PhD scholarship in Biology/Biophysics: Micro MRI during brain inflammation (Germany)

24 janvier 2012 admin Scholarship / Bourses

Ultrahigh field MRI has evolved rapidly over the past decade, feeding new applications across a broad spectrum of clinical and research areas. One of the research highlights of our group is to apply brain inflammation models to study neurodegenerative disorders with an inflammatory component such as multiple sclerosis (MS), not only to further unravel the mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of disease but also to determine the therapeutic potential of novel pharmacological compounds. One MRI development is heteronuclear imaging including fluorine imaging. These techniques promise to open access to functional, metabolic and molecular imaging but also might facilitate targeted tissue characterization, cell tracking and monitoring of the distribution of pharmacological substances in vivo. Ultrahigh Field Fluorine (19F) MRI has as of yet still untapped potential. Making use of the baseline signal-to-noise ratio and sensitivity advantage of ultrahigh magnetic field strengths is conceptually appealing for the pursuit of 19F MRI as it opens the potential to measure 19F at high resolutions non-invasively.

This Phd project aims at applying novel, multi-channel RF antenna technologies (including cryogenically cooled RF devices) to accomplish highly sensitive and resolved microscopic MR imaging ideal for following the evolution of disease (including tracking of pathogenic cells) during brain inflammation. The project will involve a characterization of coils (including in house coils) by phantom experiments and in vivo studies relevant to the field of neuroimmunology on a 9.4 Tesla animal scanner. It would be well suited for highly motivated individuals with a strong interest in medical/experimental imaging.

The program starts on 01.09.2011 for a total duration of 36 months. The working language as well as the doctoral thesis language is English

Requirements for Applicant

Subject Requirements (Qualification)
University Degree in Physics, Biology, Engineering or Chemistry
Background knowledge/experience in MR imaging preferred

Compulsory Attachments

• Curriculum vitae
• Letter of motivation

 Host institution

Stiftung Max-Delbrück-Centrum für Molekulare Medizin (MDC) Berlin-Buch

13125 Berlin

Faculty / Institute
Experimental and Clinical Research Center
Berlin
http://www.mdc-berlin.de/en/ecrc/Research/index.html

Supervisor of the Doctoral Thesis
Herr Prof.Dr.rer.nat Thoralf Niendorf

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