Positions in EU Collaborative Project IMAGEMEND

The IMAGEMEND project "IMAging GEnetics for MENtal Disorders“ aims to develop individualised diagnostic and therapeutic tools based on large imaging genetics and neuroimaging data sets. Brain Innovation will be involved to develop advanced pattern classification tools for available "big" data sets and the development of dedicated neurofeedback training tools.

Project Abstract

Mental disorders are leading causes of disability, absence from work and premature retirement in Europe. While magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) facilities are broadly available and a vast research literature exists, few neuroimaging applications have reached clinical practice in psychiatry. A major problem is that mental illnesses are currently diagnosed as discrete entities defined clinically. Instead, recent results show that mental disorders are best understood as quantitative alterations in neural systems relevant across traditional diagnostic boundaries that reflect individual, genetic and environmental risk factors. In the IMAGEMEND consortium, we aim to discover these systems to identify the patient characteristics most relevant for treatment, derive biomarkers and decision rules from this systems-level dimensional account, and systematically validate biomarker panels in patient, high-risk and epidemiological samples to produce automated imaging-based diagnostic and predictive tests tailored for wide distribution throughout Europe in standard clinical settings. Focusing on schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder, we have assembled Europe’s largest dataset combining neuroimaging, genetic, environmental, cognitive and clinical information on approximately 13000 participants, and have recruited international replication datasets of more than 30000 people. This unique resource will be processed using a new generation of multivariate statistical analysis to optimize existing imaging technology for the benefit of patients. We will also develop new imaging technology to enable the direct imaging-based therapeutic modification of neural circuits through rapid real-time MRI. Our deliverables will promote personalized treatment through more accurate patient stratification, allow diagnoses at the pre-symptomatic stage for early intervention and prevention, and improve prediction of treatment response and disease progression.

Available Positions

Starting date for all positions: October 1, 2013, or as soon as possible after this date. Positions open until indicated as closed.

Conditions of employment
Temporary positions - for 3 or 3.5 years as indicated below.
Salaries as indicated below, vacation adds, pension adds
40 working hours per week, flexible working hours between 7:30 AM, 6:00 PM

Project & medical product quality assurance manager (reference: IMAGEMEND-BI-01, application closed)
The position is temporary for a period of 3.5 years with a gross salary of 3600-4000 EUR/month (depending on previous experience) plus vacation and pension adds.
Job description
The primary responsibilities of the project/IT/QA manager will be
1) Supervision of software development and research team in collaboration with head of research and development and operational business manager;
2) Requirement engineering - interaction with psychologists at BI and partner sites to obtain knowledge about needs to create software for specific application goals;
3) Analysis of existing classification and neurofeedback software products, their architecture, design, functions, interfaces for transfer into new software developments;
4) Analysis and documentation of software life cycle process, ensuring QM standards for software test management;
5) Development of specific imaging genetics/MRI classification test cases and specifications for fMRI neurofeedback interventions;
6) Software change management, validation of defined purpose, usability and acceptance test, preparing clinical pilot studies, supervision of usability testing;
7) Implementation of a risk management system;
8) Contribution to software documentation management (QM handbook, software risk management dossier, usability dossier, management and distribution of documents;
9) In-house employee training in QM standards (ISO 13485), software life circle processes (IEC 62304), usability (IEC 62366, IEC 60601-1-6, ISO 9241), and risk management (ISO 14971)
10) Internal audits to prepare external audits and CE certification of new software products;
11) Interacts with external authorities like certified body for medical software auditing, and public authorities for medical product registration (in Germany and The Netherlands).
Qualification and skills
The candidate should have / should be
1) A Master degree in computer science/medical informatics or similar;
2) Minimum 6 years experience in programming (C/C++, GUI-design), understanding of technical concepts on all levels for QM audit;
3) Minimum 4 years IT project management/ experience as group leader;
4) Certification as internal QM auditor, 3 years experience in QM of medical software products or medical devices;
5) Good German and English communication skills (both written and verbal), Dutch (eligable);
6) Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and teaching skills;
7) Analytic, self-confident, motivated, and diligent.

