The Basque Center on Cognition Brain and Language – BCBL- (San Sebastián, Basque Country, Spain) is offering a predoctoral position to work on a funded research project aimed at investigating the functional and structural role of thalamocortical projections on typical and atypical reading (i.e., Dyslexia). This multimodal MRI project capitalizes on the use of behavioral, functional MRI (fMRI), diffusion MRI (dMRI), quantitative MRI (qMRI) and machine learning techniques to provide new insights into how thalamocortical circuits support reading, and how reading disabilities may occur as a consequence of breakdowns in these circuits. The long-term goal of the project is to generate a novel mechanistic account of reading and dyslexia by using a pioneering multimodal neuroimaging approach to investigate (1) how dynamically coordinated thalamocortical and corticocortical networks orchestrate reading; and (2) how dyslexia is characterized by atypical functional connectivity and abnormal structural connections in different brain circuits.

The project is part of a collaborative research effort among several BCBL PIs, including Manuel Carreiras, Kepa Paz-Alonso, Marie Lallier and Cesar Caballero-Gaudes. The PhD student will join the Developmental Language Disorder group leaded by Marie Lallier. The starting date is flexible, but it is expected that the PhD student will join the project no later than April 2020.

They are interested in candidates with:

• A strong theoretical and methodological background in experimental psychology, cognitive neuroscience or related fields.
• A strong level of written and spoken English.
• Strong statistical and computational skills (Python, R…)

Research experience with large behavioral datasets will be an asset. Possession of a Master degree in experimental psychology or cognitive neuroscience or any other related area is highly recommended and will be positively valued.

To submit your application, please follow this link: http://www.bcbl.eu/calls, applying for “PhD Lallier’s group (Dysthal) 2019” and upload before January 12th, 2020:

• A curriculum vitae
• A statement outlining research interests and motivation to apply for the position (1 page maximum)
• Two letters of recommendation