at Umeå center for Functional Brain Imaging (UFBI) and related institutes/labs.
Projektet undersöker hur hjärnans GABA-system bidrar till regleringen av funktionella hjärnnätverk och kognitiv funktion genom vuxenlivet och åldrandet. Studien omfattar friska deltagare i åldern 30–90 år och kombinerar kognitiv testning, blodprovstagning och samtidig PET/MR-avbildning för att undersöka samband mellan GABA-signalering, hjärnans nätverksdynamik och kognitiv prestationsförmåga. Projektet syftar också till att öka förståelsen för varför kognitiv funktion bevaras hos vissa individer under åldrandet, medan andra uppvisar försämring eller tidiga tecken på neurodegenerativa förändringar.
Arbetsuppgifter
Projektassistenten kommer att arbeta nära forskningsgruppen och bidra till datainsamling samt det praktiska genomförandet av projektet. Arbetsuppgifterna omfattar:
Se hela annonsen:
Sista ansökningsdag: 8 juni 2026.
The Learning and Plasticity (LEaP) Lab research focus lied in the use of ultra-high field MRI to investigate rapid structural brain plasticity during learning. We are seeking a Research Engineer to join our team. The position involves the development and optimization of analysis pipelines for ultra-high-field structural and functional MRI data.
Main responsibilities include:
- Development and maintenance of MRI preprocessing and analysis pipelines (structural, functional, and diffusion MRI)
- Adaptation and validation of methods for ultra-high-field (> 7 T) MRI
- Implementation of automated workflows using Python and relevant neuroimaging toolboxes (e.g., FSL, SPM, Nilearn, SUITPy, Nighres)
- Contributing to the interpretation and quality control of neuroimaging data in the context of neuroanatomy and neurophysiology
- Collaborating with researchers and contributing to scientific publications and grant reporting
Required Qualifications
A university degree (master's level or higher) in a relevant field such as medical physics, biomedical engineering, neuroscience, or equivalent is required. Applicants must have demonstrable experience with MRI data acquisition and/or analysis, and strong programming skills in Python. Excellent communication skills, written and spoken, in English are necessary since we work in an international environment.
Last date of application: June 8 2026
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More information about our projects can be found here:
The Department of Clinical Science, Unit of Psychiatry, at Umeå University invites applications for a two‑year postdoctoral scholarship within the project Genetic Risk Profiles and Inflammatory Biomarkers in Cognitive Aging and Dementia. The position is expected to start on 15 August 2026, or as agreed. The application deadline is 15 June 2026. The scholarship constitutes an educational award and does not represent an employment position.
Project Description
Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive aging are strongly influenced by genetic factors and biological aging processes, in which inflammation plays a central role. The aim of the project is to improve understanding of how genetically defined biological risk profiles influence cognitive aging and dementia development, with a specific focus on peripheral inflammatory biomarkers.
Using data from the population‑based longitudinal Betula cohort study, the project integrates genetic analyses with protein‑based biomarkers (proteomics) from two assessment waves ten years apart, cognitive data covering up to 25 years of follow‑up, and dementia diagnoses (approximately 1,700 participants with GWAS data, of whom about 1,000 also have proteomics data). The project further includes neuroimaging data, including fMRI and PET imaging. A central objective is to identify genetically defined subgroups with distinct disease mechanisms, which may contribute to the development of individualized preventive strategies.
The project involves close collaborations with researchers at the Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, where the principal investigator is also affiliated, as well as researchers at Umeå University associated with the Betula project and the Umeå Center for Functional Brain Imaging (UFBI). The scholarship holder will therefore have access to a broad national research network within neuroscience, genetics, biomarker research, and aging epidemiology.
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The Opportunity
We are seeking an exceptional postdoctoral scholar to join the Yassa Lab and co-compete for the Hewitt Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship (application in July 2026). The George Hewitt Foundation for Biomedical Research’s Postdoctoral Fellowship provides a fully funded three-year appointment with a competitive salary, benefits, and dedicated travel and research funds. Position is contingent upon fellowship award. This is not a standard postdoc posting. We are looking for a unique candidate – someone with a demonstrated track record of high-impact, first-author publications, superior technical command, and the drive to publish at an extraordinary pace. If you are the kind of scientist who thrives under pressure, moves fast without cutting corners, and wants to make a measurable dent in our understanding of the brain, read on.
