IndiBrain Project 5: PhD position in Computational Visual Neuroscience in Europe

ONE POSITION REMAINING - ONLY PROJECT 5 IS OPEN!

Fully funded PhD position in Computational Neuroscience

IndiBrain ( Characterizing Individual Differences in Brain Plasticity and Dynamics to help ensure Effective and Sustainable Health Care and Rehabilitation ), https://indibrain.eu/ is a new European Marie-Curie doctoral training network. Fifteen doctoral candidates will explore how individual differences shape brain plasticity and behaviour. IndiBrain brings together universities and industry partners across Europe to train the next generation of leaders in computational neuroscience. Through cutting-edge neuroimaging, computational modelling, and neurotechnology, our network will drive breakthroughs in understanding the human brain and pave the way for personalized diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation in neurological and ocular disorders. The PhD projects are hosted in labs across Europe. an overview of the participating researchers, their research interests and the PhD project topics can be found at https://indibrain.eu/recruitment/

OPEN POSITION

Project 5: Modeling Individual Brain Differences using Deep Learning & Vision Neuroscience

• This project sits at the intersection of AI, deep learning, computational neuroscience, and vision science. You'll develop biologically realistic neural networks to understand how individual differences in the brain shape perception, neuroplasticity, and recovery from neurological and visual disorders.
• We're looking for candidates with a strong background in machine learning, deep learning, programming, and computational methods, combined with an interest in vision science and neuroscience.

Institutional Location

• Tilburg University, Tilburg, the Netherlands

Why This Project Matters

Every human brain is entirely unique. Our neural circuits continuously adapt to life's challenges—a phenomenon known as neuroplasticity. While traditional neuroscience often dismissed these individual variations as "noise," we see them as the blueprint for the future of personalized medicine and rehabilitation.

The visual brain's immense complexity makes interpreting neuroimaging data incredibly challenging; signals are frequently obscured by noise and systemic ripple effects. This project bridges that gap. By building biologically realistic artificial neural networks , you will simulate how individual differences and localized lesions affect the visual system, directly linking complex neuroimaging data to underlying biological variables.

What You Will Do

As a doctoral researcher, you will bridge the gap between AI and biological vision by developing a cutting-edge simulation framework. Your core responsibilities will include:

• Designing & Training biologically realistic artificial neural networks.
• Simulating & Probing the effects of individual network parameters and artificial lesions using population receptive field (pRF) and connective field (CF) modeling.
• Collaborating with an international network of researchers to apply your models to real-world data from healthy individuals and patients with ocular or neurological damage.
• Gaining Global Experience through fully-funded cross-sector secondments at Adastra (Germany) and the University of Pisa (Italy) .

Your Environment & Tech Stack

Most of your research will be conducted at Tilburg University (Department of Intelligent Systems and the Research Center for Cognitive Science and Artificial Intelligence) under the supervision of Dr. Koen Haak and Dr. Görkem Saygili, alongside international supervision from Prof. Paola Binda (Pisa).

You will have full access to

• A research-dedicated, high-performance GPU cluster optimized for training massive deep neural networks.
• A vibrant, interdisciplinary community combining AI, cognitive science, and neuroimaging.

What’s in It for You?

This position is funded by the European Union’s prestigious Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Network . You will receive a premium fellowship package designed to accelerate your career and support your transition:

• Extended 4-Year Full Funding: While MSCA networks typically provide 3 years of funding, this project is fully funded for 4 years in alignment with the standard Dutch PhD trajectory—giving you the time and financial security to produce a truly impactful doctoral thesis.
• Premium Financial Package: A highly competitive salary featuring a generous Living Allowance , a dedicated Mobility Allowance to cover travel and relocation costs, and a Family Allowance (if applicable).
• Dual Tech & Biology Expertise: Deepen your skills in both advanced deep learning architectures (ML) and cutting-edge computational neuroimaging analysis.
• Global Cohort Networking: Join an elite, Europe-wide network of doctoral candidates, participating in exclusive cross-network training events, summer schools, and international conferences.

