Postdoctoral scholarship (2 years) within Physiological Monitoring and Imaging of Cerebral Fluid Dynamics
Institutionen för Diagnostik och intervention
by
2026-06-10
Scholarship
Umeå,
Sweden
The Department of Diagnostics and Intervention is offering a postdoctoral scholarship within the project 鈥淚dentifying reversible components of dementia in patients with Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus鈥. The scholarship is full-time for two years with access from December at the latest 2026.
Project Description
Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH) is one of the few potentially reversible causes of dementia, yet the condition is often difficult to distinguish from cerebral small vessel disease and other age鈥憆elated disorders. This fellowship addresses whether combined physiological monitoring and advanced MRI can identify hemodynamic and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)鈥搑elated signatures that explain symptom reversibility and predict which patients are likely to benefit from shunt surgery.
Using 4D flow MRI, BOLD鈥慴ased cerebrovascular reactivity imaging, and complementary physiological monitoring, the fellowship holder will have the opportunity to investigate how the regulation of cerebral blood flow interacts with CSF dynamics before and after treatment. The overarching aim is to develop objective markers that improve diagnostics, prognostics, and mechanistic understanding, with relevance for dementia care also beyond the NPH domain.
Within the scope of the fellowship, you will have the opportunity to:
Gain in鈥慸epth expertise in advanced MRI sequences and their application in cerebrovascular research
Participate in method development of quantitative MRI protocols for cerebral blood flow and CSF dynamics, such as 4D flow and reactivity鈥慴ased imaging
Integrate physiological monitoring (e.g. CSF pressure, blood pressure, ECG, oxygen saturation, and end鈥憈idal CO鈧) and signal processing with MRI to elucidate intracranial circulation
Conduct advanced analyses of multimodal data, including modeling of cerebrovascular reactivity and autoregulation and their interaction with CSF circulation
Pursue a translational focus toward clinically relevant markers and decision鈥憇upport tools, with an emphasis on reproducible protocols and potential pathways toward near鈥憄atient implementation
Together with supervisors and collaborators, develop an independent research direction within the theme of reversible versus irreversible mechanisms of dementia, based on your background and emerging project results
Contribute to teaching and supervision at the advanced level within your field of expertise, to the extent relevant to the project and your professional development
Qualifications
To be eligible for a postdoctoral fellowship, the applicant must have been awarded a doctoral degree or a foreign degree deemed equivalent to a doctoral degree. This eligibility requirement must be fulfilled no later than the time the decision on the fellowship recipient is made.
Priority will be given to applicants who obtained their doctoral degree no more than three years prior to the application deadline. Older degrees may be considered if special circumstances apply. Such circumstances include leave due to illness, parental leave, elected positions in trade union organizations, military service or civil defence service, or similar circumstances, as well as clinical service or other service relevant to the field.
The doctoral degree should be in biomedical engineering, medical science, medical physics, applied physics, neuroscience, computer science (with a focus on physiological monitoring or medical imaging), or a closely related discipline.
Additional Requirements
Documented experience with MRI methodology and/or physiological monitoring in humans, preferably within neuroimaging or cerebral circulatory applications
Experience in quantitative data analysis, such as signal processing, modeling, statistics, machine learning, or computational physiology
Excellent ability to communicate research orally and in writing in English
Merits
Experience with one or more of the following methods: 4D flow MRI, phase鈥慶ontrast MRI, cerebrovascular reactivity, autoregulation metrics, quantification of CSF flow, or multimodal MRI analysis pipelines
Demonstrated scientific independence, for example through first authorship, leadership of data analysis, initiation of collaborations, or protocol design
Experience in or interest in broader academic engagement鈥攕uch as doctoral education, research ethics, philosophy of science, responsible use of AI and generative AI, or issues related to equality, diversity, and democracy in academia鈥攊s considered an asset
We are looking for candidates who:
Can formulate and further develop research questions and justify methodological choices
Can structure their own scientific development and make well鈥慺ounded priorities in complex projects
Take initiative to develop, test, and refine quantitative methods
Collaborate constructively within the research group and across disciplines spanning technology, imaging, and clinical practice
Demonstrate strong motivation to build an independent research profile and conduct high鈥憅uality, impactful research
Are motivated to learn, apply, and share knowledge within the group and with collaborators
Application
The application must be written in English or Swedish. All attachments must be submitted in Word or PDF format. The application must be received no later than 10 June 2026.
A complete application must include:
Cover letter (maximum 1鈥2 pages):
Describe how your previous research experience and doctoral training relate to MRI and/or physiological monitoring relevant to cerebral blood flow and CSF dynamics
Provide 1鈥2 examples of independent scientific contributions, such as protocol design, leadership of analyses, first authorship, or method and tool development
Briefly describe which aspects of the fellowship theme (imaging, monitoring, modeling, translation) motivate you most, and how you would shape the research direction during the first year
A certified copy of the doctoral degree certificate, or documentation indicating the expected date of degree completion
Certified copies of other academic degrees, a list of completed academic courses, and transcripts
Curriculum vitae (CV), including a publication list
Contact information for two individuals willing to provide references