PhD Studentship

Post Summary

The Medical Circuits and Systems Laboratory (MediCAS-Lab ) & Wireless Engineering and Complexity Science Laboratory (WhyCOM-Lab ) at Trinity College Dublin are seeking a PhD student to explore and develop a non-invasive deep brain stimulation concept for common neurological disorders. Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is effective in treating neurological disorders like Parkinson’s Disease (PD), Dystonia, or Major Depression Disorder (MDD).  However, DBS uses deep brain implants as stimulation electrodes. Although done by key-hole surgery under stereotaxic control, they bear elevated surgical risks and an acute risk of brain damage by haemorrhage and deep brain bleeding. In BRAINET(Networked Distributed Neural Interfaces for Interference-Based Brain Stimulation), we confront the pressing need to keep clinical benefits of DBS whilst avoiding potentially devastating side effects of chronic long term brain implants.  BRAINET embarks on the challenge of harnessing the power of novel nanostructured smart materials in close contact with the brain. These new materials hold the promise of efficacious brain stimulation and wireless energy harvesting.

BRAINET is equally committed to nurturing a new generation of responsible researchers. Our program encompasses comprehensive training for PhD students, including translational neuroscience, neuro-ethics, new smart nano-architectured materials, and wireless signal safety guidelines. We recognize that besides the technological development; we are pushing innovation that will reshape the landscape of bioelectronic medicine. BRAINET’s multidisciplinary team will lead us toward pioneering breakthroughs in communication engineering and neuroscience technology targeting clear unmet clinical needs and achieving substantial impact for better healthcare and societal benefits. The BRAINET consortium includes top universities, research institutes, and industry partners. All partners are internationally renowned in DBS-related fields like neural engineering, smart nanostructured materials, networking, and intra-body wireless communications. BRAINET will chart a compelling path forward in the realm of neural interface technology.

This BRAINET PhD position at Trinity College Dublin is dedicated to developing body-coupled networking ad-hoc protocols that facilitate the coordination and efficiency of transcalvarial (across the skull) brain stimulators only touching the brain. The project will achieve this through exploring novel methods for temporal interference brain stimulation. The overall goal is to develop early-stage prototypes in the lab that lead to fabrication of bidirectional neural interface with arbitrary waveform stimulators in the form of Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC). 

Application Procedure

Applicants should submit a full Curriculum Vitae to include the names and contact details of 2 referees (including email addresses) to Professor Friedrich Wetterling (Friedrich.wetterling@tcd.ie ) and Professor Nicola Marchetti (nicola.marchetti@tcd.ie ). Only shortlisted applicants will be responded to, the next stage being a zoom call with Prof Wetterling, Prof Marchetti and their teams.  Please include a cover letter, CV, relevant academic transcripts and other information in ONE submitted .pdf file.

At Trinity, we are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion. Trinity welcomes applications from all individuals, including those applicants with disabilities, those who may have had non-traditional career paths, those who have taken time out for reasons including family or caring responsibilities. We also welcome international applicants including those who have been displaced due to war.

Trinity College Dublin is Ireland’s premier University. We are an EU Sustainable Gender Equality Champion and we hold an Athena Swan Silver award, recognising our ongoing work to advance gender equality both within Trinity and in the Higher Education sector. Trinity is committed to supporting work-life balance and to creating a family-friendly working environment.