Post-doc / software engineer (reference: IMAGEMEND-BI-02, application closed)
The position is temporary for a period of 3.5 years with a gross salary of 3600-4000 EUR/month (depending on previous experience) plus vacation and pension adds.
Job description
The main tasks of the post-doctoral position will be:
1) Assessing and quantifying the advantages of different classifiers (e.g. SVM+, oracle SVM, RVM, learning using privileged information) for specific applications;
2) Setup of experimental design, acquisition, analysis and modelling of real-time fMRI neurofeedback studies;
3) Contribution to software development, including guidance and testing of classifier and neurofeedback software products;
4) Supervision of software developers;
5) Writing and publishing of scientific articles
6) Setup of prototype and final software at partner sites.
Qualification and skills
The candidate should have
1) PhD in Bioinformatics, Biomedical engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics, (Bio-)Physics, (Cognitive) Neuroscience.
2) Strong interest in the following areas: machine learning, data mining, "big" data, imaging genetics, brain computer interfaces.
3) Research experience during interships/Master/PhD thesis in biomarker classification, fMRI acquisition and analysis, brain-computer interfaces, fMRI neurofeedback, multivariate pattern analysis, functional/effective connectivity, computational modeling.
4) Experience with scientific programming (Matlab/Python/C++).

Software developer for machine learning (reference: IMAGEMEND-BI-03, application closed)
The position is temporary for a period of 3 years with a gross salary of 2700 EUR/month plus vacation and pension adds.
Job description
The tasks of the software developer will be:
1) Setting up of large data bases with neuroimaging and genetic data provided by partners to test developed classifiers;
2) C++/OpenCL/Cuda implementation/modification and performance evaluation of multiple advanced classifiers using large patient data bases;
3) Intensive interaction with other parts of the project;
4) Code documentation and writing of user manual;
5) Setup of prototype and final software for use at external partner sites.
Qualification and skills
The candidate should have
1) A (research) Master degree in any of the following disciplines: Bioinformatics, Knowledge Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Computer Science.
2) Strong interest in the following areas: machine learning, data mining, "big" data, imaging genetics, advanced multivariate analysis.
3) Skills and experience in programming scientific software tools in the following domains/techniques will be strongly valued: the application of signal processing and machine learning tools to bioinformatics, data mining, multivariate pattern recognition, statistics, image processing, real-time data analysis.
4) Programming expertise in C/C++ and parallel code implementation on CPU (multi-threading) and GPU (OpenCL, Cuda);
5) Knowledge and experience with Matlab/Python/Qt programming.

Software developer for real-time fMRI neurofeedback (reference: IMAGEMEND-BI-04, application closed)
The position is temporary for a period of 3 years with a gross salary of 2700 EUR/month plus vacation and pension adds.
Job description
The tasks of the software developer will be:
1) User interface specification of fMRI neurofeedback software tailored for specific patient applications;
2) C++ implementation of plugins needed for specific patient applications;
3) Intensive interaction with other parts of the project;
4) Setting up data base for test measurements and provided data from external partners;
5) Code documentation and writing of user manual;
5) Setup of prototype and final software for use at external partner sites.
Qualification and skills
The candidate should have
1) A (research) Master degree in any of the following disciplines: Cognitive Neuroscience, Biomedical Engineering, Computer Science, (Bio-)Physics.
2) Strong interest in scientific programming, brain-computer interfaces and brain modulation.
3) Skills and experience in programming scientific software tools in the following domains/techniques will be strongly valued: real-time (fMRI) data analysis, multivariate pattern recognition, statistics, image processing.
4) Programming expertise in C/C++ and parallel code implementation on CPU (multi-threading) and GPU (OpenCL, Cuda);
5) Knowledge and experience with Matlab/Python/Qt programming.