities more and more work closer together, driven by an international outlook. The new town of Louvain-la-Neuve was created by architects, engineers and academics. The concept was to build a utopia. The campus university is fully pedestrian, with roads, carparks, trains etc. all underground. The university is mixed, with academic buildings containing shops, restaurants and apartments. For example, in the picture below of the Grande Place, the buildings from left to right are a lecture theatre, a cinema, a conference centre, the library, and then the Psychology faculty, containing a restaurant, shops and apartments. The town has many non-student residents. In all, there are 30k students, 8k PhD students and 10k non student inhabitants.
Click on the links below to see videos about how life is in Belgium
Below, I have linked to pictures of Louvain-la-Neuve, where the university is based
Click on the links below to see videos about how life is in Belgium
- An excellent aerial view of the university
- This shows the region of Belgium where the Université de catholique is situated : Movie
- A video for the creation of the university : Louvain-la-Neuve fête 40 ans
- A promotion video for Brussels : VisitBrussels
- A video about Brussels : The Louise Night 2012: " This Is Belgium!"
- An example of the building light shows : Fête de la BD Bruxelles 2011
- The controversial 2012 Brussels Christmas tree : Abies Electronicus Brussels - note that there is a Christmas tree every year in the Grande Place of Brussels. In 2012, the Grande Place was filled with loud speakers and the tree performed a light show in time with music. My favourite part is where the town hall was lit with the white lights (see here for an amateur movie). It was controversial as it was not very Christmas-y, and a lot of conservative people were upset. However, for me, this tree represents everything that I love about Belgium and the Belgians. This is the 2018 show (for comparison).
- Free each year, The iris festival
- Brussels Royal Greenhouses of Laeken
- The Brussels flower carpet : Tapis de Fleurs de Bruxelles
- Brussels for comics
- Brussels for good food
- Brussels Mania
- Views of Brussels
- Brussels Tourism
- Food videos from Brusselicious : The Brussels sprout / The Praline / The Mussel / The chicory
Below, I have linked to pictures of Louvain-la-Neuve, where the university is based