About the Project
Applicants are sought to join my laboratory, focused on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to investigate the mind-body interface in ageing and disease. A fundamental research question is, ‘how do various MRI signals relate to tissue biology and microstructure?’ This is crucial in applying MRI to disease diagnosis and monitoring.
In this studentship, multimodal MRI, corroborative histology and metal mapping data will be interrogated by state-of-the-art machine learning methods to ‘learn’ the combination of quantitative MRI methods that best estimates myelin for translation in vivo. Uniquely, the Student will construct MRI sensors with our industrial partner, PulseTeq Ltd, to image brain tissue at near microscopic resolutions at 9.4 Tesla.
Myelin is the ‘insulator’ to our nerve fibers, not only protecting nerve fibers but also enabling nerve impulses to travel rapidly. Not much myelin is present at birth, but myelination progresses rapidly during childhood. Myelination is essential for normal neurodevelopment and myelin is damaged in diseases such as multiple sclerosis. Thus, it is vital to visualize myelin in the body, and this Studentship seeks to determine a panel of MRI techniques that best images myelin.
The project is very much multidisciplinary in nature, requiring a highly motivated and enthusiastic graduate with experience in physics, maths, engineering, computer-science and/or related disciplines. The student will be expected to build on their existing experience, develop their potential and acquire new skills. The studentship is in partnership with PulseTeq Ltd (a manufacturer of MRI coils), and will provide opportunities to gain wider business-related as well as scientific training.
The studentship will be based in the Department of Neuroimaging, Denmark Hill Campus, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King’s College London. It will be a collaboration with the Department of Biomedical Engineering, St Thomas’ Hospital, King’s College London.
https://preview-kcl.cloud.contensis.com/ioppn/study/prospective-students/programmes-of-study/pgr/fundedresearchopportunities/PhD-PWS-BBSRC-PT-2017.aspx
Funding Notes
A 4-year full-time PhD studentship with industrial collaboration funded by the BBSRC, with a full stipend including funding for tuition fees (at ‘home rates’ only), laboratory expenses and conference attendance. Please note the studentship is for Home students only, for full details please visit the BBSRC website: http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/documents/studentship-eligibility-pdf/
Applicants should have a 2:1 or 1st class honours degree in a subject relevant to the proposed project. If applicants already possess a research-based MSc degree, a merit or distinction level is required.
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