What You'll Work On
The lab focuses on the neurobiology of learning, memory, aging, and neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative illness. You will work with large, deeply phenotyped datasets spanning structural MRI, resting-state and task fMRI, diffusion imaging, PET, EEG, multiomics fluid biomarker data, and extensive neuropsychological and cognitive assessments. Projects are organized around cross-functional teams and emphasize translational impact — connecting basic circuit-level mechanisms to biomarkers and clinical outcomes in neurodegenerative, neuropsychiatric, and related disorders.
Who You Are
Required qualifications:
- Ph.D. in neuroscience, biomedical engineering, computer science, or a related quantitative field
- Multiple first-author publications in peer-reviewed journals demonstrating exceptional writing ability
- Advanced expertise in functional neuroimaging (resting-state connectivity, task fMRI analysis, network neuroscience approaches)
- Strong programming skills in Python, R, and/or MATLAB, with demonstrated facility in building reproducible analysis pipelines
- Hands-on experience applying AI/ML methods to neuroimaging or large-scale biomedical datasets
- Comfort working with large datasets and high-performance computing environments
Strongly preferred:
- Experience with diffusion imaging, EEG, or PET
- Background in graph theory / network neuroscience
- Familiarity with signal processing, bioinformatics, or computational modeling
- Interest in or experience with clinical/translational research in neuropsychiatric or neurodegenerative populations
- Track record of fellowship or grant writing (e.g., F31 NRSA, or equivalent)
The person, not just the CV:
- Self-directed, relentlessly productive, and energized by hard problems
- Collaborative and generous with colleagues
- Resilient in the face of rejection and capable of absorbing tough feedback
- Humble enough to be wrong, confident enough to lead
- Fun to be around.
What We Offer
- State-of-the-art equipment: 3T Siemens Prisma, 9.4T Bruker (rodent), Siemens Biograph Vision PET/CT, simultaneous fMRI/EEG, dedicated hybrid HPC cluster (CPU + GPU)
- A deeply collaborative, high-output team environment
- Active mentoring toward career development awards (K01, K99/R00) and independent faculty and industry scientist positions
- A lab culture that is rigorous, irreverent, and genuinely enjoyable
Application Process
This is a highly competitive position. The selection process involves multiple stages:
1. Initial application — Submit the following to Dr. Michael Yassa (myassa@uci.edu): - Cover letter with a detailed interest statement articulating your research vision and fit with the lab
- Full CV including a complete publication list
- Three letters of recommendation, one of which must be from your doctoral advisor and should specifically address the qualifications listed above
2. Interviews — Shortlisted candidates will participate in multiple rounds of interviews with the PI and lab members to assess scientific depth, interpersonal fit, and alignment with lab values.
3. Data analysis challenge — Finalists will complete a 72-hour timed data analysis project using a publicly available neuroimaging dataset. This exercise is designed to evaluate your technical capabilities in resting-state fMRI connectivity analysis and machine learning/classification approaches under realistic working conditions. Detailed instructions will be provided at the start of the challenge window.
The selected finalist will be nominated for the fellowship opportunity and will prepare a 2-page research statement in collaboration with Dr. Yassa. Review of applications begins immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Given the July 2026 Hewitt Fellowship deadline, early application is strongly encouraged.
About the Lab
The Yassa Lab is a high-output, team-driven research environment. We work on hard problems with urgency. We hold each other to the highest standards of rigor and honesty. We also laugh a lot, share meals, and genuinely enjoy one another's company. If that sounds like your kind of place, we want to hear from you.
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at the Department of Applied Physics and Electronics.
We are recruiting a PhD student in Applied Physics with Specialization in Biomedical Engineering and Neuroscience. The project aims to develop and apply advanced imaging approaches to study brain maintenance and resilience across the lifespan, with applications towards aging and dementia.
The project is part of the activities within the Umeå University priority research area Learning and Brain Plasticity throughout the Lifespan. A central goal within this initiative is to understand why some individuals maintain cognitive function and brain health during aging whereas others develop cognitive decline and neurodegenerative disease. Despite major advances in neuroscience, important mechanisms underlying maintained brain function remain poorly understood.
Last date of application: June 17 2026