PhD Student (M/F) in Advanced Brain Imaging using Diffusion MRI

Job Description

Thesis Subject

Advanced diffusion MRI is undergoing major growth with the development of parametric imaging techniques for brain microstructure, opening new perspectives for the diagnosis and prognosis of neuropathologies through more specific and earlier biomarkers.
This PhD project aims to develop and implement the methodology needed to produce high-quality parametric maps describing the microstructure of brain white and grey matter. The candidate will optimize the high-sensitivity, high-resolution 3D diffusion MRI method developed by Dr Bassem Hiba's team (Tounekti et al., NeuroImage, 2018; Bihan-Poudec et al., Imaging Neuroscience, 2023; Crombé et al., Scientific Reports, 2022), on a preclinical 7 Tesla scanner dedicated to small-animal imaging.
Advanced in vivo data will be acquired in rodents using protocols exploiting variations in water diffusivity encoding, in order to better characterize tissue microstructure. The PhD student will then carry out data pre-processing and modeling using state-of-the-art algorithms, with the aim of extracting robust, specific microstructural biomarkers of white and grey matter.
This work sits at the interface of medical physics, signal processing, and neuroscience, and will lead to scientific publications and presentations at international conferences.

Your Work Environment

The PhD will take place within the ISC-MJ Laboratory of Excellence (CNRS) in Lyon, in Dr Bassem Hiba's team, which specializes in MRI methodology. The research environment is strongly multidisciplinary, at the interface of advanced MRI sequence development, brain imaging data processing and modeling, and neurobiology.
Experimental work will be carried out on a very-high-field (7T) preclinical MRI scanner located at the CERMEP technology platform in Lyon, equipped for small-animal imaging. Data processing will be performed on a dedicated computing cluster, enabling advanced analysis and modeling of MRI signals. This environment offers a stimulating setting at the crossroads of cutting-edge imaging technologies and fundamental questions in biomedical research.
This research project is funded by the French National Research Agency (ANR) and relies on a consortium of complementary partners: teams specializing in biology, responsible for the in vivo validation of results, and teams specializing in numerical simulation, responsible for developing a numerical model of brain microstructure. The PhD student will work closely with these partners throughout the thesis.

Constraints and risks

• Animal experimentation in rodents
• Work in the MRI environment (intense magnetic field)
• Constraints related to MRI equipment availability (shared acquisition time slots)

Compensation and benefits

Compensation

2300 € gross monthly

Annual leave and RTT

44 jours

Remote Working practice and compensation

Pratique et indemnisation du TT

Transport

Prise en charge à 75% du coût et forfait mobilité durable jusqu’à 300€

About the offer

About the CNRS

The CNRS is a major player in fundamental research on a global scale. The CNRS is the only French organization active in all scientific fields. Its unique position as a multi-specialist allows it to bring together different disciplines to address the most important challenges of the contemporary world, in connection with the actors of change.

CNRS

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