Who We Are Looking For

We are seeking a highly motivated researcher who thrives at the intersection of computer science and brain biology.

Essential Criteria

• A strong quantitative background with excellent programming skills.
• Solid foundational training in Machine Learning (ML) and Deep Neural Networks (DNNs) .
• A passionate, demonstrable interest in visual perception and computational neuroscience .

Desirable Criteria

• Hands-on experience with computational neuroimaging or vision science (e.g., fMRI, pRF modeling, or visual psychophysics).
• Prior experience building or adapting DNNs for biological/cognitive modeling.
• A track record of research project experience (e.g., a strong Master’s thesis or research assistantship).

More IndiBrain Information

Other Involved Institutions

• University Medical Center, Groningen, the Netherlands
• University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
• Netherlands Institute of Neuroscience, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
• NordicNeuroLab, Bergen , Norway
• University of York, York, United Kingdom
• University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
• Fondiazone Stella Maris, Pisa, Italy
• University College London, London, United Kingdom
• Otto-von-Guericke-University, Magdeburg, Germany

Program

IndiBrain advances a new era of personalised computational neuroscience, focused on understanding how and why brains differ from one another.

Although all human brains share a similar structure, every individual shows unique neural patterns, developmental trajectories, and responses to disease or treatment. Understanding these individual differences is essential for transforming neuroscience — from group-averaged knowledge to brain-specific prediction, diagnosis, and rehabilitation.

IndiBrain brings together expertise in

• Advanced neuroimaging (including ultra-high-field and ultrafast MRI)
• Computational and network neuroscience
• Machine learning and biologically inspired AI
• Vision science and predictive coding
• Clinical neuroscience and neurotechnology

Vision serves as our core model system, allowing us to link detailed neural mechanisms to perception, behaviour, and disease.

With this in mind, IndiBrain focusses on three key research topics

1. Build next-generation computational models of the human brain. We develop tools and models that capture individual brain structure and function — including methods for modelling brain dynamics, neural circuit interactions, and excitation–inhibition balance.
2. Understand individual variability in brain networksWe investigate how individual differences shape perception, cognition, and recovery in both healthy individuals and people with visual or neurological conditions.
3. Translate neuroscience into personalised brain healthBy developing biomarkers and mechanistic models, we aim to improve early diagnosis, treatment monitoring, and rehabilitation strategies for visual and neurological disorders.

Training

We offer 15 (3-year) full-time PhD positions. As a PhD student, you will follow a multidisciplinary PhD training consisting of a number of high-level training courses and workshops. As you will be able to experience working in industrial, health care and academic environments, you will have the opportunity to develop both your academic as well as your entrepreneurial skills. For more detailed information, see: https://indibrain.eu/training-network/.

IndiBrain is supported by a MARIE SKŁODOWSKA-CURIE grant from the European Union which requires transnational mobility.

Therefore, to be eligible for a PhD position, you cannot have resided or carried out your main activity in the country of the recruiting institution for more than 12 months during the previous 36 months at the time of appointment. Furthermore, we can only recruit researchers who are not already in the possession of a doctoral degree at the date of appointment. Please keep this in mind when applying.

Please keep in mind that you need (or obtained before start of the project) a Master Degree to start a PhD.

By joining IndiBrain, doctoral candidates become part of a cutting-edge European Doctoral Network dedicated to understanding individual differences in brain structure and function — and translating these insights into innovative diagnostics, neurotechnologies, and personalized rehabilitation strategies.

IndiBrain brings together world-leading expertise in computational neuroscience, advanced neuroimaging, clinical neurology, psychological science, and neurotechnology, connecting universities, hospitals, industry partners, and patient-centred organizations across Europe. Through this collaborative, interdisciplinary network, our researchers will work at the frontier of personalized neuroscience.

The deadline for sending in your application is the 16th of August 2026.