PhD scholarship in Measurements of the Enteric Nervous System in Motion Sickness – DTU Health Tech

Are you interested in combining clinical medicine and engineering to help create better healthcare for individuals suffering from vertigo? The Hearing Systems Section at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), together with the Ear, Nose, and Throat and Audiology Department at Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, seeks a qualified candidate for a 3-year PhD position.
Are you interested in combining clinical medicine and engineering to help create better healthcare for individuals suffering from vertigo? The Hearing Systems Section at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), together with the Ear, Nose, and Throat and Audiology Department at Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, seeks a qualified candidate for a 3-year PhD position.

This PhD project focuses on electrophysiological measurements of the gastrointestinal canal using electrogastography (EGG) as an indicator of the enteric nervous system (ENS) during motion sickness. The aim is to supplement existing diagnostic tools with objective measurements of nausea and the autonomic nervous system to improve decisions on relevant diagnostic pathways and treatment.

Measurements of the severity of nausea and dizziness accompanying motion sickness are mainly based on clinical scoring tools. The use of EGG may provide more objective assessments and supplement clinical scoring tools for motion sickness and expand the current clinical protocols used in diagnostic assessment. These tools could be used to further research in therapeutic interventions for motion sickness.

As our PhD student you will be joining a cross-disciplinary research team that is embedded inside of the Copenhagen Hearing and Balance Centre, which is a center at Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, dedicated to combining daily treatment of hearing and balance with world-class research through collaborations with the medico-technical industry and academic universities such as the Technical University of Denmark (DTU). As part of this project, you will be based at the hospital, where you will be integrated with the clinical balance assessment team. Additionally, you will be linked with the Hearing Systems Section at DTU Health Tech, and as such, be part of an internationally leading research group, who focuses on a range of hearing-related topics, including auditory signal processing and perception, computational auditory modelling, audiology, acoustics, and hearing aid and cochlear implant signal processing. CHBC and DTU Hearing Systems house outstanding facilities for balance research, including two multi-axial chairs and vestibular eye tracking systems at the CHBC, as well as advanced eye-tracking systems at DTU.

Responsibilities and tasks
You will work in a team developing novel clinical protocols for assessing vestibular balance disorders which benefit in a more patient-centric point of view. You will evaluate whether, and to what extent, the novel clinical protocols of vestibular assessment solve the existing clinical problems, such as, time efficiency and ease of use for clinical staff and patients alike, all while retaining a high level of accuracy. You will interface with clinicians and researchers to define clinically relevant protocols, coordinate patient recruitment, administer both novel and traditional diagnostic tests, analyse the results, and publish the outcomes in scientific journals.

Qualifications
You should have a two-year master's degree (120 ECTS points) or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a two-year master's degree. You should be very well-versed in health and medical science and have practical experience with designing experiments and conducting medical research. Ideally, you have experience conducting neurophysiological examinations and clinical experience in neurology and/or otology, or a willingness and determination to learn about clinical practice. If you are curious about vestibular healthcare, and passionate about bridging healthcare and engineering through translational research, you will be a good fit in the team. Experience within vestibular testing, balance assessment, or clinical research is a plus. You should enjoy working in a cross-disciplinary research field, be able to work independently, and communicate research in English. An ability to communicate in Danish is advantageous, but not a requirement.

Approval and Enrolment
The scholarship for the PhD degree is subject to academic approval, and the candidate will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes at DTU. For information about our enrolment requirements and the general planning of the PhD study programme, please see DTU's rules for the PhD education.

Assessment
The assessment of the applicants will be made by Clinical Professor Måns Magnusson, Associate Professor Mads Klokker, and Professor Torsten Dau.

We offer
DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.

Rigshospitalet is a highly specialised hospital for all of Denmark, with treatment, research, innovation, and training at international level. Working with international healthcare stakeholders, Rigshospitalet contributes to developing the overall healthcare system so that all patients, irrespective of the rarity or complexity of their illness, receive high-quality treatment.

Salary and appointment terms
The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union.

The period of employment is 3 years. Starting date is 1 October 2024 (or according to mutual agreement). The position is a full-time position.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here.

The workplace is CHBC at Rigshospitalet and DTU’s Lyngby Campus.

Further information
Further information may be obtained from Måns Magnusson ([email protected]) or Torsten Dau ([email protected]).

You can read more about CHBC at Copenhagen Hearing and Balance Center and about DTU Health Technology at www.healthtech.dtu.dk/english.

If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark. Furthermore, you have the option of joining our monthly free seminar “PhD relocation to Denmark and startup “Zoom” seminar” for all questions regarding the practical matters of moving to Denmark and working as a PhD at DTU.

Application procedure
Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 17 July 2024 (23.59 Danish time). Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply online", fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file. The file must include:

• A letter motivating the application (cover letter)
• Curriculum vitae
• Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma (in English) including official description of grading scale

You may apply prior to ob­tai­ning your master's degree but cannot begin before having received it.

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, race, disability, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply.

DTU Health Tech
With a vision to improve health and quality of life through technology, DTU Health Tech engages in research, education, and innovation based on technical and natural science. We educate tomorrow’s health tech engineers and create the foundation for new and innovative services and technologies for the globally expanding healthcare sector with its demands for the most advanced technological solutions. DTU Health Tech’s expertise can be described through five overall research areas: Diagnostic Imaging, Digital Health, Personalised Therapy, Precision Diagnostics, and Sensory and Neural Technology. Our technologies and solutions are developed with the aim of benefiting people and creating value for society. The department has a scientific staff of about 210 persons, 140 PhD Students, and a technical/administrative support staff of about 100 persons of which a large majority contributes to our research infrastructure and related commercial activities.

Technology for people
DTU develops technology for people. With our international elite research and study programmes, we are helping to create a better world and to solve the global challenges formulated in the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU in 1829 with a clear mission to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That mission lives on today. DTU has 13,500 students and 6,000 employees. We work in an international atmosphere and have an inclusive, evolving, and informal working environment. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland, and we collaborate with the best universities around the world.

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