Understanding the Neurobiology of Parkinson's and related diseases

Background

The world-leading Parkinson's and Related Diseases Research Group based at the Brain and Mind Centre in the University of Sydney is providing an exciting opportunity for a PhD student scholarship. This Scholarship has been established to provide financial assistance to a PhD student who is undertaking research in a project to understand the mechanisms, develop novel biomarkers and disease-modifying or symptomatic treatment modalities for patients suffering from Lewy body related diseases including Parkinson's disease and Dementia with Lewy bodies. The project involves the assessment of patients with isolated Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behaviour Disorder (iRBD) and Prodromal Dementia with Lewy Bodies groups including those people with Mild Cognitive Impairment and coexistent iRBD; Unexplained Delirium; and Late Onset Psychosis. The student will be able to acquire research skills across clinical and neuropsychological assessment, neuroimaging (including structural and functional MRI), neurophysiological variables (including gait mat, electroencephalography and deep brain stimulation recordings). To see more about the work that we do check out: http://www.profsimonlewis.com/category/my-work/.

Benefits

The Scholarship will provide a stipend allowance of AUD$35,000 per annum for up to three years, subject to satisfactory academic performance.

The Scholarship will be offered subject to the availability of funding.

Who's eligible for this Scholarship

You must:

*Have an unconditional offer of admission or being currently enrolled to study full-time in a PhD within the Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University of Sydney.

*Be a domestic student or self-fund the University of Sydney's overseas PhD tuition fees (around AUD$50,000/year).

*Hold an undergraduate degree in one of the following fields:

i. science, ii. neuroscience, iii. medical science or medicine, iv. psychology, v. physiology, v. biomedical engineering, vii. allied health sciences, or viii. another related field.

*Have strong interpersonal skills and knowledge of basic statistics.

*Be willing to conduct research into a project to understand the neurobiology of Parkinson's and related diseases.