Postdoctoral scholarship (2 years) within Physiological Monitoring and Imaging of Cerebral Fluid Dynamics

The Department of Diagnostics and Intervention is offering a postdoctoral scholarship within the project “Identifying reversible components of dementia in patients with Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus”. The scholarship is full-time for two years with access from December at the latest 2026.

Project Description

Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH) is one of the few potentially reversible causes of dementia, yet the condition is often difficult to distinguish from cerebral small vessel disease and other age‑related disorders. This fellowship addresses whether combined physiological monitoring and advanced MRI can identify hemodynamic and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)–related signatures that explain symptom reversibility and predict which patients are likely to benefit from shunt surgery.

Using 4D flow MRI, BOLD‑based cerebrovascular reactivity imaging, and complementary physiological monitoring, the fellowship holder will have the opportunity to investigate how the regulation of cerebral blood flow interacts with CSF dynamics before and after treatment. The overarching aim is to develop objective markers that improve diagnostics, prognostics, and mechanistic understanding, with relevance for dementia care also beyond the NPH domain.

Within the scope of the fellowship, you will have the opportunity to:

• Gain in‑depth expertise in advanced MRI sequences and their application in cerebrovascular research
• Participate in method development of quantitative MRI protocols for cerebral blood flow and CSF dynamics, such as 4D flow and reactivity‑based imaging
• Integrate physiological monitoring (e.g. CSF pressure, blood pressure, ECG, oxygen saturation, and end‑tidal CO₂) and signal processing with MRI to elucidate intracranial circulation
• Conduct advanced analyses of multimodal data, including modeling of cerebrovascular reactivity and autoregulation and their interaction with CSF circulation
• Pursue a translational focus toward clinically relevant markers and decision‑support tools, with an emphasis on reproducible protocols and potential pathways toward near‑patient implementation
• Together with supervisors and collaborators, develop an independent research direction within the theme of reversible versus irreversible mechanisms of dementia, based on your background and emerging project results
• Contribute to teaching and supervision at the advanced level within your field of expertise, to the extent relevant to the project and your professional development

Qualifications

To be eligible for a postdoctoral fellowship, the applicant must have been awarded a doctoral degree or a foreign degree deemed equivalent to a doctoral degree. This eligibility requirement must be fulfilled no later than the time the decision on the fellowship recipient is made.

Priority will be given to applicants who obtained their doctoral degree no more than three years prior to the application deadline. Older degrees may be considered if special circumstances apply. Such circumstances include leave due to illness, parental leave, elected positions in trade union organizations, military service or civil defence service, or similar circumstances, as well as clinical service or other service relevant to the field.

The doctoral degree should be in biomedical engineering, medical science, medical physics, applied physics, neuroscience, computer science (with a focus on physiological monitoring or medical imaging), or a closely related discipline.

Additional Requirements

• Documented experience with MRI methodology and/or physiological monitoring in humans, preferably within neuroimaging or cerebral circulatory applications
• Experience in quantitative data analysis, such as signal processing, modeling, statistics, machine learning, or computational physiology
• Excellent ability to communicate research orally and in writing in English

Merits

• Experience with one or more of the following methods: 4D flow MRI, phase‑contrast MRI, cerebrovascular reactivity, autoregulation metrics, quantification of CSF flow, or multimodal MRI analysis pipelines
• Demonstrated scientific independence, for example through first authorship, leadership of data analysis, initiation of collaborations, or protocol design

Experience in or interest in broader academic engagement—such as doctoral education, research ethics, philosophy of science, responsible use of AI and generative AI, or issues related to equality, diversity, and democracy in academia—is considered an asset

We are looking for candidates who:

• Can formulate and further develop research questions and justify methodological choices
• Can structure their own scientific development and make well‑founded priorities in complex projects
• Take initiative to develop, test, and refine quantitative methods
• Collaborate constructively within the research group and across disciplines spanning technology, imaging, and clinical practice
• Demonstrate strong motivation to build an independent research profile and conduct high‑quality, impactful research
• Are motivated to learn, apply, and share knowledge within the group and with collaborators

Application

The application must be written in English or Swedish. All attachments must be submitted in Word or PDF format. The application must be received no later than 10 June 2026.

A complete application must include:

• Cover letter (maximum 1–2 pages):

  • Describe how your previous research experience and doctoral training relate to MRI and/or physiological monitoring relevant to cerebral blood flow and CSF dynamics
  • Provide 1–2 examples of independent scientific contributions, such as protocol design, leadership of analyses, first authorship, or method and tool development
  • Briefly describe which aspects of the fellowship theme (imaging, monitoring, modeling, translation) motivate you most, and how you would shape the research direction during the first year

• A certified copy of the doctoral degree certificate, or documentation indicating the expected date of degree completion

• Certified copies of other academic degrees, a list of completed academic courses, and transcripts

• Curriculum vitae (CV), including a publication list

• Contact information for two individuals willing to provide references

We welcome your application!